ALFRED HILL TO COMPOSE FOR NEW ZEALAND FILM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 9

ALFRED HILL TO COMPOSE FOR NEW ZEALAND FILM

Closely following the news of the success scored by their Maori singing film star, Ramai Te Miha, at her recent performance before Lawrence Tibbett, who prophesied world recognition for her voice, Frontier Flms Ltd., the Te Awamutu company producing a historical film in the Waikato, announces the engagement of Alfred Hill to write a special musical score for their production “Rewi's Last Stand.” Mr Hill w'ill be brought from Australia under special engagement and will himself conduct the orchestra.

Specially written musical numbers are being prepared for Miss Te Miha on the lines of Alfred Hill's world famous Maori songs. A complete scenario of the film has been sent to Sydney for Mr Hill to work on in advance and already offers have been made by some of the best musical talent in Auckland to play under Mr Hill’s baton. 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 conduct. Meanwhile the producer, Mr Rudall Haywood, has completed further important scenes for the film. Sequences dealing with the camp of the Forest Rangers and events at British Headquarters during the battle of Orakau are now finished. New additions have been made to the cast to fill various important historical roles. Mr Bernard Brittain will appear as Captain Jackson, leader of the Forest Rangers, Mr A. E. Fischer as Sir George Grey, Mr Jack Gordon as Brigadier-General Carey, and Mr J. Swan as General Cameron.

Mr Brittain, who is well known for his character studies in the Yorkshire dialect, has completed his cameo of Captain Jackson, who is described in the histories as a “bluff Yorkshireman.’* Jackson was the original leader of the Forest Rangers, and was later joined by the famous von Tempsky. who was invited to form a second company of this unique corps of bushfighters, veritable New Zealand “Foreign Legion.” Another addition to the cast is Mr Rud Peterson in the role of Pat Nadigan, one of the original Forest Rangers.