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(Note this is a silent film)
[Description of Clip One of Centennial Exhibition Film: Start and Construction]
The film starts with a title card with the words 'Centennial Exhibition 1940'. The next frame shows a card with the words 'Construction' written on an angle in a decorative font. The opening scenes are of some builders working. One man is using a pick axe to loosen up the ground, another is sawing wood on a saw bench. The scene changes to a building site where we see the skeleton of a fairly plain looking rectangular building taking shape. Then the camera focuses on a more curvaceous creamy-yellow coloured two-storeyed International style structure just adjacent to the central Exhibition tower. Builders are working from scaffolding and on the rooftops. The hills of Miramar can be seen in the background. The colours are remarkably clear though perhaps a bit stronger than in real life.
[End description.]
[Clip Two : Building the Cyclone Roller Coaster]
First frame is a title card:'Commencing Construction of the Cyclone Ride'. The opening scenes are of the huge skeleton of one of the 'big dippers' on the roller coaster; at this stage it consists of a wall of scaffolding and metal construction rods. A few workmen are happily walking around near the top on what look like very narrow planks – the slow movement of the clouds above suggest that Wellington's famous winds are in abeyance, which is probably just as well for the workers. We then see the roller coaster during the next construction stage, as the wooden rails and cross planks are attached to the top of a metal framework. At one point a small airplane flys overhead. A panoramic shot shows the half-completed structure twisting off into the distance then looping back on itself like some giant taniwha washed up on the shore. In the background we get a clear view of the Miramar hills (stripped of vegetation and with only a scattering of houses) with the mighty Rimutakas looming up behind. The clip finishes with more construction shots and some close-ups of the timber work.
[End description.]
The camera pans along a row of three buildings, which stand next to a dusty road strewn with rubble. The Exhibition is still under construction. The first building is a large, white, castle-like structure. Next to it we see a smaller, one storey, pale blue art deco building. The building farthest from the camera has two storeys, and is built in the International style then considered very modern. Its curving facade alternates between layers of windows and yellow wall. We then return to the white castle, which is encased in scaffolding. Its turrets are emphasised against the clear blue sky. The exterior has several windows and a wide gothic archway, presumably an entranceway. The clip ends with a shot of all three buildings, representing architectural styles from medieval to modern.
[End description.]
This clip begins with the title: 'Playland is Now Looking Shipshape With Plenty of Time in Hand'. We watch as a workman walks past one of the rides, possibly the Octopus, which is still under construction. The next shot shows an empty ticket box and paved area, which will soon be filled with the many visitors to Playland — the most popular area of the Centennial Exhibition. Behind, against the grey sky, is the curve of the roller coaster. Next we see what appears to be an ordinary street scene, except this street has been especially constructed for the Exhibition. There are shops running down either side of the road, and a line of white lampposts in the centre of the street lead the eye to the hills in the distance. A small black truck drives past and turns down the street, avoiding a pedestrian and weaving between the lampposts.
[End description.]
[Clip Five: Governor General Rides the Roller Coaster]
This clip begins with the title: 'The Exhibition is opened by the Governor General Lord Galway'. The Governor General, a middle-aged man with a moustache, speaks into a microphone. There is presumably a crowd below him, listening to him declare the Centennial Exhibition open. We can guess the location from the roller coaster cars behind him. A second title then tells us 'Their Excellencies Enjoy the First Ride'. The Governor General and other dignitaries have the pleasure of the first ride on the roller coaster. We watch as it curves in front of us, past a grey fence topped with barbed wire, which possibly marks the perimeter of the Exhibition. The ladies and gentlemen hold on to their hats as they begin to ascend. The roller coaster swoops down one slope and up another and we catch a glimpse of part of a sign which says, appropriately, 'Thrill'. As it slows to a stop, the passengers look exhilarated and slightly relieved. The Governor General can be seen in the front carriage. In the next scene, he chats as he descends the stairs with the other passengers.
[End description.]
The two title cards say: 'How's the Fun With the Other Folk?' and 'On the Dodg'ems'. Now that the exhibition has been officially opened, people are enjoying riding the dodgems. The dodgems are housed in a pavilion, and between the columns we can see spectators watching the fun. The dodgem riders all seem to be adults, and include some uniformed soldiers. One slaps his thigh as if to make the car go faster. The cars, some red some yellow, swerved and crash into each other, to the delight of the drivers.
[End description.]
