Flight of Fancy
1987 Short film
- Documentary
This whimsical documentary follows Kiwi artist Michael Smither as he sets out to learn to fly. Smither exudes curiosity, laughter and joy as he develops a series of flying suits, aided by cartoonist Burton Silver and Caroline Girdlestone (who went on to wrangle animals for movies Babe and Black Sheep). Flight of Fancy is lyrical and full of surprises. Made by director Tony Hiles, it was shot on location at Farewell Spit and Wharariki Beach. The music is by Warratahs violinist Nik Brown. Hiles explored flying once more in his 1995 movie Jack Brown Genius. Writer Mary-Jane Duffy explores Flight of Fancy here.
Key Cast & Crew
IP
Ian Paul
Camera
MS
Michael Smither
Subject
NB
Nik Brown
Composer
Related collections
Related images

An original picture of Michael Smither and the flying bike.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.

On the set of Flight of Fancy.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.

Shooting Flight of Fancy.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.

Shooting Flight of Fancy.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.

Shooting Flight of Fancy.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.

Michael Smither being rigged for flight.
Kindly supplied by the Dominion Post
















