An excerpt from King of the Coral Sea (Lee Robinson, 1954).

Ted King (Chips Rafferty), a pearler on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, finds a body floating in the water and uncovers a people smuggling operation. Ted is joined on the island by Peter Merriman (Charles Tingwell), a big-city playboy and owner of the pearling company. When Ted’s daughter Rusty (Ilma Adey) is kidnapped by the smugglers, Ted and Merriman must overcome their differences to rescue her.

Produced by and starring Chips Rafferty, this romantic action-packed adventure was a box-office success in its day. It co-stars beloved actor Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell and marks the film debut of future Hollywood star Rod Taylor. The film was beautifully shot on location in the Torres Strait and is notable for including a mask dance performed by the traditional owners of Thursday Island, the Kaurareg people.

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