Abraham Levy interviewed by Alex Hood and Annette Hood in the Alex Hood folklore collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3802249
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Levy, Abraham, 1916-2016, interviewee
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies, and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2006
- 1 digital audio tape (ca. 65 min.)
- Series:
- Alex Hood folklore collection.
- Summary:
-
Folkloric recording. Abraham 'Jock' Levy, born 1916, in London, talks about his family background; coming to Australia with his family in 1925; the Salvation Army; Bondi; politics; leaving school aged 12; wages; discrimination at school; Jock Garden; Tommy Jones; joining the Communist Party; Bella Weiner; Jewish Youth Theatre; Maxim Gorky; 'The Lower Depths'; 'The Yellow Star'; Sid Mostyn; classes on Marxism; the New Theatre; 'The Ghost Sonata'; Clifford Odetts: 'Waiting for Lefty'; directing and acting for 12 years; J. C. Williamson's; the banning 'Til the Day I Die'; Anti-Nazism; the history of New Theatre; attending Jewish School (London); being an avid reader; Molière; Ben Johnson; a fall out with the New Theatre (1948/49); WWII joining the AIF; New Guinea; working for the De Havillands and later as a clerk for the army ships; Waterside Workers' Federation; Keith Gow; putting on a play for the 'Wharfies' and filming the event.
Levy discusses being asked to make films for the Unions about current issues; the support from the rank and file 'Wharfies'; 'The Hungry Miles'; Norma Disher; winning the gold medal, at the Warsaw Film Festival; Robert Menzies; a strike; the film 'November Victory'; the Communist Party of Australia; Wattle Films; Miner's Federation; filming at Nebo Mine; more on Keith Gow; CPSU 20th Congress (1956); working in the film industry for many years; a special unit to assist overseas film makers; making commercials; Ross Wood; Stanley Kramer and the film 'On the Beach'; marrying in 1942; his two sons; the death of his wife; clubs 'All Nations' and 'Friends of the Soviet Union'; Peter Hamilton; his acting and directing; 'The Star Turns Red' by Sean O'Casey; socialism; 'Rags' Henderson; Jim Healey; the 'Wharfie's' films now being available on DVD; the book, 'Fighting Films' by Lisa Milner; the John Hughes film on the work of the unit, 'Film Work'.
- Biography/History:
-
Abraham 'Jock' Levy, through his involvement in the Jewish Youth Theatre and the Communist Party of Australia, became involved in New Theatre as an actor and producer. Whilst there, he met Keith Gow and together they formed the Waterside Workers Federation Film Unit (1953-1959). They later worked in the film industry, assisting in the making of many major films, including Stanley Kramer's 'On the Beach'.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on October 19, 2006 at Centennial Park, N.S.W.
- Also available online https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-209082679
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (5 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 41 leaves)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Film producers and directors
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Alex Hood folklore collection.
This collection contains 186 records.
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