By God, it’s Gadsby

Press, 28 August 1980, Page 14

By God, it’s Gadsby

New Zealand’s first children’s feature film “Nutcase,” is showing at the Carlton at three daily screenings, at 10 and 11.15 a.m., and 12.30 p.m. Filmed in and around Auckland, “Nutcase” is the story of a group of baddies who hold the city to a SSM ransom with a threat to reactivate the city’s volcanoes by means of a nuclear device planted in the crater of Rangitoto. The New Zealand cast Includes Jon Gadsby, lan Watkin, Michael Wilson, Nevan Rowe and lan Mune, with guest appearances by Merv Smith and T.V.N.Z,’s Tracey. The only thing standing between Auckland and destruction is a group of three children (Aaron and Melissa Donaldson and Peter Shand), assisted by some futuristic gadgets, an anti-gravity machine and a super-bike with rocketassisted take-off. They need it all when dealing with the evil genius of the crooks whose vehicles are an Aston-Martin, a huge Russian motor-cycle with side-car and a genuine submarine.

Directed by Roger Don-

aldson (“Sleeping Dogs”) from a screen play by lan Mune and Keith Aberdein, “Nutcase” is a family entertainment, with plenty of action, some amazing special effects, catchy music, loads of laughter and an amazing finale. “Nutcase” was produced by John Barnett and financed by South Pacific Merchant Finance and the New Zealand Film Commission. Marketing assistance was received from the International Year of the Child Telethon Trust.