N.Z. WAR FILMS
Release Of “Desert Victory”
New Zealand picture theatre audiences will soon be able to see "Desert Victory, tlie film record of the North African campaign which, though it has been in the country for several months, has not been released, the authorities believing that it tlid not present adequately the New Zealand soldiers’ part in the campaign. The Director of Publicity, Mr, J. 1. laul, stated yesterday that revised prints are to be made in Australia for distribution in New Zealand. “A dispatch from our official war correspondent witii the N.Z.E.F. in tlie Middle East contained the first report of the inadequate representation of the part played by New Zealanders in the great victory,” stated Mr. Paul. “That was published at the end of April. One copy of the film arrived in New Zealand three months ago, and the criticism of the war correspondent was fully endorsed. Representations were immediately made with a view to giving New. Zealanders credit due as partners in the victory over the Axis Powers. It is fair to say, however. that while the authorities in the United Kingdom fully realise the inadequacy of treatment of some aspects of the great battles, the emphasis of the film is on the victory rather than on the parts played by the different component units. Advice has been received that a print of the final revise of the film is now en route to New Zealand by air. A corresponding negative of tlie corrected sequences has been dispatched to British Dominion Films, Australia, for the making of prints there for public distribution in New Zealand.”
To controvert a criticism that the people of New Zealand had been able to see few films showing their troops in the Middle East. Mr. Paul quoted tlie following list of films received from the Middle East since January and issued in the National Film Unit Weekly Review:— Prelude, to Battle, approximate length 485 ft.
Eighth Army enters Tripoli—Advance on and entry into Tripoli, SOOft. N.Z. Signallers and N.Z. Machinegunners in training. 100 ft. N.Z. Sappers, 75ft. i Arrival of Reinforcements, 110 ft. Churchill Salutes Kiwis in Tripoli, 150 ft. Tank Busters, Battle of Tunisia, Battle of Gabes Gap, African Campaign Ends, Fall of Tunis, General Giraud in Tunis, Capture of voa Arnim, United Nations Parade (Cairo), Victory Parade (Tunis), Reinforcements Land in Middle East, 500 ft. Repatriated Prisoners from Ptaly, 200£t. Mountain Mule Train, 120 ft. . N.Z. Division Returning from Tunisia, 300 ft.
Tank Recovery, 200 ft. N.Z. Division Sports. Cairo, 200 ft,
Also a review of the activities of the Division, entitled “Freyberg and His Men," 1000 ft.
Review No. 113,.t0 be released on October 29. would contain a further Middle East item—approximately 200 ft. of men on leave in Alexandria.
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Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 21, 20 October 1943, Page 8
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462N.Z. WAR FILMS Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 21, 20 October 1943, Page 8
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