New “Bounty" Brings Film-Makers

To Eager Tahiti

By Beryl Sawyer

Papeete, Dec. 28.

Exactly 172 years and eight days after the arrival of Captain iam Bhgh aboard HMS “ Bounty ”, the neu ; sister ship “ Bounty ” was ted, all sails unfurled, from the coast of Tahiti

is almost as if history were peating itself as the new unty, faithfully reproduced— decks—down to the last dedied into Matavai Bay, near Venus lighthouse, east of e. day could not have been chosen, with brilliant sunand a cloudless sky. The rei of her sails was clear in rk blue ripples of the bay, he ocean that day fully i the name “Pacific”.

Bounty, which was built at of $675,000 especially for use filming of Metro Goldwyn s new version of “Mutiny on aunty”, was constructed at & Rhuland’s shipyards in )erg, Nova Scotia, from copies original blueprints which are eserved at the library of the Admiralty in London. (She /ever, 33 ft longer at deck tian the original Bounty’s i mostly of oak, she is 110 , 30 ft wide, with a draught TANARUS; and she is in every way tful replica of the original, nadian captain and crew, all need in square-rigged sail- 3re recruited and trained in

Nova Scotia. Following the launch ing and a two-weeks’ trial run, the vessel began the 8,000-mile voyage through the Panama Canal to the South Pacific. The voyage, jinxed by a below-decks fire, took seven weeks.

The Bounty was greeted at Matavai Bay by an imposing cere monial, and a 70 ft double canoe, paddled by 24 Tahitians, wearing pareus and crowned with flowers, Musicians and dancers were wel corned aboard, to the delight of the tired but fascinated Canadian crew, Also invited on board were top French administrators and the pro ducers, directors and stars of the new “Mutiny on the Bounty”.

Filming, which began November 28 at Bora Bora, continues daily at MGM’s “native village” of Mahaina, which fronts a magnificent circular black and sand beach east of Point Venus, and from the neighbouring beaches.

Bounty is a magnificent sight as she leaves her permanent Papeete berth each day at dawn. The ship, with sails furled, returns each even ing at dusk, rounding the little wooded island of Fare Ute before tying up in the quiet harbour—to the delight of Tahitian and tourist.

Closed previews of recently filmed footage of “Mutiny on the Bounty”, held at Papeete’s little Bambou Theatre, prove the superiority of the improved Camera 65 “Ultra Panavision” lenses, developed by a young American, John R. Moore, who is in Tahiti supervising their use by MGM camera crews, led by head cameraman and Academy Award winner (Ben Hur), John Surtees.

Viewers report that Camera 65 processes reproduce colour faith fully and vividly, and without dis torted images on a wide screen.

Shooting under the expert direc tion of Sir Carol Reed, with pro ducer Aaron Rosenburg, continues on a 12-hours daily basis.

Casting problems are at a mini mum, with full-time Tahitian extras earning 350 francs a day (about £Al/10/-> plus their food.

Tahitian dancers are happily re hearsing their “oteas” for the princely sum of 5,000 francs a week (about £A26), to the throbbing beat of sharkskin drums —which beat to the tune of 6,250 francs per week per drummer (about £A32). 3,000 Extras—900 Canoes As I write at December’s end, 3,000 Tahitian extras, with 900 pirogue, outrigger canoes are being got ready at Point Venus for the main scene of “Mutiny on the Bounty”—the arrival of the Bounty at Matavai Bay.

A camp has been set up with 1,500 cots to house extras, together with huge dining areas. Bakeries in Papeete are working day and night; and truckloads of food are being sent to feed the movie population at Mahaina village.

But there remains a major problem as yet unsolved. Who will be chosen as Marlon Brando’s lead ing lady? Producer Aaron Rosen berg and his assistants have inter viewed and screened nearly one thousand applicants from Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, but a de cision still has to be reached. (Later \9-year-old Tarita, from Bora Bora was chosen. — Ed.)

At dawn, the new "Bounty” is sighted off the coast of Tahiti.

She has 10,000 feet of canvas on square rigged

masts - but something

else the original "Bounty” never had— two 500 hp diesel engines! Her electric power plant is sufficient to light the entire city of Papeete with its 14,000 population. The new "Bounty” carries $10 million in in surance.