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Gets Part
As 'Smithy'
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? Australian stage and
radio star Ron Randell
(above) has been signed for
the leading role of Sir
Charles Kingsford Smith in
the film 'Smithv.'
Based on the life of Sir Charles
Kingsford Smith, this film will be
the first Australian production to
be made entirely by an American
company.
Managing director N. P. Perry of
Columbia Pictures in Australia; will
produce the film and Ken C. Hall will
direct it.
Choice of Randell was made after
exhaustive tests of. top-line Austra
lian actors. Consideration was also -
given to the possibilities of overseas
personalities being given the part.
Randell made ? his public, debut in
Australia at the age of 14 when he
appeared in the Children's Session, ,
then conducted by .the. A.B.C. For five
years he ' free-lanced in^Australian
radio. ?
' When he was 19 he made his first
legitimate appearance at the Minerva
Theatre in Sydney, appearing with
Fifi. Banvard in 'Quiet Wedding.' '
Randell later went to America, ?
where he starred with Nancy
Carroll in the. stage play 'Mr
and Mrs North' and appeared
with Robert Young and Peter Van
Eyck in the Columbia r oadcast
series 'Passport for Adama.'
? He returned to Australia as execu
tive producer ? for the- ColgatePalm
olive shows. '??'..
He has been honourably discharged
from the Army, is the youngest of
:three brothers. Pne is a pilot officer
in the R.A.A.F. and the other is in th-2
A.I.F.-' ???????' ?-???? ????' '-'^V ?' '
His parents live in Sydney.
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