Copyright Statement - ResearchSpace@Auckland

343
reviewers on the whole treated Runaway with respect, making some allowance for its
failings. All the reviewers seemed sure they knew what a film should be – there was
no discussion of the new cinematic territory that a New Zealand film had tried (or
should try) to explore. The reviewers drew comparisons with Hollywood films, actors
and narrative styles but never asked themselves whether these were appropriate. (A
famous line from a poem by Allen Curnow seems apposite: “It was something
different, something/Nobody counted on”). 37 Such theoretical concerns had not, it
seemed, trickled down from New Zealand “high culture” to the popular world of film
reviewing. Links with European art films were sometimes noted but there was no
general discussion of that type of film-making or of its possible relevance to New
Zealand (as an alternative model to Hollywood). There was something old-fashioned
in the reviewers’ pre-occupation with landscape and in their concern about whether or
not the film would impress overseas viewers. And yet the film reviewers did show
some awareness of the historic significance of the film, and there was a corresponding
restraint in their criticisms – as though the film, for all its failings needed to be
acknowledged as one of the family – one of ours.
In spite of the guarded reviews, Runaway created considerable public interest. It was
the first New Zealand feature film that many audience members had ever seen. It
starred well known locals and an erotic female star from the popular James Bond
movies. Furthermore it had a story that stretched from Hokianga to Westland -
something for everyone. The publicity emphasised all of these features and people all
over the country attended the film in large numbers. From what evidence is available,
they were – like the reviewers – bemused. They had hoped for a good adventure story
set in their home country, with plenty of action, glamour and an exciting storyline.
Indeed, they saw plenty of scenery and some attractive actors, but for them the
storyline seemed to taper off into an unsatisfactory and illogical conclusion. Some
patrons were evidently disappointed and angry. Yet some were impressed and took
issue with reviewers who had damned the film with faint praise. For example, a few
days after its review the Dominion published the following letter (signed with the
pseudonym “More Please”):
Having just seen Runaway I would say that the review published in your
columns was superficial and inadequate. It deserves better, though we do not