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Hero image for Keep on the Sunny Side

Keep on the Sunny Side

Film (Full Length) – 1970

In this half-hour documentary the National Banjo Pickers' Convention is lovingly showcased — as are the flared pants, unruly beards and smoking pipes of 1970. The convention's fourth and final year featured international acts such as Bill Clifton and Frank Sillay, plus local favourites like The Hamilton Bluegrass County Band. Keep on the Sunny Side was one of the 2,400 titles selected to be preserved by Saving Frames — a government-funded project lead by the Film Archive (now Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision) and Park Road Post, to preserve culturally significant films in danger of being lost.   

Some people seem to think there is something a bit artificial about New Zealanders singing American folk music, but I reckon that's rubbish. It's music; you sing it because you want to sing it.
– Musician Frank Sillay

Key Cast & Crew

Generic Profile image for David Tossman

David Tossman

Editor

Profile image for Alan Smythe

Alan Smythe

Writer

Generic Profile image for Kel Peach

Kel Peach

Camera

Profile image for Bob Harvey

Bob Harvey

Producer

Generic Profile image for Warwick Brock

Warwick Brock

Director, Writer

Generic Profile image for Tong Wong

Tong Wong

Camera

See all 11 credits

Produced by

Daisy Films

Acknowledgements

Preserved through a partnership between The Film Archive (now Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision), Park Road Post Production and the New Zealand Government

Music

Featuring music from Frank Sillay, Stoney Lonesome, Max Winnie, Bill Clifton and The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band 

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