On the Friendly Road explained

On the Friendly Road
Director:Rudall Hayward
Based On:radio show by Colin Scrimgeour
Runtime:7592 feet
84 minutes
Country:New Zealand
Language:English
Budget:£800 (initial)

On the Friendly Road is a 1936 film from New Zealand which told a story of New Zealand in the Depression.[1] [2] It was made in and around Auckland, using local actors and locally-made cameras.

It is one of four films made in 1935 (with The Devil's Pit, Down on the Farm, and Hei Tiki) which lay claim to be the first "New Zealand talkie". However, the film was not completed until early 1936,[3] and had its premiere in Auckland on 28 August 1936.[4]

Plot

The plot involves Mac McDermott who is wrongly accused of theft and imprisoned, but is finally vindicated and cleared. The crusading Rev Colin Scrimgeour played himself.

Cast

Reception

After the premiere, the reviewer for the Auckland Star called the film "a minor triumph. The film undoubtedly reaches a good standard and its ingredients of drama and sparkling comedy are mixed in a manner to command the attention of the audience throughout", but added that "the dialogue has its weaknesses and there is an occasional hiatus in the action".[4] The New Zealand film historian Sam Edwards said in 1997 that the film has one-dimensional characters so is melodramatic, and "has not improved with age".[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/4h22/1 L. R. Shelton. 'Hayward, Rudall Charles Victor - Biography', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Sep-10
  2. http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/feature-project/pages/friendly-road.php On the Friendly Road at the New Zealand Film Project
  3. Film Made in Auckland . New Zealand Herald . 24 April 1936 . 14 .
  4. Film Programmes Reviewed . Auckland Star . 29 August 1936 . 16 .
  5. City Provides Cast for New Film . New Zealand Herald . 2 May 1936 . 16 .
  6. Helen Martin & Sam Edwards, New Zealand Film 1912-1996, Oxford University Press, Auckland, 1997, p. 49.