N. Z.'s Film Makers

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

N. Z.'s Film Makers

KEEN interest in the progress of Mr. Rudall Hayward's hisromance, "Rewi's Last Stand," was evidenced by those present at a private screening of the battle and other sections of the film given recently by the directors of Frontier Films, Ltd., at Te Awamutu. Although the production is incomplete from the sections screened it was possible to gain some indication of its appeal. Reactions of a section of aver*g® picture-goers invited to give frank opinions confirmed the belief that the producers will have, when completed, a unique and highly entertaining film. Titled after a silent film made by the came producer (Mr. Rudall Hayward) 14 years ag», the 1938 version of "Rewi's Last Stand" breaks entirely new ground in etoty, characters and treatment. For the first time a Dominion-made film essays into the psychological in a study of Ariana, a half-caste girl of great beauty, brought up by a missionary. family and, in time of war, torn between her low for the peoples , of the two; races. Tbk exacting role offers ;»*e«ptional opportunitiewfco MLw Remai T« Miha, a Cbrifttchurch girl, «s Ariana'a father, a rough-hewn whaling captain of whin North Auckland shores

were the backgrounds for wild history. Stanley Knight, remembered for his splendid Old Bill in "On the Friendly Road," is. turning in another colourful characterisation.

The most extensive role in the film, calling for the whole gamut of emotion and unique physical qualifications, falls on the capable shoulders of Leo Pilcher, who plays Robert Beaumont, a young trader of the days when the Maori- ' grown wheat from the Waikato was shipped to the California goldfields. As well as being able to ,ride and sWim, Mr. Pilcher has had to master the intricacies of handling the Maori bavonetspear, or taiaha, a weapon that in capable hands proved on more than one occasion during the Maori Wars more dangerous than a sword. There are few men living with a thorough knowledge of the taiaha, but in the heyday of the Maori, a master of taiaha fighting was known to engage a British regular in a bayonet charge and dexterously flick the bayonet from the end of his rifle, leaving the victim at the mercv of a series of lightning-like blows, ony one of which could be fatal. A taiaha duel between Rol>ert Beaumont, a pakeha supposed to have l>een . trained in his boyhood by Ngapuhi chiefs, and Tama,

a young chief of the Maniapotos (played by Kongo Paerata) will shortly be filmed outside Rotorua. .Done in traditional fashion it should prove one of the highlights in an alrettdv novel film.

Considerable delay )n production for 'Rewi's Last Stand" has been occasioned by unsuitable weather and the fact that all negative photographed in New Zealand has been forwarded to Cinesound Studios in Sydney for development, returning to the Dominion for cutting and editing, thence back to Cinesound for final printing. This wa« done to secure processing for the film lip to the demands of world standards —a policy that has home fruit in the excellent photographic results obtained.

With the advent of more suitable weather the company is in readiness to push forward completion of the film. Location trip* will lie made to Rotorna and elsewhere to secure necessary backgrounds. An extensive musical score is being,, prepared to accompany the film. Efforts are hemp made to have the production ready for release towards the end of December.