The title cards tell us that it is 'Official Maori Day' and we will be treated to a 'Maori Haka (War Dance)'. We see several rows of Maori performers on a stage , with the roof of the sound shell curving behind them. They are dressed as warriors, wearing flax skirts, with bare chests and bare feet. You can almost hear the thump as they jump in time on the stage, shaking their raised spears. Twice they kneel, some pointing their spears towards the audience. Then they hold their spears at chest height, and move them up and down with a wave-like motion.
[End description.]
[Clip Eight: Exhibition Grounds and Kupe Sculpture]
The title card reads 'Let's Have a Change and See the Exhibition'. We begin our look at the exterior of the Exhibition with a close-up of a fountain. Water falls in sprays from each of three levels, and into the pool below. Behind, on one of the Exhibition's many buildings, flags are waving in the breeze. Next we see a tall, rectangular building with 'Australia' on it, indicating that it must be Australia's pavilion. The white building has tall columns on some of its sides, making it appear striped. It is reflected in the large pool in front of us. Now we see the pool from a different angle: it is surrounded by shrubs in square terracotta planters and lights on tall white poles. Some of the Exhibition's many visitors are wandering between the buildings in the background. In our next view we see the fountain again, and behind it a large white building and a tall concrete tower. In the foreground is a bed of orange flowers. In a closer view of the tower we see it is topped by a flag pole, one of the many in this patriotic exhibition. The water in the pool in front of us is rippled by the wind. Looking at the street below, we see a tram-like vehicle drive past three art deco towers in the centre of the road, while other visitors walk to their destinations. The same view from another angle shows how close the Exhibition is to the nearby hills. A series of short scenes show the rectangular pool from above, the blue and green soundshell and a close-up of the tram. It ends with the bronze statue of Kupe, his staff pointing above him, silhouetted grandly against the blue sky.
[End description.]
[Clip Nine: Miniature Railway]
>'Miniature Railway'. The camera pans along a dark grey/green locomotive engine. But this isn't a full-size engine, it is part of the Exhibition's miniature railway. The film cuts to show a small aircraft landing on the other side of a fence – showing just how close the exhibition is to the Wellington Airport. Next we watch the train snaking around the curving corners towards us. A small white dog scampers beside it, trying to out-run the train. The carriages are open so that the passengers have a good view of the sights. We watch the train from another angle, and see that the carriages have white stripes on them. Spectators huddle around the track, watching as the train goes by. The clip closes with a scene of a crowd, who are perhaps waiting for their turn on the miniature train.
[End description.]
A moving neon sign proclaims 'The Crazy House'. This was one of the most popular attractions in Playland. Because this is filmed at night, it is quite difficult to see what is happening in the first few scenes. We watch figures moving in shadows and catch glimpses of a skirt here, a pair of trousers there, as men and women walk past the camera. Quite suddenly the visitors find themselves walking on a moving floor. A man in a striped blazer reaches for the walls to stop himself from falling, but the two women behind him aren't so lucky. They tumble down, rolling over and over, with legs in the air. The floor also seems to propel people forward, tossing them back onto solid ground. We watch as several more people tumble through the obstacle; some women hold their skirts down firmly while others find their underwear on display to the camera. From the smiles on their faces, it seems that most people are enjoying their experience in The Crazy House.
[End description.]
[Clip Eleven: The 'Octopus' at Night and St Moritz Ice Show]
'This is the Octopus', but, because it is night, all we can see are its lights in an asterisk shape, spinning in the darkness. 'St Moritz Ice Show' says the neon sign, and a pair of ice dancers twirl into the next scene. The man is wearing a white shirt and black trousers, while the woman's glittery black costume resembles a bikini. They are dancing under a bright spotlight on what appears to be a very small ice rink. She bends over backwards, with her white-gloved hands on the ice, and does a handstand. She places one foot on her partner's thigh and hooks the other over his shoulder, then he raises her up into a standing position. In their next manoeuvre she is lying on her back on his shoulders, while he twirls. Finally we watch as, with her almost lying on her side on the ice, he spins her around until she lifts into the air.
[End description.]
'You Can Have One Guess' teases the title card, and then we are shown the Octopus at night, with the lights on its arms spinning in the blackness. The next cards says 'And "Goodbye" It Was Jolly Fine'. A tall tower, topped with three flags waving majestically in the wind, looms against a cloudy sky. 'The End' flashes up, its white letters fading to grey as the film finishes
[End description.]
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