Pallet on the Floor

Based on a Ronald Hugh Morrieson book, Pallet on the Floor involves a freezing plant worker (Netherwood's Peter McCauley) in an interracial marriage. For this little seen movie version, the role of an English remittance man was expanded in an attempt to snare Peter O'Toole. Kiwi-born Bruce Spence ended up in the role. The view of a 1960s small town is a dark one, with racism, boozing, violence and blackmail. The jazz-tinged score is by Jonathan Crayford, Bruce Johnstone and Bruno Lawrence. Bruno also appears briefly in the wedding band. The freezing works scenes were shot at the defunct plant in Patea.

Ronald Hugh Morrieson holds a unique place in New Zealand literature. No other writer has so vividly depicted New Zealand provincial life or captured its colloquial language.

– Julia Millen, in a Dictionary of NZ Biography profile of Ronald Hugh Morrieson

Key Cast & Crew

Peter McCauley

As: Sam Jamieson

Ronald Hugh Morrieson

Original Author

Terence Cooper

As: Brendan O'Keefe

John Bach

As: Jack Voot

Jillian O'Brien

As: Sue Jamieson

Larry Parr

Producer