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Sleeping Dogs
Film (Trailer and Excerpts) – 1977
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 novel Smith's Dream heralded a new wave of Kiwi cinema. It was one of the only Kiwi films of the 1970s to win a big local audience. This excerpt includes a much discussed scene: a baton charge by government forces, predating the real life conflicts of the 1981 Springbok tour.
[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
Key Cast & Crew
See all 55 credits
Produced by
Aardvark Films
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
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Documentary on the making of Sleeping Dogs
Dream in the Making - The Making of Sleeping Dogs
Behind the scenes of feature Sleeping Dogs
Smash Palace
Roger Donaldson's next feature film
The Life of Ian
Documentary in which Ian Mune discusses Sleeping Dogs
Kaleidoscope - CK Stead
A profile of CK Stead, who wrote the original book
Book to Box Office
This adaptation of CK Stead's novel is discussed
Kaleidoscope - Roger Donaldson in Hollywood
Interview with director Roger Donaldson
The City of No
Early TV performance from Sam Neill
Cowboys of Culture
Documentary on NZ's film renaissance, including this movie
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Another film featuring Sam Neill on the run
Kaleidoscope - Ian Mune
Interview with actor Ian Mune
Coming Home - Roger Donaldson & Steve Millen
Director Roger Donaldson features in this
Kaleidoscope - NZ Cinema, the Past Decade
Sleeping Dogs features in this survey of NZ film
Gordon Bennett
Co-star Nevan Rowe directed this short film
Landfall - A Film about Ourselves
Another early Sam Neill performance
Winners & Losers: The Woman at the Store
A TV film that paved the way for Sleeping Dogs
The Silent One
Another Ian Mune adaptation of a classic NZ novel
The World's Fastest Indian
A music video directed by Roger Donaldson
The Neville Purvis Family Show - Episode
Co-writer Arthur Baysting stars in this
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...
Shaker Run
More dodgy NZ government forces
Undercover
More drama involving authority written by Arthur Baysting
Start Again
Roger Donaldson documentary on NZ hippy culture
Sheba (She Sha She Shoo)
Composer Murray Grindlay had a pop career too
Patu!
A film about the Springbok protests
The Making of Smash Palace
Documentary on Roger Donaldson's second movie
Flare - A Ski Trip
Short film directed by Sam Neill
Winners & Losers: Shining with the Shiner
Another Roger Mune and Ian Donaldson collaboration
Moynihan - You Can't Win 'Em All (Episode Two)
Ian Mune stars as union organiser Leo Moynihan
Pheno was Here
More chaffing against the system
Frontseat - Series One, Episode 14
Interview with Sleeping Dogs cinematographer Michael Seresin
Nutcase
Also directed by Roger Donaldson
Cow
Also starring Ian Mune
The Governor 1 - The Reverend Traitor (First Episode)
Historical TV drama released the same year as Sleeping Dogs
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Also Stars Ian Mune
The Maintenance of Silence
Another film about state power and protesst
The Water Cycle
Sam Neill cameos in this 1972 NFU doco
Dean Spanley
Sam Neill stars alongside Peter O'Toole
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Sam Neill on the other side of the law
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Ian Mune amidst more Kiwi conflict
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Sam Neill edited this short
For Art's Sake - A Century of Cinema
NZ Film Commission's Lindsay Shelton discusses Kiwi films
The Grass is Greener - Sam Neill
Documentary about Sam Neill's Australian acting career
Geoff Perry
Early Roger Donaldson documentary about a Kiwi racer
Holmes - Roger Donaldson
Interview with Roger Donaldson in Queenstown
Derek
Another screen breakthrough by Roger Donaldson & Ian Mune
Cape Horn for the Hell of It - Around Cape Horn
Early documentary from Roger Donaldson
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Sam Neill playing another isolated character