“His Majesty O’Keefe’s” Chinese Junk
p. 71 · Read in the full issue
The Hollywood Version:
By Jack Thornton
BUILT under the supervision of Mr. Alex Bentley, of Suva, to pecifications drawn up by Warner iros.’ property-making department, ae KATHLEEN, an outwardly aithful replica of a Chinese junk of le 1870’s, will, by virtue of its un sualness and photogenic qualities, robably prove the main inanimate ttraction of His Majesty O’Keefe dien that film, recently completed in f iji, is' eventually released.
Powered by two GMC marine etrol engines, all that is necessary to lanoeuvre the craft for filming, the
junk, with its beautiful sails of calico, became a familiar sight to residents of Suva and villages along the coast as far as Thalanuku.
Constructed on a 40-foot petrol drum lighter, with an overhang of 20 feet at each end, the vessel moved gracefully through the water.
A crew of eight, engaged in Suva, will appear in many scenes of the completed film. Under the direction of Chinese-American actor Benson Fong, who acted as the junk’s first mate, the crew from Suva played their part realistically, contributing a
lot of “islands atmosphere” to this
film version of the life of Captain
David Dean O’Keefe.
The photos above shown (left to right): Joan Rice, English film-star, who plays the feminine lead in the O’Keefe film.
Chinese-American actor Benson Fong, who plays Mate of the junk—film fans will remember him as Charlie Chan’s “Number One Boy” in the Chan series of the 30’s.
The junk Kathleen under full (calico) sail. George Houng Lee, of Suva, shown here in his role as the junk’s cook— three of his sons also made up part of the Kathleen’s film crew.
During the last week of October, he Governor of Tahiti, M. Petitbon, tccompanied by M. Lassalle Sere, enior French Commissioner of Tench Colonies and Senator for ? rench Oceania, and by the Tahitian [eputy in the French Chamber of Commerce, Pouvana’a Oopa, passed hrough Apia, W. Samoa, on their by TEAL plane to Tahiti. They J[ere entertained at dinner at the Hotel by the Acting High Commissioner, Mr. Grattan. His -ordship Bishop Daraand and Gov rnment officers and political leaders
were amongst the guests at the func tion.
Tasman Empire Airways an nounced in December that, as from April 1, 1953, the International Air Transport Organisation has ap proved the company’s offering a reduction of 10 per cent, on the fares of parties of ten or more per sons travelling together along the Coral Route service to Tahiti. The reduction will apply to intermediate stops also and, it is understood, will be available between Sydney-Auck
land-Suva via other trans-Pacific airlines in addition to TEAL.
Generous public support enabled 11 European, Fijian, Indian and Chinese Girl Guides to attend the first international camp at Marton, NZ, in December-January. The girls representing Fiji are: Annie Williams, Wendy Cockell, Ofa Peterson, Agnes Gibson, Lorna Smith, Rita Ah Ben, Mere Naikaukau, Maca Salapavi, Meresiana Fugawai, Hanifa Sahu Khan and Evangeline Kuarpati.