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Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs
Film (Trailer and Excerpts) – 1977 Thriller Adaptation Drama
Best of the 70s
This collection celebrates the best of 1970s television,...
NZ Book Collection
This collection features screen adaptations from New...
The Geoff Murphy Collection
This collection pays tribute to filmmaker Geoff Murphy —...
The Sam Neill Collection
Actor, director, makes the odd bottle of pinot noir: a...
The NZ Film Commission turns 40
A collection celebrating 40 years of the NZ Film...
Cowboys of Culture
Documentary on NZ's film renaissance, including this movie
Book to Box Office
This adaptation of CK Stead's novel is discussed
Kaleidoscope - Roger Donaldson in Hollywood
Interview with director Roger Donaldson
The Life of Ian
Documentary in which Ian Mune discusses Sleeping Dogs
Landfall - A Film about Ourselves
Another early Sam Neill performance
Smash Palace
Roger Donaldson's next feature film
Kaleidoscope - CK Stead
A profile of CK Stead, who wrote the original book
Kaleidoscope - NZ Cinema, the Past Decade
Sleeping Dogs features in this survey of NZ film
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Another film which featured Sam Neill on the run
Winners & Losers: The Woman at the Store
A TV film that paved the way for Sleeping Dogs
The God Boy
Another pioneering drama written by Ian Mune
NZ Film Commission turns 40 - Past Memories
Roger Donaldson on taking a strange phone call about this...
Coming Home - Roger Donaldson & Steve Millen
Dogs director Roger Donaldson features in this
Shaker Run
More dodgy NZ government forces
Start Again
Roger Donaldson documentary on NZ hippy culture
The City of No
Early TV performance from Sam Neill
The Silent One
Also adapted from classic NZ literature by Ian Mune
The World's Fastest Indian
Also directed by Roger Donaldson
Patu!
A film about the Springbok protests
Flare - A Ski Trip
Short film directed by Sam Neill
Moynihan - You Can't Win 'Em All (Episode Two)
Ian Mune stars as union organiser Leo Moynihan
Undercover
Also written by Arthur Baysting
Cow
Also starring Ian Mune
The Governor - The Reverend Traitor (Episode One)
Historical TV drama released the same year as Sleeping Dogs
Carnival Coast
Also Stars Ian Mune
Kaleidoscope - Ian Mune
Interview with actor Ian Mune
The Water Cycle
Sam Neill cameos in this 1972 NFU doco
Dean Spanley
Sam Neill stars alongside Peter O'Toole
Pheno was Here
More chaffing against the system
The Maintenance of Silence
Another film about state power and protesst
Nutcase
Also directed by Roger Donaldson
Harry - This is Personal (First Episode)
Sam Neill on the other side of the law
The Life and Times of Te Tutu - 6 (Series One, Episode Six)
Ian Mune amidst more Kiwi conflict
The Sealhunters
Sam Neill edited this short
The Neville Purvis Family Show - Episode
Co-writer Arthur Baysting stars in this
Winners & Losers: Shining with the Shiner
Another Roger Mune and Ian Donaldson collaboration
For Arts Sake - A Century of Cinema
NZ Film Commission's Lindsay Shelton discusses Kiwi films
Frontseat - Series One, Episode 14
Interview with Dogs cinematographer Michael Seresin
Smith (Sam Neill, in his breakthrough screen role) is devastated when his wife runs off with his best friend Bullen (Ian Mune). Smith escapes to the Coromandel. Meanwhile, the government enlists an anti-terrorist force to crack down on its opponents. Bullen, now a guerrilla, asks Smith to join the revolution. Directed by Roger Donaldson, this adaptation of CK Stead's novel Smith's Dream heralded a new wave of Kiwi cinema; it was one of the only local films of the 1970s to win a big local audience. This excerpt includes a much talked about scene: a baton charge by government forces.
[Sleeping Dogs] almost single-handedly created a climate of acceptance within the country for a Kiwi film industry.– Jonathan Dowling looks back at the film's impact, The Evening Post, 27 February 1988
Produced by
Aardvark Films
Availability
Available to rent and buy from NZ Film On Demand
More information
Acknowledgements
Funded with the assistance of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council
Music
Opening song 'Don't Look Back' sung and composed by Murray Grindlay
Closing credits song 'Sleeping Dogs' performed by Aerial Railway
Soundtrack includes songs by Mark Williams and Josie Hamilton Rika