Episode 27: War Years (1983)

As an excuse to talk a bit more about the National Film Unit, Hayden and L.J. take a look at War Years – a 1983 documentary composed almost exclusively of NFU newsreel footage.

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Director: Pat McGuire
Producer: Hugh Macdonald
Producer (original footage): Stanhope Andrews
Editor: Chris Lancaster
Film Archivist: Clive Sowry

Notes:

• War Years is a fairly easy film to see these days thanks to NZ On Screen. It’s also available to rent on VHS from Aro Video, though we can’t confirm that it was ever commercially available.
• If you’re interested in the original Weekly Review newsreels, a selection are available to watch at NZ On Screen. Two specific ones mentioned in the podcast are Wheat Problem 1948, and the very first NFU film Country Lads.
• 2016 marked the 75th anniversary of the National Film Unit, and Radio New Zealand put together a superb piece to commemorate the occasion. If you want to know more background details about the Unit and those who worked there it should be your first stop.