Pallet on the Floor

A murderous black comedy set in a bleak sea-side freezing works town in 1966.

Pallet on the Floor, New Zealand, 1984

Mirage Films
Director: Lynton Butler
Producer: Larry Parr
Production Supervisor: Dorthe Scheffmann
Screenplay: Martyn Sanderson, Lynton Butler, Robert Rising
From original source by: Ronald Hugh Morrieson
Director of photography: Kevin Hayward
Editor: Patrick Monaghan
Costume designer: Christine West
Gaffer: Stuart Dryburgh

With: Peter McCauley (Sam Jamieson), Jillian O'Brien (Sue Jamieson), Bruce Spence (Basil Beaumont - Foster), Bruno Lawrence (Ronald Hugh Morrieson), Shirley Gruar (Miriam Breen), Alistair Douglas (Stan Breen), Tony Barry (Larkman), Jeremy Stephens (Spud McGhee), Michael Wilson (Shorty Larsen), Terence Cooper (Bendon O' Keefe), John Bach (Jack Voot), Ian Watkin (Amos)

35mm, 90 minutes, M-contains violence & offensive language

A murderous black comedy set in a bleak sea-side freezing works town in 1966. It is the story of Sam Jamieson and his small band of hard-drinking, eccentric friends. Their adventure begins at night, when a violently drunk truck driver, Jack Voot, attacks Sam's young wife, intent on rape. Sam and his mates arrive at the height of the struggle and kill Voot - a result that nobody regrets except that it gives rise to a blackmail claim and unleashes the fury of Jack's elder brother.
Adapted from the Ronald Hugh Morrieson novel (1976).

Read more about RH Morrieson on Puke Ariki's website http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/arts/morriesongoth.asp

Screening: Pallet on the Floor screened on 13 August 2009 as part of a series of the adaptations of the novels of RH Morrieson.