A community comedy set in Feilding using local people in the leading roles. The Manawatū town’s name is however misspelt in the title.
The new school teacher is courted by Ken the journalist and part-time fireman and Tom the grocery clerk, who play tricks to discredit each other. Kidnapping and a car chase follow.
Scenes of Feilding include: stockyards, main street traffic, bowling green, primary school pupils at assembly and attending classes, exercises and games.
“Community films used a stock script with a simple story that could be filmed quite cheaply against a background of familiar beauty spots with a cast of local players. By travelling from town to town in the silent days, producers could make the same film over and over again relying on local interest to make the venture profitable. The idea of making such community films originated in America and came to New Zealand via Australia early in 1928. The script called for a leading lady, a hero, a comedian villain, and as many local people as could be fitted into the crowd scenes”. - Clive Sowry, April 1994.
““Although [Lee] Hill had been a cameraman on [Rudall] Hayward’s first Community Comedies, by the end of 1928 they were in tough competition in the Manawatu area. Hill used the Hayward script, almost verbatim, despite the copyright notice prominently displayed on the latter’s prints. This annoyed Hayward, as Hill moved into towns near Palmerston North. As Christmas 1928 approached, Hill made Mary of Marton and FRANCES OF FIELDING” - Chris Watson; www.screeningthepast.com/2014/12/frances-of-fielding%C2%A0lee-hill-1928-a-community-comedy-new-zealands-populist-answer-to-hollywood/; retrieved 14/07/2017.