NZ Film HistoryNZ Film History

Timeline and ErasTimeline and Eras

How did NZ film form and what is it’s How did NZ film form and what is it’s earliest incarnation?earliest incarnation?

• The first film shown in New Zealand wasThe first film shown in New Zealand was the the screening of a motion picture on screening of a motion picture on October 13, 1896October 13, 1896 at the at the Opera House, AucklandOpera House, Auckland and was part of a and was part of a show presented by show presented by Charles Godfrey’s Vaudeville Charles Godfrey’s Vaudeville CompanyCompany..

• Prior to motion pictures being show on the silver-Prior to motion pictures being show on the silver-screen screen vaudevillevaudeville was an en vogue form of was an en vogue form of entertainment prevalent on the stage from the early entertainment prevalent on the stage from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each evening's bill of 1880s until the early 1930s. Each evening's bill of performance was made up of a series of separate, performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts. These included musicians, dancers, unrelated acts. These included musicians, dancers, comedians, trained animals, magicians, female and comedians, trained animals, magicians, female and male impersonators, acrobats, one-act plays or scenes male impersonators, acrobats, one-act plays or scenes from plays, athletes, lecturing celebrities, minstrels, from plays, athletes, lecturing celebrities, minstrels, and eventually short movies.and eventually short movies.

•Professors Hausmann and Gow introduced ‘Edison’s Professors Hausmann and Gow introduced ‘Edison’s latest marvel, the Kinematograph’, with which they latest marvel, the Kinematograph’, with which they showed a programme of short films.showed a programme of short films.

o In the United States, in In the United States, in 1891, Thomas Edison1891, Thomas Edison patented a camera he called the patented a camera he called the KinetographKinetograph, , and the and the KinetoscopeKinetoscope, a machine that the viewer , a machine that the viewer could look into to watch short moving pictures.could look into to watch short moving pictures.

• The The New Zealand HeraldNew Zealand Herald reported that the reported that the reproductions showed the marvellous ingenuity of the reproductions showed the marvellous ingenuity of the inventor. “Everything moved as though in life: in fact, inventor. “Everything moved as though in life: in fact, it was life reproduced. So natural was it that the it was life reproduced. So natural was it that the moving figures on the screen were cheered.”moving figures on the screen were cheered.”

Thomas Edison Thomas Edison (right) (right)

demonstrating the demonstrating the kinetograph kinetograph

(motion picture (motion picture camera)camera)

Who was the first film maker in New Who was the first film maker in New Zealand?Zealand?

• New Zealand’s first filmmaker was Alfred New Zealand’s first filmmaker was Alfred Whitehouse, a travelling showman. Like so many Whitehouse, a travelling showman. Like so many showmen overseas, Whitehouse could see the showmen overseas, Whitehouse could see the potential in moving pictures for drawing audiences to potential in moving pictures for drawing audiences to his shows.his shows.

o He wrote, “I have the first and only camera in He wrote, “I have the first and only camera in New Zealand for taking animated pictures for the New Zealand for taking animated pictures for the Kinematograph”. (1899)Kinematograph”. (1899)

• He made ten films between 1898 and mid-1900. The He made ten films between 1898 and mid-1900. The oldest surviving New Zealand film is Whitehouse's oldest surviving New Zealand film is Whitehouse's The Departure of the Second Contingent for the Boer The Departure of the Second Contingent for the Boer WarWar (1900) (1900)

• Whitehouse (and later Joseph Parry) primarily shot Whitehouse (and later Joseph Parry) primarily shot news-style footage capturing images of New Zealand news-style footage capturing images of New Zealand that were in essence for an audience outside of New that were in essence for an audience outside of New Zealand.Zealand.

What was the first feature film made in What was the first feature film made in NZ?NZ?

• The first feature film however was The first feature film however was HinemoaHinemoa in in 1914. Based on a Maori legend of love and 1914. Based on a Maori legend of love and determination, its cast included many locals from the determination, its cast included many locals from the Rotorua area. It was written and produced by George Rotorua area. It was written and produced by George Tarr.Tarr.

o Most film footage featuring Maori became a Most film footage featuring Maori became a mainstay of early New Zealand film.mainstay of early New Zealand film.

