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constantly coiffured hair. Harper concluded: “there is much in our way of life from
which adventure, humour and love could be evolved without having to resort to such
a sordid and worn-out theme.” 42
In the same week Pacific Films received a hand-written letter signed by a “Henry J.
Le Crass” 43 who could see absolutely nothing of merit in Runaway. Enclosing the
two hostile letters from the Timaru Herald he expressed his similar opinion that the
picture was in very bad taste and had no decent plot. He added: “no NZ youth would
do the things suggested in the picture. He certainly would not leave the girl in the ice
and snow and the rescuers of the girl would never, never leave the boy to die in the
Pass.” 44 Unlike the majority of the film’s critics, the writer regarded Barry Crump’s
character as being “an extremely bad type, [who] wouldn’t eat meat or drink as
portrayed in the picture, or wear clothes like that, I know as I have been one.” 45 Like
the Timaru mothers he too was concerned that “for the sake of the NZ youth the
picture will not be sent overseas. If so people will think NZ’s extremely crass.” 46
Even the camerawork found fault in the eyes of Mr Le Crass. “For a first picture,
some good material absolutely wasted. Pacific photography not up to standard and no
scenery shown as should be. Perhaps you may get other critics to add more. I am
ashamed of the picture.” 47 It would be easy to dismiss the letters from Timaru as
merely the simplistic reactions of the narrow minded. However, their reactions typify
the type of response which Runaway, for a number of reasons, always ran the risk
eliciting from many sections of the New Zealand public. There were many proud
Kiwis who saw their country as unquestionably the best place in the world, and a
constant feature of their patriotism was an obsession with the way New Zealand was
perceived by the rest of the world.
The early 1960s still retained the conservative attitudes associated with the 50s. One
of my own strong recollections from that period was listening regularly to the 1ZB
request session during the Sunday family lunch after church. A regularly requested
favourite was an American song , Dear Hearts and Gentle People, sung by Dinah
Shore, which began:
I love those dear hearts, and gentle people
That live in my home town.