As Auckland celebrates its 175th anniversary this weekend, NZ On Screen Content Director Irene Gardiner selects some favourite screen tributes to the city.
Our largest city has featured prominently in films, TV shows and music videos over the years - as both a subject, and a featured location. The city's iconic images, locations and streets have been seen in so many screen offerings that this can only hope to be a small tasteof what exists.
National Film Unit newsreels documented the city for several years, and one of the classics is Auckland City of Sunlight from 1946. Made in early colour, the travelogue finds post-war Auckland basking in sunshine. Flowers bloom in parks and gardens, city streets bustle and public swimming pools are packed. Trams and flying boats are a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era in Auckland's transportation.
Auckland's main street Queen St has starred in many a Kiwi movie, and even has a short film named after it - Martin Blythe's 30-minute drama Queen Street, which was made in 1980, and has become something of a cult favourite. Starring Kelly Johnson and Sarah Peirse, the film features three friends cruising inner-city Auckland in a 1946 Ford pick-up. Queen Street is a fascinating look at Kiwi car and street culture in the pre-boy-racer era, and a snapshot of a downtown that has changed markedly.
Watch Queen Street here:
Another of the city's most famous streets - Karangahape Rd - is the setting for this classic 1987 short film from Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair's The Front Lawn. Walkshort is a quirky slice of life amongst the pedestrians of K Rd, shot in an increasingly hilarious baton relay-style narrative. McGlashan and Sinclair play all the roles in a range of disguises.
You can see Walkshort here:
As iconic as a building as Queen St and K Rd are as streets, is the Civic Theatre, subject of the acclaimed 1988 documentary The Mighty Civic. The film is a colourful celebration of Auckland's grand old movie palace, made at a time when the building's future was under threat. Director Peter Wells' film galvanised public support and ultimately the building was saved and refurbished.
View The Mighty Civic here:
And last but not least in our screen celebration of Auckland - an ode to the city from a band from Christchurch. The Androidss' Auckland Tonight is one of the great rock'n'roll songs about the city, and the band's biggest claim to fame. The song extols the virtues of a night on the town with special mention of Proud Scum and Toy Love playing at the Windsor Castle. The TVNZ video careers around rain-soaked streets, with highlights including a shot of the long-gone Harbour Bridge toll booths.
You can see the Auckland Tonight music video here:
For a more comprehensive selection of Auckland-related titles, check out NZ On Screen's full Auckland collection.
