The Seekers (Rank, 1954)

[julian_craster]

The Seekers (Rank, 1954) - New DVD release from Odeon Entertainment

This film features an early straight/dramatic film role for Kenneth Williams, as the 'sexually charged' Wishart!

Famous for being the first ever colour film to be made in New Zealand, this Rank 1954 feature is overflowing with beautiful scenery, colour and set pieces. It is 1821 and adventuring seafarer Philip Wayne (Jack Hawkins) and Paddy Clarke (Noel Purcell) have set ashore to explore the Bay of Plenty. Stumbling upon a Maori burial cave, they are captured and sentenced to death by the Maori for desecrating the resting place of their ancestors. Wayne's prowess impresses the Maori chief, Hongi Tepe (Inia Te Wiata), and he offers Wayne a chance to save his life by enduring a trial by challenge. When Wayne succeeds the chief adopts him as his honorary son, but Wayne has to return to his ship and back to England.

When skullduggery breaks out on board ship, Wayne finds himself at the mercy of the British authorities and decides to return to the Pacific with his new wife Marion (Glynis Johns) and a crew that includes the sexually charged Wishart (Kenneth Williams). With a tense standoff emerging between the indigenous Maoris and the colonial British, the situation rises to boiling point when the beautiful Maori girl Maona (Laya Raki) rejects the advances of Wishart.

Extra Features include Best of British Trailers, Booklet Notes & Stills Gallery

Starring Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns, Noel Purcell and Inia Te Wiata

The release date for this title is 15th August 2011

[Gaumont]

"The Seekers" is an exciting and colourful film; glad to see it re-released.
I have a Spanish DVD of this film (and I also saw it at the cinema many moons ago) and I have to take issue with the synopsis above.
The conflict with the Maoris is triggered when Wishart shoots a mentally ill Maori dead; but the situation is already going downhill due to Jack Hawkins' affair with Maona (who happens to be the chief's wife). Wishart never comes anywhere near her.
BTW, does anyone remember Laya Raki on TV with Patrick Allen (I think in the series 'Crane')?

[Grant]

Lovely! I'll be having one of these. :)