AUSTRALIA: LEE FALK VISITS THE SET OF THE MOVIE VERSION OF HIS STORY 'THE PHANTOM'

Record ID: 554202

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: LEE FALK VISITS THE SET OF THE MOVIE VERSION OF HIS STORY 'THE PHANTOM'
  • Date: 15th January 1996
  • Summary: GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 15,1996) (REUTERS TELEVISION (RTV) / UIP/PARAMOUNT PICTURES - PART MUST CREDIT UIP/PARAMOUNT PICTURES) (RTV) SIGN FOR WARNER BROTHERS STUDIO ON GOLD COAST ON SET - MAKING OF MOVIE DIRECTOR SIMON WINCER ON SET VARIOUS OF SET WITH CAST IN COSTUMES CREATOR OF THE PHANTOM, LEE FALK ON SET, TALKS TO SIMON WINCER ABOUT SHARKS S
  • Embargoed: 30th January 1996 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA1NFNJSSYKUT7Y9HO2DGUBYF1R
  • Story Text: The "Ghost who Walks" has met his maker.

    Lee Falk, creator of the cult comic book hero "The Phantom" recently visited the set of the Paramount movie based on the character.

    Falk created the Phantom in 1936, and the strip still appears daily in 500 newspapers throughout the world.

    At a news conference on Australia's Gold Coast, Falk joined Billy Zane, who plays the Phantom, co-stars Treat Williams, Kristy Swanson and Catherine Zeta Jones and the Australian director, Simon Wincer.

    The Phantom, known worldwide as the "Ghost who Walks", is a fearless fighter for freedom and the right to wear tights and a mask in public.

    At 84, Falk no longer draws the Phantom, or his other comic strip Mandrake the Magician. But he still writes the storyline and he's a consultant on the Phantom movie - thoroughly approving of Billy Zane's portrayal and Wincer's directing.

    At the Gold Coast, the "Ghost who Walks" tangles with giant sharks in the Pirates' Cave, one of the biggest film sets built outside Hollywood.

    Part of the Warner Brothers Movieworld studios, it is now reputed to be among the world's best.

    Production of the movie started in Los Angeles and continued on location in Thailand. Queensland's Gold Coast was selected for later principal photography for the action-adventure, taken from a screenplay by Jeffrey Boam, whose notable achievements include scripts for "Lethal Weapon-3" and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade".

    In Falk's adventure, the Phantom mantle has been handed down from father to son ever since the founder of the line witnessed his father being murdered by pirates 400 years ago. As the latest heir to this proud tradition, the modern Phantom is sworn, as ever, to fight greed, corruption and cruelty.

    Billy Zane said that he was hooked by the role because of what the Phantom stood for, saying the character was not "super human, but super humane, a very decent dude." Zane first gained recognition and critical praise for his performance in "Dead Calm", also filmed in Australia.

    Other roles included "Orlando", "Memphis Belle". "Tombstone" and the television series "Twin Peaks." Kirsty Swanson stars as the Phantom's romantic interest, Diana Palmer, while Catherine Zeta Jones, one of Britain's most heralded actresses, appears as the sultry pilot, Sala.

    Simon Wincer is one of Australia's most celebrated directors, with film credits that include the box-office hit "Free Willy", "Operation Dumbo Drop", "Lightning Jack", "Quigley Down Under" and "Phar Lap". He also directed the TV mini-series, "Lonesome Dove", which earned him an Emmy Award.

    Wincer described the film as good old fashioned entertainment, filled with great stunts, where you could see people enjoying themselves. Wincer said that Treat Williams in particular had had great fun during the filming.

    Williams, who appears as the evil Zander Drax, is remembered for his performance in the "Prince of the City"-- as the police detective who blows the whistle on corruption.

    Executive Producer Richard Vane's credits include "Baby's Day Out", "Dennis the Menace" and "Home alone-2". Producers are Alan Ladd ("Braveheart", "The Brady Bunch Movie") and Robert Evans ("Chinatown", "The Godfather").
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