‘Quiet Earth’ poised to make it big

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 71

‘Quiet Earth’ poised to make it big

PA Palmerston North The New Zealand film, “The Quiet Earth,” is poised to make it big in the United States. But the author of the book on which the film was based, a Massey University English lecturer, Craig Harrison, is astonished, still waiting to see the film, and not expecting to become a wealthy man. After a successful showing at the Cannes Film Festival this year, “The Quiet Earth” debuted in Los Angeles last month, immediately making its way on to the top 50 chart. It is now screening at 11 theatres, with plans for distribution of up to 100 prints. Americans have paid about $500,000 so far to see it It has been applauded by

critics as “the best science fiction film of the 80s.”

“The Quiet Earth,” the story of a man waking up to find himself the only person left in New Zealand, was published in 1981. Mr Harrison agreed to sell the film rights for about $BOOO and after tax was left with about $3OOO. He does not expect to make much more.

“I am supposed to get a percentage according to the contract, but things are extremely nebulous,” he said. “There is no question of its making me a wealthy man, not after everyone else has had their cut.”

Although he saw a copy of the draft screen play two years ago he has never seen the finished product, and so finds it difficult to explain its success.

“Maybe New Zealand is just trendy at the moment. Maybe it is a very good film, I don’t know.”

Mr Harrison said Bruno Lawrence, who stars in the film, had been largely responsible for writing the screen play and could probably claim a lot of credit. “The Quiet Earth” is due to be released in New Zealand in February, and Mr Harrison rather hopes for a complimentary ticket to the opening.

He said the film producer, Sam Pillsbury, who first negotiated the sale of the film rights, expected it to go down very well in New Zealand after its American success.

“It is easier to get things going in New Zealand if they have been successful somewhere else,” he said.