Weekly Review No. 416 - Prelude to Aspiring

Prelude to Aspiring was the first National Film Unit title directed by legendary photographer Brian Brake, soon after he joined the Unit in 1948. It follows a group of climbers up the Matukituki Valley, west of Wanaka, towards Mt Aspiring for the opening of a new hut and a trudge through snow to resurrect a flattened shelter high up Mt French. The autumn alpine scenery is breathtaking even in black and white, and the film perfectly performs its role as one of a series of promotional ‘documentaries' made by the NFU.

Key Cast & Crew

Brian Brake

Director, Camera

Stanhope Andrews

Producer

Geoffrey Scott

Technical Supervisor

Claude Wickstead

Sound

Cyril Morton

Production Supervisor

William Austin

Narrator