Notable Success By N.Z. Film Unit

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30592, 7 November 1964, Page 16

Notable Success By N.Z. Film Unit

New Zealand’s National Film Unit has achieved yet another triumph to add to its already long list of successes with its latest production, “One Hundred and Forty Days Under the World.” which was given a gala world premiere in the Avon Theatre last evening.

Sequences of magnificent splendour revealing the frozen beauty of Antarctica and the duties of the men who endure its icy hospitality for the advancement of science are presented in a colour featurette which last unfortunately, for only 30 minutes.

As the production of this film was assisted greatly by the co-operation of the United States Antarctic forces, it was appropriate that the premiere was attended by a considerable number of Americans, including Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy. The Mayor (Mr G. Manning) was among other guests. Before the screening, the Band of the 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, marched through Cathedral square, and later played in the theatre. Guards of honour from H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus and the United States forces were formed in the foyer. The film covers the activities of the New Zealand summer party in the Antarctic—from Scott Base to Cape Hallett just south of Cape Adare, where some particularly appealing shots of the Adelie penguins were obtained. Although temperatures were 40, 50, 60 and 70 degrees below zero, this was summer in the white continent the commentary tells the audience. And to prove it the camera switches suddenly in jolting contrast from the icy wastes to sun-tanned girls in bikinis on Wellington’s Oriental Bay.

Yes, it was summer, and there in the background was H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour preparing for a south-bound voyage with supplies. Some of the best sequences of the whole film were soon to follow—those of the massive United States Navy icebreakers, Atka, Glacier, and Burton Island ramming and breaking up the three-foot thick pack ice to make a passage for the supply ships. In an unenviable task, the unit’s senior director, Mr Ronald Bowie, had done a firstclass job in editing the many thousands of feet of film supplied by the two cameramen concerned, Mr Kellar Fowler and Mr Sam Grau. Helped by an impressive musical score, this team has produced an even better featurette than the unit's worldacclaimed “Snows of Aorangi.” It has every chance of an award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, to which it has been submitted by one of the producers, Mr Geoffrey Scott.