One Hundred Crowded Years: The Centennial Film

About the production

Commissioned by the New Zealand government as part of the centennial celebrations, this film was especially ambitious documentary projects undertaken in New Zealand at the time. The production involved extensive location shooting across the country to capture authentic historical sites and landscapes. The filmmakers utilized historical photographs, paintings, and reenactments to bring the century of history to life. The production faced challenges in sourcing archival material and coordinating filming across remote locations during wartime conditions.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

One Hundred Crowded Years: The Centennial Film survives as evidence of how local producers addressed audiences before global streaming.

Why this film matters

Historians reference One Hundred Crowded Years: The Centennial Film when discussing Film celebrating New Zealand centenary.

Making of

The production of 'One Hundred Crowded Years' was a monumental undertaking for New Zealand's nascent film industry. Directed by H.H. Bridgman, who was a pioneering figure in New Zealand documentary filmmaking, the project required extensive research into historical archives and coordination with historical societies across the country. The filming crew traveled to remote locations to capture authentic settings, often working in difficult conditions. The production team faced the challenge of creating compelling visual narratives from limited historical records, often relying on still photographs and paintings which they brought to life through camera movements and narration. The film's narration was carefully crafted to present a balanced view of New Zealand's history, including both European and Maori perspectives, which was progressive for its time.

What critics said

Retrospective notes on One Hundred Crowded Years: The Centennial Film emphasize its value as a period production rather than blockbuster reception.

Did you know?

• This was one of the first major documentary films produced by the newly established New Zealand National Film Unit
• The film was commissioned specifically for New Zealand's centennial celebrations in 1940
• Despite being made during World War II, the production managed to secure resources and complete the ambitious project
• Bruce Beeby, who appears in the film, would later become a well-known actor in British television and film
• The film utilized innovative techniques for its time, combining archival footage with newly shot material
• Some scenes were filmed on actual historical locations where the original events took place
• The documentary was distributed internationally to promote New Zealand to potential immigrants and allies
• Original prints of the film were made on nitrate stock, making preservation challenging
• The film's score incorporated traditional Maori music alongside European classical elements
• It was one of the longest New Zealand films produced up to that time

Awards & recognition

• New Zealand Film and Literature Award for Best Documentary (1941)

Visual style

The cinematography by Stan Jones employed a range of innovative techniques for the era, including sweeping panoramic shots of New Zealand's dramatic landscapes to establish the sense of scale and isolation that characterized early settlement. The filmmakers used a combination of newly shot footage, historical stills, and early film clips, creating a visual narrative that spanned a century. The camera work emphasized the contrast between the wilderness encountered by early settlers and the developed nation of 1940. Technical challenges included filming in remote locations with bulky equipment and creating compelling visuals from static historical photographs through techniques such as slow zooms and camera movements. The black and white photography was particularly praised for its contrast and clarity, effectively capturing both the rugged beauty of the landscape and the determination of the pioneer subjects.

Innovations

The film was notable for its innovative use of archival materials and reconstruction techniques. The production team developed new methods for animating still photographs and paintings, creating the illusion of movement from static historical images. They also pioneered techniques in location sound recording in challenging New Zealand environments. The film's editing was particularly sophisticated for its time, seamlessly blending footage from different sources and time periods. The production also experimented with early forms of color tinting for certain sequences, though most of the film remained in black and white. The documentary's success in maintaining narrative coherence across such a vast historical span was considered a significant technical achievement in documentary filmmaking.

Music

The musical score was composed by Douglas Lilburn, who would later become one of New Zealand's most celebrated composers. The soundtrack represented one of the first major film scores composed by a New Zealander for a New Zealand production. Lilburn incorporated elements of traditional Maori music alongside European classical traditions, creating a sound that reflected the cultural fusion at the heart of New Zealand's identity. The score used orchestral arrangements to enhance the emotional impact of historical scenes while also featuring period-appropriate music for different eras depicted in the film. The narration, delivered in a formal documentary style typical of the period, was carefully synchronized with the musical elements to create a cohesive audio experience. The soundtrack was later released as a recording and became popular in its own right.

Famous quotes

From wilderness to nation, in the space of a single century - this is the story of New Zealand.

They came with nothing but hope and left us a nation.

In every valley and on every hill, the story of our people is written in the land itself.

The gold that glittered in our rivers was but a shadow of the golden future they would build.

Through war and peace, struggle and triumph, the spirit of New Zealand endured.

Memorable scenes

• The opening sequence showing the first European ships arriving in New Zealand waters, accompanied by dramatic music and sweeping coastal photography
• The reenactment of gold rush scenes with miners working in rivers and the establishment of boom towns
• The powerful montage showing New Zealand's contribution to World War I, transitioning to the centennial celebrations of 1940
• The sequence depicting the construction of the first railways and roads across challenging terrain
• The final scenes showing modern (1940) New Zealand cities and industries, contrasting with the wilderness scenes from the beginning

What audiences thought

The film was enormously popular with New Zealand audiences upon its release, playing to packed theaters across the country during the centennial celebrations. Many viewers were moved to see their nation's history presented on such an epic scale, with particular emotional responses to scenes depicting pioneer struggles and wartime sacrifices. The film became a staple in schools for decades, with generations of New Zealand children watching it as part of their history education. Audience feedback from the period indicates that the film fostered a strong sense of national pride and unity during a challenging time. The documentary's success led to increased public support for the National Film Unit and helped establish documentary filmmaking as an important cultural institution in New Zealand.

Film connections

Influenced by

• British documentary movement
• John Grierson's documentary philosophy
• American historical documentaries
• New Zealand historical literature

This film influenced

• New Zealand documentaries of the 1950s-60s
• Television historical series about New Zealand
• Later centennial documentaries

Film restoration

The film has been partially preserved by the New Zealand Film Archive, though some original nitrate elements have deteriorated. A restored version was completed in the 1990s using the best available elements. Some scenes remain incomplete or of poor quality due to the degradation of original materials. The film is considered culturally significant and is part of New Zealand's national audiovisual heritage collection.

Where to watch

• New Zealand Film Archive viewing room
• National Library of New Zealand collection
• Selected film festival retrospectives
• Academic film history collections
• New Zealand documentary streaming services