Country Lads is a 1941 New Zealand patriotic propaganda film. It was produced by the National Film Unit for the New Zealand war effort.[1]

Country Lads
Directed byStanhope Andrews
Produced byStanhope Andrews
Edited byStanhope Andrews
Production
company
Distributed byNZ Film Archives
Release date
  • 1941 (1941)
Running time
9 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

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Country Lads (1941)

Adolf Hitler had referred to New Zealand soldiers as "poor, deluded country lads".[1] Country Lads shows the pride of Kiwi troops, emphasising ordinary men and women from all walks of life taking up the call to serve.[1] It shows the impact of war on the society of New Zealand in the 1940s.[1] The dockside goodbyes to loved ones are still poignant today.[1]

Our army, ourselves ... civilian into soldier. It's an old story, but this time it is about us, and that makes it different. There is no goose-stepping here, just the swinging stride of free men who have put on their working clothes and got into step for the biggest job ever tackled.

... the narrator

Production

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Country Lads was the first production by the newly reorganised National Film Unit.[1]

Reviews

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Country Lads". NZ On Screen. Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Cinema of Unease". NZ On Screen. Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
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