Film NZ History

The Dog’s got Bite

October 8, 2014March 29, 2016 Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision 4 Comments 1970s, DCP, projection, Roger Donaldson, Sam Neill, Sleeping Dogs

We’re so excited to be screening Sleeping Dogs at a quality standard never before seen, we’ve let our enthusiasm off the leash…

It’s all about Sleeping Dogs this week! And with almost perfect precision, too. The Kiwi blockbuster premiered at the Wintergarden in Auckland on 6 October 1977, 37 years ago this week.

The original 1977 poster for NZs original blockbuster, and first US distributed film: Sleeping Dogs — The original 1977 poster for Sleeping Dogs, NZ’s first home-made blockbuster, and the first US distributed film to be made entirely here.

The centrepiece is, of course, the incredible newly-reformatted feature film playing in our Wellington cinema. We’re screening a sparkling new, restored DCP version of the film, courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission Digitisation Programme. Screening times are here.

Sleeping Dogs DCP test — The newly digitised version of Sleeping Dogs hits Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision’s cinema screen during a DCP test ride. This pic got our social media channels buzzing with reactions about the incredible quality (and garnered a certain amount of appreciation for Sam Neill).

Meanwhile, our Wellington TV Lounge is hosting Dream in the Making, an absorbing 20-minute documentary that takes you behind the scenes of Sleeping Dogs. The doco will screen on a loop on days that the film is playing, so you can turn up anytime to watch the film crew in motion and see director Roger Donaldson and other key players working through everything from the script, to the stunts, to the special effects. These TV Lounge showings are free of charge.

Roger Donaldson frames up a shot, while a crew member keeps an eye on the action on-set. Who would have guessed he'd go on to direct Cocktail (1988)? — Roger Donaldson frames up a shot, while a crew member keeps an eye on the action on-set. Who would have guessed he’d go on to direct Cocktail (1988)?

Even our cafe is in on the act, serving up a rather special 2009 chardonnay from vineyards owned by Donaldson, who named the vintage after his first film.

Our cafe is running a Sleeping Dogs Special - a ticket to the film and a glass of Sleeping Dogs Chardonnay for $12.00 — Our cafe is running a Sleeping Dogs Special – a ticket to the film and a glass of Sleeping Dogs Chardonnay for $12.00

We again applaud the New Zealand Film Commission, and all the people who worked behind the scenes to facilitate this marvellous rendering of a great New Zealand film. It really does have to be seen to be believed!

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