Music Score for Dominion Picture

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23181, 29 October 1938, Page 20 (Supplement)

Music Score for Dominion Picture

ALFRED HILL ENGAGED on the success of the Maori singing film star, Ramai Te Miha, at her recent audition before Lawrence Tibbett, when he prophesied world recognition for her voice, Frontier Films announces the engagement of Alfred Hill to write a special musical score for the Centenary production, "Rewi's Last Stand." Mr. Hill will be brought from Australia under special engagement and will himself conduct the orchestra for synchronising the music for the film. Specially written musical numbers are being prepared for Miss To Miha on the

lines of Alfred Hill's well-known Maori song 3. A complete scenario of the film has been sent to Sydney for Mr. Hill to work on in advance. It is probable that while in Auckland arrangements will be made for a recital of Alfred Hill's musical works, at which the composer will be invited to act as guest conductor.

Further scenes in the film havo been completed by the producer, Mr. Rudall Haywnrd, and sequences dealing with the camp of the Forest Rangers and events at British headquarters during the battle of Orakau are now filmed. New additions have been made to the cast to fill various historical roles, including Mr. Bernard Brittain as Captain Jackson, leader of the Forest Rangers, Mr. A. E. Fischer as Sir George Grey, Mr. Jack Gordon as Brigadier-General Carey, Mr. J. Swan as General Cameron. Mr. Brittain, well known for his character studies in the 'Yorksbiro dialect, has just completed his cameo of Captain Jackson, described in the histories as a "bluff Yorkshireman." Still another interesting personality is Mr. Tom Moisley, a 75-year-old Te Awamutu pioneer, who is in charge of the bullock teams that pulled the guns on to the Orakau battle-field. Driving bullocks and pioneer waggons is nothing now to Tom, who knew the To Awamutu district when the only roads were clay dray tracks. In spite of his years Tom is very active and possesses a fund of wit and histrionic ability that has been put to good use in the film.