Starlight Hotel
{{Short description|1987 New Zealand Depression-era drama film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2023}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Starlight Hotel
| image = Starlight_Hotel_1987_New_Zealand.jpeg
| caption =
| director = Sam Pillsbury
| producer = Finola Dwyer
Larry Parr
| writer = Grant Hindin-Miller
| narrator =
| starring = Greer Robson-Kirk
Peter Phelps
Bruce Phillips
| music = Andrew Hagen
Morton Wilson
| cinematography = Warrick Attewell
| editing = Michael Horton
| studio = Challenge Film Corporation
New Zealand Film Commission
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1987}}
| runtime = 93 minutes
| country = New Zealand
| language = English
| budget =
}}
Starlight Hotel is a 1987 New Zealand Depression-era drama film.{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Helen |last2=Edwards |first2=Sam |title=New Zealand film, 1912-1996 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/23627951 |website=Trove |publisher=Auckland ; Melbourne ; Oxford :Oxford University Press |access-date=13 January 2023 |date=1997}}{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Scott |author-link1=Scott Murray (filmmaker)|title=A Short History of Film in New Zealand 1977-1994|url=https://issuu.com/libuow/docs/cinemapaper1994aprno097-098|access-date=16 January 2023|issue=97–98|work=(Issuu p 61)|publisher=Cinema Papers New Zealand Supplement |date=April 1994|page=15}}
Synopsis
During the Great Depression era of the 1930s in New Zealand's South Island, two outcasts, one of them a 13-year-old in search of her father, link up and become friends.{{cite web |title=Starlight Hotel |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/starlight-hotel-1987 |website=NZ On Screen |publisher=New Zealand Film Commission |access-date=16 January 2023 |date=1987}}{{cite web |title=Starlight Hotel |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150293048 |publisher= British Film Institute |access-date=16 January 2023 |date=1987}}{{cite web |title=Starlight Hotel |url=https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/films/starlight-hotel |publisher=New Zealand Film Commission |access-date=18 January 2023}}
Cast
{{Cast list|
- Greer Robson-Kirk as Kate
- Bruce Phillips as Kate's Father
- Alice Fraser as Aunt
- Patrick Smyth as Uncle
- The Wizard of New Zealand as Swaggie
- John Watson as School Teacher
- Robin Harris as Minister
- Vanessa Young as Schoolgirl #1
- Teresa Bonney as Schoolgirl #2
- Duncan Anderson as Railway Foreman
- Russell Gibson as Railway Worker
- Marshall Napier as Det. Wallace
- Norman Forsey as Farmer
- Craig Halkett as Farmer's Son
- Peter Phelps as Patrick
- Louise Petherbridge as Chairwoman
- Laura Robertson as Panel Member
- Robert Borthwick as Panel Member
- Geoffrey Wearing as Panel Member
- Ian Elliot as Man in Village Hall
- Lex Cochrane as Cop on Bike
- Peter McCauley as Repo Man
- William Walker as Repo Man (as Bill Walker)
- Mervyn Glue as Mr. Skip
- Shirley Kelly as Mrs. Skip
- Peter Brunt as Constable #1
- Donogh Rees as Helen
- Timothy Lee as Bailiff
- Michael Brown as Street Speaker
- Lee Matheson as Constable #2 (as Lex Matheson)
- Peter Dennett as Des
- Yvonne Martin as Desk Nurse
- Reuben Pillsbury as Boy in Hospital
- Deanna Briant as Sister
- Sue Curnow as Barbara
- Gary McCormick as Desk Cop
- Kath Te Maiharda as Salvation
- Doug Randall as Tent Town Henry
- Janice Gray as Pickup Driver
- Pat Anglem as Maori Woman
- Janet Ruben as Maori Woman
- Desmond Kelly as Train Gateman
- Patrick Paynter as Station Master
- Judy Cleine as Social Worker
- John Mellor as Sailor
}}
Reception
- Variety, reviewing the film after viewing it at the Cannes Film Festival, found "the film benefits tremendously from the charismatic performances of the leads" and called it "a very appealing pic."{{cite magazine |id={{ProQuest|1438489698}} |title=Film review: Cannes Market Selections - Starlight Hotel |magazine=Variety |volume=327 |issue=4 |date=20 May 1987 |page=44 }}
- TV Guide described Starlight Hotel as "Beautifully photographed...Had [the actors'] performances been weaker, the story might easily have been lost in the gorgeous photography of the magnificent New Zealand countryside...even though they realized it would require considerable extra expense, Mirage decided the incredible natural beauty of the South Island would immeasurably enhance the film, and they shot the entire film there."{{cite news |title=Starlight Hotel |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/starlight-hotel/review/2000346378/ |access-date=16 January 2023 |publisher=TV Guide |date=1987}}
- Best Family Videos gave it an A− quality rating and recommended it for teens to adults.{{Cite book |last1=Schultze |first1=Quentin J. |title=The best family videos |date=1995 |publisher=Augsburg |first2=Barbara |last2=Schultze |isbn=0-8066-2812-X |edition=2nd |location=Minneapolis |page=129 |oclc=32339933 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=94031}}
- [https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/sites/default/files/2017-11/Press_Kit-Starlight_Hotel.pdf Starlight Hotel (1987) press kit]
{{Sam Pillsbury}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Starlight Hotel}}
Category:1980s New Zealand films
Category:1980s English-language films