Great Movie

I grew up watching Goodbye Pork Pie. Whenever it screened on NZ TV in the 80's my parent's would let me watch it. I have watched it thousands of times and it just keeps getting better.

Whenever people mention the old mini cooper used in films they always go on about the The Italian Job (1969) (which is a good movie as well) but they always seem to leave out Pork Pie.

Goodbye Pork Pie is a fantastic movie and I'll go even further and say it's the best NZ movie ever made. Peter Jackson's movie's come a close second. GBPP has everything that you want in a movie; action, suspence, comedy, car chases.

The Time Out Film Guide criticises the movie (well what would they know?) For being sexist (silly bitch!!!) and becoming gloomy in the second half of the movie.

Well I like everything about the movie especially how GBPP becomes gloomy in the second half of the film. I think that's the best part of the film is when that get to the South Island of New Zealand. And I also like how the mini becomes a mere shell by the end, no doors, mud guards, bonnet it all gets stripped off in the film.

Actually here's some behind the scenes trivia:

A crewman working on the film actually told director Geoff Murphy what parts of the mini could easily come off.


So yeah I've really got nothing more to add except that it's a good car chase film check it out and video and dvd incidentially the british dvd is region free. Sweeeeet.


And here's more trivia:

Three 1978 Minis were used, loaned from the New Zealand Motor Corporation (assemblers of British Leyland products. One was set on fire, another got fitted with a Holden engine, and another was cut up.

Director Geoff Murphy has a brief cameo in the movie as a petrol Station attendent earlier on in the film. He's the guy John (played by Tony Barry) gives the can of drink to before speeding off without paying for the petrol.

Director Geoff Murphy's Wife (at the time) and 2 of Bruno Lawrence's kids also appear in the movie as the holidaying family who drive a similar yellow mini as the "Blondini Gang".

I'm not sure where they got the title Goodbye Pork Pie, but here's something interesting. A Jazz musician by the name of Charles Mingus wrote a Jazz piece called Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. Perhaps this is where director Geoff Murphy got the name from, after all Geoff Murphy is a fan of Jazz and used to play the trumpet in a band.