On the Friendly Road

On the Friendly Road is a 1936 film from New Zealand which told a story of New Zealand in the Depression. It was made in and around Auckland, using local actors and locally made cameras.
It is one of four films made in 1935 which lay claim to be the first "New Zealand talkie". However, the film was not completed until early 1936, and had its premiere in Auckland on 28 August 1936.

Plot

The plot involves Mac McDermott who is wrongly accused of theft and imprisoned, but is finally vindicated and cleared. The crusading Rev Colin Scrimgeour played himself.

Cast

John Mackle as McDermott
Jean Hamilton as Mary
Stanley Knight as Bill
Colin Scrimgeour as Uncle Scrim
James Swan as Stevenson
Neville Goodwin as Harry
James Martin as Alex
Arnold Goodwin as Mike
Harold Metcalfe as Snuffy
Alan Leonard as the Bobby
Wharepaia as Hori
Kahu as the Chieftainess

Reception

After the premiere, the reviewer for the Auckland Star called the film "a minor triumph. The film undoubtedly reaches a good standard and its ingredients of drama and sparkling comedy are mixed in a manner to command the attention of the audience throughout", but added that "the dialogue has its weaknesses and there is an occasional hiatus in the action". The New Zealand film historian Sam Edwards said in 1997 that the film has one-dimensional characters so is melodramatic, and "has not improved with age".