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The Seekers (1954 film)

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Produced by
  
George Brown

Running time
  
90 minutes

Director
  
Cinematography
  
5.6/10
IMDb

Directed by
  
Music by
  
Initial release
  
1954

Music director
  
William Alwyn

The Seekers (1954 film) wwwgstaticcomtvthumbmovieposters8674p8674p

Starring
  
Jack HawkinsGlynis JohnsInia Te WiataNoel PurcellKenneth WilliamsLaya Raki

Distributed by
  
Universal-International

Cast
  
Similar
  
Kenneth Williams movies, Adventure movies

The Seekers (released in the United States as Land of Fury) is a 1954 British adventure film produced by the Universal-International studio syndicate from Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, directed by Ken Annakin. It starred Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns, Noel Purcell, and Kenneth Williams.

Contents

The Seekers (1954 film) The Seekers 1954 film Wikipedia

It was the first major international studio film shot in New Zealand. The film was adapted from the novel "The Seekers" by New Zealander John Guthrie (real name John Brodie).

The Seekers (1954 film) Seekers The

Plot

The Seekers (1954 film) The Seekers 1954 Trailer YouTube

In 1821, a British sailing ship, the Becket, anchors on the New Zealand coast. Philip Wayne (Hawkins) and Paddy Clarke (Purcell), respectively First Mate and Bos'un, land to explore. They discover a Māori burial cave, but are captured by the local tribe. Accused of sacrilege, they manage to impress the tribesmen enough to be offered a trial by challenge, which Wayne succeeds in. The Māori chief, Hongi Tepe (Inia Te Wiata) is impressed enough to adopt Wayne, and allot him a portion of land. The sailors return to the ship.

The Seekers (1954 film) Laya Raki as a Maori chieftess in 39The Seekers39 1954 24 Femmes

Back home, they are set up by the corrupt Captain Bryce on charges of smuggling contraband and arrested. Found guilty, they manage to pay the heavy fine. Wayne, now married to Marion, returns to New Zealand with Clarke to start a colony.

The Seekers (1954 film) THE SEEKERS aka LAND OF FURY 1958 Daybill Movie Poster NEW ZEALAND

A village grows slowly and a tenuous peace is established with the local Maori, although some remain hostile. Marion starts teaching English, and also Bible classes.

The Becket returns and Wayne confronts Bryce, who is found to be smuggling shrunken heads of dead Maori captives into Britain as potentially profitable 'souvenirs'. News later arrives by the six-monthly ship that Wayne has been appointed a Justice of the Peace, and also that he and Clarke have been exonerated by a court of appeal.

Wishart, a new arrival, accidentally shoots a Maori warrior dead. Wayne's determination to dispense justice is put to the test. Two of the tribes declare a peace treaty with each other, but another tribe prepares for war against the colonists.

War breaks out, and the colonists are forced to defend themselves. Initially victorious because of their modern weaponry, the colonists find themselves under siege. Eventually, the Maori overrun them and all colonists are killed. The sole survivor is Richard, Marion and Philip's young baby, who is found and adopted by Hongi Tepe, who had come to their aid.

Cast

  • Philip Wayne – Jack Hawkins
  • Paddy Clarke – Noel Purcell
  • Marion Southey – Glynis Johns
  • Hongi Tepe – Inia Te Wiata
  • Wishart – Kenneth Williams
  • Production details

    Jack Hawkins was attracted to the role because it represented a change of pace from the war films in which he had become a star. German actor Laya Raki was cast as a Maori. A publicist for the film argued at the time that:

    Laya has a strong Polynesian cast of feature. We had tested several Maori girls, some of them beautiful, but somehow the cameras didn't take to them. You know how people photograph differently from the way they really look... Well, when we stumbled across Laya Raki and tested her, she photographed ideally for the part. She looks more like a Maori than a Maori.

    Location shooting was undertaken around Whakatane in the eastern Bay of Plenty. The world premiere of the film was held in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th June, 1954.

    References

    The Seekers (1954 film) Wikipedia