The Seekers (1954)

Interesting facts

• Filmed in: Pinewood Studios

The Seekers is a 1954 British-New Zealand adventure film directed by Ken Annakin. It starred Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns, Noel Purcell, and Kenneth Williams. The film was produced by the Rank Organisation and was shot at Pinewood Studios with location shooting around Whakatāne. The film's sets were designed by the art director Maurice Carter with costumes by Julie Harris. It was the first major international studio film shot in New Zealand. The film was adapted from the novel The Seekers by New Zealander John Guthrie. It was released in the United States by Universal Pictures as Land of Fury.

Production details

The film was based on a novel by John Guthrie published in 1953.

Ken Annakin had made Hotel Sahara with producer George Brown, who had sent the director several scripts afterwards, none of which Annakin wanted to make. However he was interested in The Seekers in part because it was set in New Zealand where Annakin had lived. Annakin said, "It was based on a novel which was historically true, but the script which playwright Bill Fairchild was writing seemed to me to be full of cliches and boring characters.

Brown did a location scout in New Zealand in June 1953.

Jack Hawkins was attracted to the role of Philip Wayne because it represented a change of pace from the war films in which he had become a star. It was the first in a six-picture detal Hawkins had signed with Rank. Annakin later wrote he felt Hawkins "much as I liked him, seemed too old and well fed" for his part.

Eight Māori actors were imported from New Zealand along with opera singer Inia Te Wiata to play the chief Hongi Tepe.

Read on Wikipedia · Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Data from Wikidata.