60 years on: will film enjoy same success?

Press, 7 March 1984, Page 21

60 years on: will film enjoy same success?

A romantic comedy, a liva score, a well-known star — the film had all the ingredients for success in 1925.

Jonathan Dennis, the director of the National Film Archive, is hoping the formula will also prove a success in 1984, when “The Adventures of Algy” is screened in Christchurch on March 13 and 14. Made in 1925, the* film starring Bathie Stuart, was found in Hastings some years ago by a film collector, Jack Murtagh. The original nitrate film was in relatively good condition, although a section of it was missing. The film was sent to Australia to be restored because the New Zealand Film Archive had not then been established. A print of the film has been made available for the two screenings as part of the Christchurch Festival. Jonathan Dennis will travel to Christchurch on Saturday, bringing the film with him. It will go back with him when he returns to Wellington on Thursday. “The Adventures of Algy” has an affectionate place in the hearts of those working at the film archive, Mr Dennis said. “It was a light comedy. It is also a film that has a particular sense of place. It is a film that could not have been made any where but New Zealand or Australia.” The film was shot in both countries featuring scenic New Zealand and the theatres of Sydney.

The “Christchurch Press” of December 11, 1925, described it as: “All corners of New Zealand are picturised: Maori Men and Maidens, Rotorua’s Gorgeous Grandeur, the Streets of Wellington, Bathing Beauties at Lyall Bay, the Kelbum Car, the Romance of Busy Syd-

ney, Cycling in Christchurch, Taranaki’s Oilfields, Dunedin’s Pie Cart, Algy’s Crossword Puzzle, Gorgeous Theatre Scenes, and Maori Dances all helping to make a Fine Comedy Romance.” Bathie Stuart, Jonathan Dennis describes as “one of my greatest friends.” Plans to have Miss Stuart, who has never seen the film, fly back to New Zealand from California where she now lives have fallen through but Mr Dennis still hopes the actress might see the film at some stage. “She certainly knows it is being shown and would very much like to see it She had left New Zealand for California before it was shown in the 19205.”

Bathie Stuart was a big name in New Zealand and Australia in the 19205. She toured the theatre circuit in both countries appearing with her Musical Maids. “The Adventures of Algy” was the only film she made. Since the mid 19205, the actress has lived in the United States. In the late 1920 s she helped initiate interest from the New Zealand Government in tourist offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and later made adventure documentaries of New Zealand and the South Pacific and South-East Asia regions to accompany lectures she gave in the northern states. She was the first film maker to film in China.

“The Adventures of Algy” is the only surviving feature film of the period. Jonathan Dennis estimates that 14 feature films and thousands of non-fiction films from the period have been lost. To recreate the 1920 s atmosphere of the film a Christchurch composer, Dorothy Buchanan, was engaged to compose an original score for the film. It will be played live for each

screening by Michael Lawrence, on piano; Rebecca Steel, on flute, and Janet Sim on cello. Mr Dennis said he had been a little worried about trying to recapture the 1920 s feel of the picture, but “we have a splendid score. I felt as if I was seeing the film for the first time when I watched it with the score,” he said. The music added emotional depth to the film, he said. Showing with “Algy” will

be several shorter films, including “Beautiful Avon” made by the Government Publicity Office in Christchurch in 1928. The film was recently discovered in Australia. “The St John Ambulance National Centennial Baby Contest,” which Mr Dennis describes as “a little cracker,” will also be shown.

In the years since the film archive w.as formed, it has received 700,000 feet of film. “We would be getting between 30,000 and 40,000 brought in to us each week,” Mr Dennis said.

More than 70 per cent of the New Zealand films shot before the 1940 s still had to be found and restored, he said.

The archive is a charitable trust with appointees from many Government departments, but “alas, not much money from them,” Mr Dennis said. “We budget from month to month? Money comes from donations, the Film Commission, the Minister of Arts for our preservation project, but it is a tenuous situation.”

Showing films such as “Algy” reminded people that time was running out to save many of the early films of this century, Mr Dennis said. “It is the first time we have shown any of our archival films in Christchurch so it is a special occasion.”

Early Maori films had been shown at the Rotorua Festival on Saturday and negotiations were in hand to screen films at the Wellington and Auckland film festival.