By KEVIN TAYLOR
CAMBRIDGE - The town hall and main street of Cambridge were transported back in time at the weekend for an American-funded feature film.
The town changed temporarily into Middleton - representing any mid-1950s New Zealand town.
Her Majesty is a coming-of-age story about a 12-year-old New Zealand girl who dreams of meeting the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II, and an old Maori woman unenthusiastic about her visit.
Over the weekend, the entirely Kiwi cast and crew shot several scenes of the monarch's welcome.
The movie revived memories for some of the 1200 extras, including Cambridge woman Shirley Foster.
She remembers as a young mother seeing the new Queen visiting Cambridge on New Year's Day, 1954.
Her father, Henry Tod, was the mayor, and lunched with the Queen while she watched from a nearby house.
"It's wonderful seeing it all coming to life again," she said.
Producers would not reveal the movie's cost. Los Angeles-based writer-director Mark Gordon conceived the script after planning a trip to New Zealand and reading about the country's history.
The selection of extras created controversy last week when about 100 pulled out because the producers did not want Maori in the crowds.
Middleton had been intended as a mainly Pakeha town, but the producers have now allowed anyone to be an extra.
Town relives royal tour
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