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Synopsis

This educational video was made by the NFU for the National Mountain Safety Council to promote awareness of bush safety. After a blackboard science lesson (check out a bearded Ray Henwood) things get interesting. A fictional trip into the bush turns into a Stubbies-clad 70s Kiwi version of the Blair Witch Project as we're told that one of the group will not survive the night, picked off by that fearsome killer: exposure. The message is serious, but the doom-laden tone induced titters in school classrooms and scout halls throughout NZ.

Background

A perspective by Paul Stanley Ward 18.01.2009

Watching Such a Stupid Way to Die awakened my memories of an 80s pre-school camp instructional video session. Knowing winks and nudges were exchanged in the darkened classroom when the hapless Thomas, suffering from hypothermia, is given ...

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Credits (7)

 Philip McDonald
 David Fowler
 Dale Pomeroy

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Comments (7)

 Ed

Ed

Heh, I remember seeing this in intermediate school back in 1983 or thereabouts. Sounds like the music was swiped from the Beatles' "A Day in the Life".

 Shaun

Shaun

it would be interesting to watch this video here i found on the NFU's website, its dated 1955 and covers Bushcraft and mountain saftey
http://audiovisual.archives.govt.nz/wiki/index.php/SAFETY_IN_THE_MOUNTAINS_-_BUSHCRAFT

 tommy coogan

tommy coogan

I too saw this before 3rd form camp to TripleX hutt in the Ruahines.
I found the films opening statement with its music quite eerie.

Thomas Coogan
Palmerston North
I knew every year when a new class had just seen the vid.

 Shaun

Shaun

I remember them showing this film to us in 1997 before our school camp, i thought it was old even then! lol

 David Smith

David Smith

Hi. Archives NZ has the film info sheets for all of the NFU films including the Pictorial Parade editions from about 1950 onwards. These cover key production staff on each film including composers when they were commissioned. According to the film info sheet the music used on Such a Stupid Way To Die came from music library disks. If you really want to know you could try looking at the original production file at Archives NZ which may have the music cue sheet with the disk and track names listed. Cheers David

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