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Richard Pearse
Television (Full Length) – 1975
Around 31 March 1903, eccentric farmer Richard Pearse climbed into a self-built monoplane and flew for about 140 metres, before crashing into a Waitohi gorse bush. The amount of control he maintained and exact date (before the Wright brothers?) has been oft-debated. This award-winning TV film (an early script for Hunter's Gold's Roger Simpson) dramatises the life of the reclusive young inventor and his flying machine, from his youth up until the flight itself. Actor Martyn Sanderson captures 'Mad Dick's' obsession in a Feltex-winning performance.
Hey Dicky Bird show us your wings — show us how you can fly!– A mob of local teenagers taunt Pearse (Martyn Sanderson)
Key Cast & Crew
See all 21 credits
Produced by
NZ Broadcasting Corporation
Acknowledgements
NZ On Screen acknowledges the talent and creatives for allowing NZ On Screen to reproduce this title on this website.
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