1. Interview regarding MY LADY OF THE CAVE (NZ. Rudall Hayward. 1922).
01:50 Discusses plot in relation to the wild coast of the Bay of Plenty in the early 1890s
04:05 Film based on a 20 week newspaper serial written by [H. D. Gibson]. Its wide coverage led to the film’s success.
06:20 My lady of the Cave was shot by Frank Stewart. Describes new photographic effects of the day. Detail of types of tints used.
07:75 Interviewer suggests the photographic effects will be the only area of interest in 50 years time, and that it “doesn’t throw a great deal of light upon life in New Zealand.”
2. Interview regarding BETTY OF BLENHEIM (NZ. Rudall Hayward. 1928) The success of the COMMUNITY COMEDIES and HAMILTON TALKS. Also discusses THE KID FROM TIMARU (NZ. Barry Marschel. 1917)
08:55 Hayward unsure about the maker of BETTY OF BLENHIEM. Suggests it was Lee Hill.
08:90 Explains the nature of the COMMUNITY COMEDIES. Filmmakers competed to get to small towns first and quickly produce a comedy.
10:35 Says it was only necessary to make a moderately good film to attract large audiences. Recalls the success of A DAUGHTER OF CHRISTCHURCH and the tremendous interest in film making at the time.
12:30 Box office value ensured success with the involvement of community groups such as the fire brigade, tennis club, schools, newspaper office. “You couldn’t keep them out of the theatre with iron bars.”
13:44 Talks about his sound film HAMILTON TALKS. Believes it to be a “very bad film” partly because of sound difficulties.
14:49 Community sound films did not receive the same response as the silents. Sound films did such good business that local novelty wasn’t as popular. Audiences had become more sophisticated and lacked the same enthusiasm to be “in the movies.”
15:70 Details profit making situation of film making during the depression.
18:75 THE KID FROM TIMARU an illustrated poem which was made as part of a one man show. Barry Marschel toured it around New Zealand.
20:20 Describes the way the film was made to match lyrics and music. Details images of song and film [loud background noise].
23:75 Recalls “The Kid” being the star attraction of Marschell’s performance.
32:50 discusse the ideas for ON THE FRIENDLY ROAD (1936). Explains why the radio show of the The Friendly Road was chosen as the basis for the film.
34:10 Describes the sound equipment available and his confidence that a feature could be made using it.
36:00 Discusses how the script and financial assistance came into being. Approached [LP Leary] a prominent Aucklander and successful playwright who agreed to work with him and prepare the script.
Side 2
00:23 Formula set up by [L. P. Leary] for production of the film. Division of company construction into two parts: financial and artistic. Defines the two roles and discusses the division of revenue.
03:50 Describes why box office returns dropped by the time ON THE FRIENDLY ROAD reached the South Island.
04:60 Amateur and technical staff only available on weekends. Filmed in and around Auckland.
05:04 Explains type of story and the spirit of ON THE FRIENDLY ROAD and why objections were made to visuals. Discusses how improvements were made by introducing bush scenes, garden parties etc.
07:45 Describes main character [Stanley Knight] who played the tramp.
Recorded: 08/11/1962.
Sound quality poor at times with background noise and volume changes.