Urgent preservation of old N.Z. film reel

Press, 21 May 1987, Page 18

Urgent preservation of old N.Z. film reel

PA Wellington The New Zealand Film Archive has just completed urgent preservation work on the newly discovered final reel of the 1936 feature film, “The Wagon and the Star.”

The reel — ail that survives of the film — was found last year under an old house in Wellington, in a badly decomposed state.

Restoration work was begun immediately to ensure that at least this part of the film would be preserved. But the decomposition had seriously impaired the sound track in parts.

The script of the film is also preserved in the Film Archive, but is incomplete, although it contains the scenes making up the final reel. “The Wagon and the Star” was the only feature produced by Southland Films, Ltd.

The screenplay was written by the director of the film, Mr J. J. W. Pollard, then editor of “The Southland Times.”

The cinematographer, Lee Hill, and sound recordist, Jack Welsh, were responsible for the technical aspects of the production and the musical director, Howard Moody, wrote two songs especiit

The cast was drawn mainly from members of the Invercargill Operatic Society and filming took place during the latter half of 1935.

Its world premier was at a gala midnight matinee in the Regent Theatre, Invercargill, on July 16, 1936.

The “Southland Times” noted that “all the glamour attendant on a Hollywood ‘first night’ surrounded the performance." A review in the “Southland Daily News” said, “the plot is easily described. A young man is down and out — without a penny and with very little hope. An older man shares with him his small store of cash and his unlimited optimism and dry humour. “Thus equipped, he sets out to conquer life — to hitch his waggon to a star. The waggon, after an experience of work on the road to the Eglinton becomes a fleet of buses and eventually a concern controlling the transport and accommodation of the