The Leading Edge

Film (Full Length) – 1987

PG
Parental Guidance

The Leading Edge was Michael Firth's update of his Oscar-nominated ski movie Off the Edge (1977) — this time with a high octane pop music soundtrack. In the full-length feature, Canadian Matt hitches from Auckland to meet a bunch of Kiwi extreme thrill-seekers at a southern ski field (including real life Olympians Bruce and Christine Grant). They throw themselves off volcanoes, glaciers, mountains and into an Iron Man with "get more go" abandon. Cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh's first feature shoot — "I was relatively cheap and I could ski" — is notable for its ski sequences, and a cameo by Billy T James as a mad pilot.   

The prospectus for the movie offered 1100 investment units at $1000 (each) and it was quickly over-subscribed. ... Also formed was a special partnership to market the music from the film...
– Article in Tempo magazine, 28 August 1987

Acknowledgements

Funded with assistance from the NZ Film Commission

Music

Original music composed by Mike Farrell


Soundtrack includes song 'Fight the Power', composed by Tom Whitlock and sung by Chris Thompson (ex Manfred Mann's Earth Band)

If you liked this, you might also like...

Collection
Collection image for Speed

Speed

From fast-running humans and animals to motorhead mayhem,...

Collection
Collection image for Snow

Snow

The Snow collection features titles about New Zealand's...

Collection
Collection image for The Billy T James Collection

The Billy T James Collection

Billy T James is a Kiwi entertainment legend. This...

Thumbnail image for Off the Edge

Off the Edge

Michael Firth's first big ski movie success

Thumbnail image for The Adventure World of Sir Edmund Hillary - The Kaipo Wall

The Adventure World of Sir Edmund Hillary - The Kaipo Wall

More spectacular Kiwi adventure sport thrills

Thumbnail image for Sylvia

Sylvia

Michael Firth also directed this dramatic feature

Thumbnail image for Mount Cook - Footsteps to the Sky

Mount Cook - Footsteps to the Sky

Bruce Grant also leaps off the top of Mt Cook in this

Thumbnail image for No Mean Feat

No Mean Feat

Edge actor Mark Whetu is cameraman on this climbing doco

Thumbnail image for Landmarks - A Land Apart

Landmarks - A Land Apart

Featuring pioneering Southern Alps pilot Rudolf Wigley

Thumbnail image for The Best of The Billy T James Collection

The Best of The Billy T James Collection

A collection of classic skits from the Billy T James Show

Thumbnail image for The Glacier Climbers

The Glacier Climbers

Another journey across the Southern Alps from West to East

Thumbnail image for Lynn of Tawa - In Search of the Great New Zealand Male

Lynn of Tawa - In Search of the Great New Zealand Male

Robin Judkins also features in this doco

Thumbnail image for Last Paradise

Last Paradise

The story of NZ adventure sport

Thumbnail image for Mountain Dew on the Edge - Series Three, Episode Four

Mountain Dew on the Edge - Series Three, Episode Four

More extreme sports

Thumbnail image for Turn of the Century

Turn of the Century

History of skiing in New Zealand

Thumbnail image for Fender Bending

Fender Bending

More action sport shot by Stuart Dryburgh

Thumbnail image for Incredible Mountains

Incredible Mountains

More ski adventuring in NZ

Thumbnail image for Weekly Review No. 267 - Winter Sports at Mount Cook

Weekly Review No. 267 - Winter Sports at Mount Cook

An early NFU film about recreation at Aoraki/Mount Cook

Thumbnail image for Across the Main Divide

Across the Main Divide

An 80s main divide ski crossing

Thumbnail image for Flare - A Ski Trip

Flare - A Ski Trip

Sam Neill-directed ski film

Thumbnail image for Once Were Warriors

Once Were Warriors

Another Stuart Dryburgh classic

Thumbnail image for The Piano

The Piano

A later work from cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh

Thumbnail image for Ski New Zealand

Ski New Zealand

A 1983 NZ ski promo

Thumbnail image for Heart of the Stag

Heart of the Stag

Also directed by Michael Firth

Thumbnail image for Song of the Kauri

Song of the Kauri

Directed by star Mathurin Molgat

Thumbnail image for The Free Man

The Free Man

Trailer for a movie about extreme sports

Thumbnail image for Pāia - Zorb (Series One, Episode Five)

Pāia - Zorb (Series One, Episode Five)

More outdoor adventures