Were there other Early Films made in NZ?Were there other Early Films made in NZ?

• Yes, other films include Raymond Longford's The Yes, other films include Raymond Longford's The Mutiny of the Bounty (1916) and Gustav Pauli's The Mutiny of the Bounty (1916) and Gustav Pauli's The Romance of Hine-Moa (1926). These films, however, Romance of Hine-Moa (1926). These films, however, were foreign produced films that romanticised the were foreign produced films that romanticised the Maori culture for a largely European audience.Maori culture for a largely European audience.

What do we call this era of film?What do we call this era of film?

• Essentially we call film made prior to the 1920s/30s Essentially we call film made prior to the 1920s/30s ‘Early Film’ and films made between the 1920s-‘Early Film’ and films made between the 1920s-1950s is the ‘Classical Era’.1950s is the ‘Classical Era’.

What was making films during the What was making films during the ‘Classic Era’?‘Classic Era’?

• Many films were made during the pre-war years, Many films were made during the pre-war years, directors include directors include Edwin CoubrayEdwin Coubray (1900–1997), (1900–1997), Rudall HaywardRudall Hayward (1900–1974), and (1900–1974), and Jack Welsh.Jack Welsh.

• Film titles include Film titles include Winifred of WanganuiWinifred of Wanganui (1928), (1928), A Takapuna ScandalA Takapuna Scandal (1928), (1928), Daughter of Daughter of InvercargillInvercargill (1928), (1928), My Lady of the CaveMy Lady of the Cave (1922), (1922), Rewi's Last StandRewi's Last Stand (remade in 1940, 1925), (remade in 1940, 1925), The Te The Te Kooti TrailKooti Trail (1927), (1927), The Bush CinderellaThe Bush Cinderella (1928), (1928), and and On the Friendly RoadOn the Friendly Road (1936). (1936).

Was New Zealand alone in their Was New Zealand alone in their endeavours?endeavours?

• TThe history of early New Zealand film is entwined he history of early New Zealand film is entwined with Australia's, with filmmakers such as Raymond with Australia's, with filmmakers such as Raymond Longford (1878–1959), Beaumont Smith (1881–Longford (1878–1959), Beaumont Smith (1881–1950), Harrington Reynolds (1852–1919), and Stella 1950), Harrington Reynolds (1852–1919), and Stella Southern involved in film production in both Southern involved in film production in both countries.countries.

What other types of films were being What other types of films were being made in the ‘Classical Era’?made in the ‘Classical Era’?

• Coubray, Hayward, and Welsh made short films Coubray, Hayward, and Welsh made short films throughout the silent period, with community throughout the silent period, with community comedies often proving popular.comedies often proving popular.

• These comedy shorts were made in the late 1920s These comedy shorts were made in the late 1920s when times were hard, and they employed local sides when times were hard, and they employed local sides and members of the community cast in stories that and members of the community cast in stories that were then shown in neighborhood cinemas.were then shown in neighborhood cinemas.

What came after the ‘Classical Era’ end?What came after the ‘Classical Era’ end?

• Arguably it continued onto the 1950s, though you Arguably it continued onto the 1950s, though you could call films in the 50s, ‘50s Era Films’ because could call films in the 50s, ‘50s Era Films’ because producer/directors like producer/directors like John O’SheaJohn O’Shea produced produced innovative screen fictions with limited budgets and innovative screen fictions with limited budgets and resources.resources.

o O’SheaO’Shea produced three of the four feature films produced three of the four feature films made in NZ between 1941 and 1972: made in NZ between 1941 and 1972: Broken Broken BarrierBarrier (1952, co-directed with Roger Mirams), (1952, co-directed with Roger Mirams), RunawayRunaway (1964), and (1964), and Don't Let It Get YouDon't Let It Get You (1966). (1966).

When did sound come into the picture?When did sound come into the picture?

• Prior to sound, often an orchestra or at least a Prior to sound, often an orchestra or at least a pianist would accompany a motion picture and play pianist would accompany a motion picture and play while the film was playing which acted as the movie’s while the film was playing which acted as the movie’s score as the musicians would practice and play music score as the musicians would practice and play music that would fit the mood.that would fit the mood.

Broken Barrier Broken Barrier Poster Poster (1952)(1952)