Came a Hot Friday

Came a Hot Friday is a 1985 New Zealand comedy film, based on the 1964 novel by Ronald Hugh Morrieson. Directed and co-written by Ian Mune, it became one of the most successful local films released in New Zealand in the 1980s. The film's cast included famed New Zealand comedian Billy T. James.

Came a Hot Friday
Promotional film poster
Directed byIan Mune
Written byRonald Hugh Morrieson (novel)
Ian Mune (screen)
Dean Parker (screen)
StarringPeter Bland
Phillip Gordon
Michael Lawrence
Billy T. James
Marshall Napier
Don Selwyn
Music byStephen McCurdy
CinematographyAlun Bollinger
Edited byKen Zemke
Release date
  • 1985 (1985) (New Zealand)
  • 4 October 1985 (1985-10-04) (U.S.)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish
Box officeNZ$950,000[1]

Plot

In rural New Zealand in 1949, Wes Pennington (Peter Bland) and his partner Cyril (Philip Gordon) are out to run a horse-racing scam for as long as they can. They are inveterate gamblers who have joined forces to trick local bookies, by taking advantage of delayed broadcasts of horse races. After arriving in small town Tainuia Junction, Wes and Cyril get involved in a bootlegging ring, arson and murder. Among a group of local eccentrics, they also meet the Tainuia Kid (Billy T. James), a Maori who believes himself to be a Mexican bandito. He becomes a kind of protector for the duo.

Morrieson's novels featured some sexuality and violence, but the film downplayed these aspects of the source novel and concentrated more on the comical elements. Some argued that the film followed the spirit of the Ealing comedies. One writer argued that the book makes "good-natured, nostalgic fun of small town 1940s New Zealand where Friday night’s excitement is a pie and chips at the boozer" with "larger than life parodic characters".[2]

Cast

Home media

The film was released on DVD on 6 July 2011.[3]

Awards

New Zealand Film and TV Awards
Year Category Recipient
1986 Best Director Ian Mune
1986 Best Editing Ken Zemke
1986 Best Film Larry Parr
1986 Best Film Score Stephen McCurdy
1986 Best Performance, Male in a Leading Role Peter Bland
1986 Best Performance, Male in Supporting Role Billy T. James
1986 Best Screenplay Adaption Ian Mune, Dean Parker

References
  1. Mike Nicolaidi, "New Zealand", Cinema Papers, March 1986 p8
  2. New Zealand Film 1912-1996 by Helen Martin & Sam Edwards p103 (1997, Oxford University Press, Auckland) ISBN 019 558336 1
  3. "Came a Hot Friday". flicks.co.nz. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.


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