Audio recording of Tom McDermott introducing Rudall Hayward’s film “The Te Kooti Trail” in 1964.
McDermott played Gilbert Mair in the film. He discusses Te Kooti and some of the historical incidents and figures portrayed in the film as well as the making of the film in 1927.
This audio is likely from around the same time as the 1964 screening by the Upper Hutt Film Society, which was featured in a news article in the Upper Hutt Leader:
“Original Actor Present At Upper Hutt Screening Of 37-Year-Old Film
UNIQUE film of great historical interest was screened by the Upper Hutt Film Society last week when one of New Zealand's earliest ventures into film-making - "The Te Kooti Trail," made in 1927 by Aucklander, Rudall Hayward, was shown to a large gathering of members. A delightful feature of the evening was the presence of one of the original actors, 79-year-old Mr Tom McDermott, who played the part of Captain Mair in the film 37 years ago and who gave an explanation of the film and told the story of its survival.
Mr McDermott, who has been a resident of the Plateau, Te Marua, for the past seven years,, possessed the only existing copy of "Te Kooti's Trail" which lay disintegrating in its metal container in his garage. The National Film Library heard of its existence and requested that they might be allowed to salvage the film and convert it from 35 mil. to 16 mil. and thus retain it in serviceable form for posterity.
This was done earlier this year and although some of the film has been lost forever through deterioration, it still runs for 90 minutes and according to experts stands up to comparison with modern films amazingly well.
PROFESSIONAL
The general impression at the Film Society evening was of a beautifully acted and artistically photographed film which showed considerable maturity and professional finish. It showed too, that, film producers in the early days cared passionately about historical accuracy for many of the scenes were filmed on the exact spots where the original incidents look place around Whakatane and the Urewera Country and great efforts were made by the producer to have every detail correct. Te Kooti was one of the most, colourful and dynamic figures in early New Zealand history and his exploits a worthy subject for a film. However, the first appearance of the film caused, an uproar in the censor's office and it was promptly banned because of its disturbing realism. It was later released because it was proved beyond doubt to be based on truth and not fiction.
STILL INTERESTED
When visited by the "Leader-", Mr McDermott showed that he still has a deep interest in films and film-making. With his spare athletic figure moving swiftly and a gay Scottish tam-o-shanter jauntily on his head he seemed far less than his age. Starting out in life as a school teacher, Mr McDermott quickly found that his real interests lay in show business and after a period as a full-time professional actor with an Australian drama company he joined the firm of J. C. Williamsons and managed theatres and stage-managed local and visiting shows throughout New Zealand until he joined Amalgamated Theatres and was their Wellington Executive until his retirement 10 years ago. The revival of "Te Kooti's Trail" also revived correspondence between Mr McDermott and the film's producer, Mr Rudall Hayward, who is living in Auckland and still operating "Hayward Film Productions" described as the oldest established film producing unit in New Zealand. In a letter to Mr McDermott a few months ago, Mr Hayward said he was delighted lo hear that "The Te Kooti Trail" was being shown by Film Societies and hoped that an earlier film of his, "Rewi's Last Stand" (made in 1925), might similarly be revived.
MEMORIES
He wrote: "There are so many memories come crowding back when I think of 'Te Kooti Trail' days. I can see you hopping in to it as you always did, digging the redoubt, chasing along the tracks in the forest. We had so many good friends working with us-and how they worked. What vast enthusiasm they generated enabling us to produce something that is still valuable, though at the time we never dreamed it would have screenings so long after.
"Tom, you were part of the team and always with us on these fantastic ventures so often described as the work of 'incurable optimists', but we, who by the chance of life are still alive and able to look back, now have the interest and satisfaction of finding that there are still people who are interested and entertained."
It is satisfying to know too, that, a copy of this historic film "Te Kooti's Trail" is to be preserved for all time along with Tom McDermott's fascinating taped commentary, in the National Archives in Wellington.”
Source: Upper Hutt Leader, Volume XXI, Number 35, 23 September 1964, p6 https://newspaperarchives.uhcc.govt.nz/?a=d&d=UpperHuttLeader19640923&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-tom+mcdermott------