Came A Hot Friday

 Came A Hot Friday still


Came A Hot Friday - 1984




Mirage Films - 105 min.

Cast: Peter Bland, Phillip Gordon, Billy T. James, Michael Lawrence, Marshall Napier, Marise Wipani, Erna Larson, Phillip Holden, Don Selwyn, Patricia Phillips, Michael Morrisey.
Screenplay: Dean Parker, Ian Mune based upon a story by Ronald Hugh Morrieson; Cinematographer: Alun Bollinger; Editor: Ken Zemke; Production Design: Ron Highfield; Music: Stephen McCurdy; "This Time", sung by Beaver; "Work for the Money" and "Out in the Cold" sung by Prince Tui Teka;
Producer: Larry Parr; Director: Ian Mune.
In 1949 Wes and his sidekick Cyril are conmen eking out a meagre living by scamming small-town bookies. They arrive in Tainui and go to work with the help of gullible local, Don. They actually make some money, more by luck than judgement, but when Wes wins a very large amount of money gambling at the villainous Sel Bishop's illicit casino, Sel manages to avoid paying up. Wes and company join forces with the bizarre "Mexican" bandit, the Tainui Kid, and set out to get Wes's money back.

Censor Rating: PG - Review Rating: B-


AVAILABILITY OF VHS OR DVD COPIES

Available in PAL or NTSC vhs. No known source for new PAL copies. New NTSC copies sell for at least $20us.Used NTSC copies will probably be under $10us.

NOTE: Regarding dvd copies - I have been able to acquire some new dvd copies. The distributor is in Thailand and therefore the soundtrack comes with optional English or Thai tracks. Additionally, there are optional English and Thai subtitles. These discs are R0 (All zones), although the box slick says it's R3. The price is $20us, including worldwide shipping. If you wish a copy let me know your postal address and I will have PayPal send you an invoice from which you may make easy payment.


SOUNDTRACK ON AUDIO CD

There are no known soundtrack CDs of this title.


REVIEWS & TRAILER

Official Trailer

Information at IMDB

New Zealand Film Archive Info and Reviews

Time Out Review

Four Word Film Review

"Production values are first- rate, particularly the wry charm and subtlety of Alun Bollinger's photography, the original '40s style music of Stephen McCurdy, and the convincing and integrated production design of Ron Highfield [...] But the acting standout is Polynesian Billy T. James, in what is a riveting, totally original performance as The Tainuia Kid. This Zorro- with- a- difference, who emits a schizo blend of Western cowboy hero and Mexican patriot, with Monty Pythonesque overtones, is a fine creation. This kid says more about cultural cross- breeding in small countries like New Zealand than any learned academic" - (Variety, February 20, 1985)

"Only the women's roles, often a troubled area of Kiwi movies, seem a little underdeveloped [...] Came a Hot Friday is so generously populated with colourful characters, easily discernible as the good guys and the bad guys, that we're prepared to forgive it most anything. Mune has come up with a wonderful sense of camaraderie between his protagonists. We're endeared to this bunch of country- town hopefuls, who are not half as smart as they'd like to think they are, in an immensely successful film that deserves immediate attention" - (Marc Knowles, "Hot Friday's brisk spirit repairs industry's image", The Evening Post, August 24, 1985)


AWARDS & MISC.

Puke Ariki "Treasure Link" quizes on film and the 1940s

Eltham, Taranaki - article about making the movie

1986 New Zealand Film Awards - Best Film; Best Director; Best Leading Male: Peter Bland; Best Supporting Male: Billy T. James; Best Screenplay Adaptation; Best Editing; Film Score.


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