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Queen City Rocker

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Queen City Rocker
Directed byBruce Morrison
Written byBill Baer
Richard Lymposs
Produced byBruce Morrison
Henry Fownes
Larry Parr
Michael Sterling
CinematographyKevin Hayward
Edited byMichael Hacking
Running time
90 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish

Queen City Rocker is a 1986 New Zealand film which was sold by Richard Lymposs, a sixteen-year-old youth with no prior film or writing experience.[1] Queen City Rocker was bought by Larry Parr a budding Auckland film producer in 1981 and shot in 1985. It was directed by Bruce Morrison, and starred Matthew Hunter, Mark Pilisi and Kim Willoughby. The film is also called "Tearaway".

The original story focused on the friendship between two buddies in actual warring gangs of that time in Auckland. No mention of these two gangs were in the film.

It is understood the Auckland Street gangs "The Boot Boys" and the "King Cobras" were the inspiration behind this story. In 1979–1981 in Auckland these two warring enemies had vicious street brawls – even in New Zealand's main street, Queen Street, before horror struck late night shoppers, making front-page news of New Zealand papers, where racial issues were often glossed over as harmonious.

The original story made statement to the paradox of friendship, where both youths were technically enemies, caught in amongst the lower socioeconomic times athwart with violence, in a racially charged environment, aligning with different gangs. (The Pakeha and Maori between the first generation Samoan youths). The Punk/Ska/Reggae music of the late-1970's to early-1980's was vibrant and a relevant under-swell in the Auckland music scene.

By the time Queen City Rocker was filmed the script had been softened for a potential commercial market, as had the soundtrack, and when the film was in the can the reference between real gangs had been lost and the two stars were buddies in the same "group", the term "gang" had become unpalatable.

Synopsis

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After deciding to "rescue" his sister from a massage parlor, a streetwise 19 year old is thrown out in the attempt. As the massage parlour boss is a crooked concert promoter, he and his gang plot revenge by hijacking a concert which incites the audience to riot.[1]

Cast

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  • Matthew Hunter as Ska
  • Mark Pilisi as Andrew
  • Kim Willoughby as Stacy
  • Rebecca Saunders-Smith as Fran
  • Peter Bland as Jay Ryder
  • Ricky Bribiesca as Sniper
  • Pevise Vaifale as Flak
  • Michael Morrissey as Manager
  • Rob Jayne as Ryder's Driver
  • Greer Robson-Kirk as Ska's Sister
  • Simon Cornelius as Ska's Brother
  • Norman Fletcher as Ska's Father
  • Paki Cherrington as Andrew's Father
  • Tasi Hunuki as Andrew's Mother
  • Joe Tuaimau as Andrew's Brother
  • Valesala Tuaimau as Andrew's Brother
  • Sialasau Tuaimau as Andrew's Brother
  • Charles as Andrew's Brother
  • S. Sapolu as Andrew's Grandmother
  • Liddy Holloway as Stacy's Mother
  • Roy Billing as Stacy's Father
  • Chico Morehu as Ska's Gang
  • David Clark as Ska's Gang
  • Kosta Psarras as Ska's Gang
  • Matt Palmer as Ska's Gang
  • Trevor Matthews as Ska's Gang
  • Raymond Reid as Flak's Gang
  • Howie Wikiriwha as Flak's Gang
  • Richard Valoa as Flak's Gang
  • Jay Taliaoa as Flak's Gang
  • Moses Afor as Flak's Gang
  • Atu Finau as Flak's Gang
  • Telo Malase as Flak's Gang
  • David Sharp as Flak's Gang
  • Ivan Hope Nye as Flak's Gang
  • Thomas Cassidy as Rubbish Truck-Driver
  • Martyn Sanderson as Drunk Husband
  • Annie Whittle as Drunk Wife
  • Dean Butler as Street Raver
  • Nicky Ryan as Stacy's Friend
  • Frances Chan as Stacy's Friend
  • 'Scruff' Peter Ralph as Stacy's Bouncer
  • John Davies as Hood
  • Brett Allen as Hood
  • Llewellyn Nicholson as Hood
  • Andy Cave as Hood
  • Geoff Dillon as Bouncer at Staircase
  • Alisdair Stoneman as 2nd Bouncer at Staircase
  • Johnny Bond as Middle-Aged Man
  • Bernadette Doolan as Middle-Aged Wife
  • Kim Hogan as Ryder's Hood
  • Carl Bland as Ryder's Hood
  • Shane Dawson as Ryder's Hood
  • Philip Jones as Ryder's Hood
  • David Foal as Ryder's Hood
  • Tony Renata as Ryder's Hood
  • Phil Renata as Ryder's Hood
  • Karaum Hall as Ryder's Hood
  • Rolf Littleby as Ryder's Hood
  • Robert Bell as Detective
  • Jenni Matson as Constable
  • Georgina Monro as Sympathetic Nurse
  • Maureen Whelan as Clerk 1
  • Andrew Boak as Clerk 2
  • David Cole as Surgeon
  • Andrea Kelland as Registrar
  • Peter Ashford as Bikie
  • George Henare as Raving Polynesian Man
  • Patupatu Ripley as Raving Polynesian Woman
  • Georgina Keenan as Tala
  • Paul Minifie as Tala's Customer
  • George Spores as Fran's Customer
  • Philip Thorogood as Motorcycle Courier
  • Anni Sidey as Ryder's Driver
  • Aniva Mata'afa-Hanson as Buyer's Secretary
  • Bruce Edwards as Barbeque Chef
  • Falela Vali as Kissable Girl
  • Maurice Keene as Thin Man
  • Noel Appleby as Chubby Man
  • Ajit Singh as Security Guard
  • Janek Musialkouski as Security Guard
  • Peter Stephens as Security Guard
  • Stewart Porter as Security Guard
  • Ardijah as Band at Staircase
  • Graham Brazier as Nite Attack Band
  • Dave McArtney as Nite Attack Band
  • Harry Lyon as Nite Attack Band
  • Lisle Kinney as Nite Attack Band
  • Ricky Ball as Nite Attack Band
  • Simon Alexander as Nite Attack Band
  • Stanley Morris as Backing Vocalist
  • Julie Mariu as Backing Vocalist
  • Georgina Towhatu as Backing Vocalist
  • Isaac Lucas as Seedy Man
  • Stephen Ross as Man in Street
  • Joel Tobeck

References

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  1. ^ a b "Queen City Rocker". NZ On Screen. 1986. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
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