Strong-willed and independent, Kate is more than capable of looking after herself. She's undaunted when thrown into contact with Patrick Dawson - who's on the run from the police for assaulting a repossession man - and they become reluctant traveling companions.
With an over zealous detective and two bumbling constables close behind him, Patrick at first resents the kid-sister intrusion of Kate. Then he quickly figures he can use her as a temporary cover, throw the police off his trail, and make good his escape.
But gradually a bond of friendship develops between the unlikely pair and they stay on the road together. With the help of sympathetic people along the way, a dramatic series of narrow escapes keeps them one step ahead of the hapless police until, it would appear, their luck finally runs out.
Starlight Hotel, a film presented by Challenge Film Corporation, NYC
"It's amazing how much suspense writer GRANT HINDIN MILLER and director Sam Pillsbury generate over this man's fate and its consequences for his young companion.
Starlight Hotel was enthusiastically received by American critics when it had its United States premiere release. The Los Angeles Times headlined its review "An Enchanting Odyssey."
"It's one of the finest New Zealand films to date...it's such a familiar tale.
Andy Klein wrote in the Los Angeles Herald Examiner: "It is an enjoyable, endearing little entry in the sentimental adult/kiddy buddy tradition.
Starlight Hotel is one of those pictures that sneaks up on you unannounced and steals your heart."
Screenplay by GRANT HINDIN MILLER. Produced by Finola Dwyer and Larry Parr in association with the New Zealand Film Commission (1988).
Video Release Oct 05, 1990 (PG)
It is war-torn France, 1944. Saul, a British soldier on weekend leave
meets a French girl, Belle and finds himself falling in love for the first
time in his life.
But Belle is under sentence of death for collabortion with the enemy,
and three members of the Resistance arrive to execute her.
Saul stays to protect Belle, and as his love for her grows, so does his
determination to save her. Listening to her story, he is outraged at the
lack of justice and compassion, and appeals first to the Church and then
to his own Commanding Officer to help.
His desperate pleas are ignored, but Saul refuses to accept defeat. He
finally realises that Belle's fate lies in his hands, and that he must
make the ultimate heartbreaking choice..
A Soldier's Tale, a
film presented by Challenge Film Corporation, NYC.
Screenplay
by GRANT HINDIN MILLER and LARRY PARR. Produced and Directed by
Larry Parr.
Mirage Entertainment
Corporation Limited and Atlantic Entertainment Group present Gabriel Burne
and Marianne Basler.
World
War I drama.
The tragedy of Gallipoli is told through the heroic experience of the
Wellington Regiment over a 72 hour period as exhausted and shellshocked
they battle the turks to gain control of the ridge known as 'Chunuk
Bair'.
"It is war in close-up.
In Auckland Express, Chris Hegan worte:
"This is purely a tale of a few soldiers in a particular momen in
the war.
"And still, for all that, it grabs you.
"It grabs you and holds you, tighter and tighter, as the horrible,
sickening, stupid story unfolds.
"Inept, arrogant and sometimes drunk English officers send wave after
wave of young Kiwis over the top and straight into the jaws of a massacre.
"We know this happened, we've seen it all before, but it is still
upsetting to watch.
"Better still, the screenplay by GRANT HINDIN MILLER, adapted
from Maurice Shadbolt's play, has a point beyond the mere savagery and
ignorance of war.
"It reminds us that Gallipoli was where New Zealand became a nation.
"Worthy as it might be in that respect, it wouldn't be up to as much
as a film were it not for two things - a script which walks confidently
in the fields of emotion without sinking in the bog of sentiment, and
a simply terrific ensemble performance from a marvellous team of actors...
Chunuk Bair was written by GRANT
HINDIN MILLER and based on the stageplay Once On Chunuk Bair by Maurice
Shadbolt.
The film was produced in New Zealand by David Arnell and L. Grant Bradley
(1992).
Kriegsfilm, 100 Min. R:Dale G.Bradley D:Robert Powell, Kevin J. Wilson,
Jed Brophy.
