‘Zephyr’ out next month

Press, 21 January 1982, Page 10

‘Zephyr’ out next month

“Race for the Yankee Zephyr,” the film which was made in Queenstown, will be released to 50 cinemas on February 5. The film has already had its Christchurch season. It was used to premiere the opening of the new Regent Twin Theatre cinema complex which replaced the originalßegent, badly damaged by fire on November 5,1979.

The film had a successful eight-week. season in Christchurch, apparently exceeded by the James Bond film, “For Your Eyes Only,” which is still running at the Regent Two theatre of the complex. The producer of the “Race for the Yankee Zephyr,” Mr John Barnett, of Wellington,

said that Christchurch audiences had responded enthusiastically to the film, but there had been some negative reaction from Australian critics.

Mr Barnett was critical of a review by Meaghan Morris in the Australian “Financial Times” which downgraded the New Zealand contribution to the film.

This review vastly underrated the participation of local film crews and actors, Mr Barnett said. “The decision to make the film in New Zealand was not made just because of the scenery. New Zealand film crews and actors now have international reputation and, although the lead roles were played by overseas stars like

Donald Pleasance and George Peppard, ‘Yankee Zephyr’ is definitely a product of our local industry.

“When Daivd Hemmings was here playing Inspector Bruce Hutton in ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’ he was impressed by the breadth of talent and experience available to local film-makers? This strongly influenced the decision to make ‘Yankee Zephyr,’ which Hemmings directed, in New Zealand,” Mr Barnett said.

“In the final analysis the only critic that really matters is the public. When ‘Yankee Zephyr’ is released across the country on February 5, I am sure the verdict will be favourable.”