DOMINION'S BEAUTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 12

DOMINION'S BEAUTY

NOTABLE SCENIC FILM By far the most ambitious effort to record tho beauties of the Dominion's varied scenery, "Romantic New Zealand" - will commence its Auckland season at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres o;i:i Wednesday. Produced by Filmcraffr, Limited, in co-operation with the Government Tourist and Publicity Department, tho picture can best be described a-fi a pictorial cyclopaedia of New Zealand, interesting the historian, the' sportsman, the bird-lover, tho student of tho Maori and all who admire fine scenery.

No effort has been spared to make the production as successful fts possible. Much of the scenery is photographed by the trucolour process, a New Zealand invention, which fully lives up to tho claim that it records natural colours to perfection. This is very noticeable in the seascapes and in a sunset, the many-coloured clouds .and the orange sky being surprisingly natural. The method is a decided advance on the processes used by overseas producers to photograph colours, for those all havo had weaknesses.

One oi the most important reasons for the making of the film was its possibilities as advertising propaganda in other countries, the object being the stimulation of the tourist traffic. Apart from this aspect, however, there is some outstanding black-and-white photography; and the various studies of bird lifiii give an astonishingly intimate insight into the ways of the Dominion's most interesting native birds. The kiwi, in particular, is brought to the screen in a manner which has never been eqrailed before. From a scenic point of view, the film lea ves nothing to be desired. The weird beauty of the Rotorua district makes a splendid introduction, and is a splendid foil for the rugged might of the Southern Alns. import is represented by scenes at Mount Cook and Tongariro National Park and both big-game and trcnit-fishing The four main cities occupy a prominent place in the film, and industry, too, has its part. The rolling wheat country of Canterbury makes an excellent photographic subject, while other scenes of interest are those of sheep-farming in Flawke's Bav and goldmining on the west coast; of the South Island.

In conclusion, several particularly beautiful scenic gems are shown to the accompaniment of a Maori choir singing a plaintive song of farewell.