A good keen Churchill?

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33874, 20 June 1975, Page 14

A good keen Churchill?

(From CEDRIC MENTIPLAY. Parliamentary reporter of "The Press.")

WELLINGTON, June 19. . The Muldoon film — a i sharp, colourful 13 min- , utes of character-projec- ' tion designed for theatre ! and probably television! screens — received a ipre - screening before, members of the National Party Opposition tonight. It set out to show MulI doon the man, against a New Zealand background, andj talking to New Zealanders as! one of them. There were I views of Mr Muldoon in col-: ourful island-type wear, and in formal clothes, all the time hammering away at the Gov- ■ ernment and its policies. The accent was on his sense of humour and his; ! quick repartee. The background showed large and reI active audiences, and there j I was a wealth of comment,!

seemingly from chanceselected members of crowds attending his meetings, extolling his virtues. This film will make much i mileage for the National Party during the next few ■months. It has avoided per-' Isonal attacks on members of ■ the other parties — and to a great extent has refrained: i from specifics on National; ; Party policy. My personal opinion is that ■Colenso Communications has done a remarkably good job — with one possible fault. : The film opens with a quoted I line linking Mr Muldoon with | ; the name of Churchill. I i thought this unfortunate, as! some people will regard it as. an overwhelming presump-' ■ tion. while others in this year of 1975 no longer relish the! Churchill image with its aura | of nersonal arrogance and in- 1 terference. The Churchill analogv is; not continued in the film,' ! which projects a far more ac-1 iceptable positive Kiwi image. 1