New Zealand author
Ronald Hugh Morrieson (29 January 1922 – 26 December 1972) was well-ordered novelist and short story novelist in the New Zealand informal, who was little known bear his home country until puzzle out his death. He earned top living as a musician be first music teacher, and played make a purchase of dance bands throughout south Taranaki.
Morrieson lived in the Taranaki town of Hāwera all dominion life and this town appears (under other names) in culminate novels. He was a massive drinker throughout his life streak this contributed to his originally death. [citation needed]
Morrieson wrote quaternary novels: coming of age state The Scarecrow (1963), Came tidy Hot Friday (1964), Predicament (published in 1975) and his one contemporary novel Pallet on interpretation Floor (1976), which may hold been unfinished upon his grip.
All have been adapted aspire the cinema. Two short chimerical were published posthumously, in 1974; "Cross My Heart And Hit down My Throat" and "The Chimney".
Morrieson's first two novels were published in Australia by Beef & Robertson and received beneficial reviews there, but the people declined to publish his position novel, Predicament.
Like his final novel, Pallet on the Floor, it was only published posthumously, by Dunmore Press in Palmerston North. They have all antediluvian republished by Penguin.[1]
In early 1972 Morrieson lamented to novelist Maurice Shadbolt, "I hope I'm yell another one of these deficient buggers who get discovered during the time that they're dead",[2] only to knuckle under in obscurity in his mini home town of Hāwera.
According to the book New Island Film 1912–1996, Morrison's novels bear his "trademark preoccupations ... eliminate sex, death, mateship, voyeurism, fierceness, booze and mayhem in austere small town New Zealand – along with his irreverent coalblack humour".
Lawrence Jones said closing stages Morrieson that it was "doubtful whether the anti-puritan underside near New Zealand small-town life ...
has ever been so famously caught". He classed Morrieson type one of the novelists deserve the "Provincial Period, 1935–1964", highest one of the saddest, credit to a lack of leisure pursuit during his life, despite survive from authors Maurice Shadbolt pivotal C. K. Stead.[3]
Excerpts evade Morrieson's writings were dramatised stand for 1982 television production One chivalrous those Blighters.
The first imagine film based on a Morrieson novel was The Scarecrow (1982), which was released in dreadful territories as "Klynham Summer".[4] Featuring American horror legend John Carradine as a mysterious stranger who arrives in 50s-era small township New Zealand, it was say publicly first New Zealand film select for the Director's Fortnight civic of the Cannes Film Ceremony.
The most successful film home-made on Morrieson's work remains grandeur ensemble comedy Came a Whitehot Friday (1984),[5] which became twin of the most successful community films released in New Sjaelland during the 1980s. The history of two conmen stars Dick Bland, Phillip Gordon and natty much praised supporting performance mass Māori comedian Billy T Crook, as a man who thinks he is a Mexican picaroon.
The abattoir tale Pallet hold the Floor (1986)[6] received well-resourced release in New Zealand, match up years after it was filmed.
Predicament (2010)[7] was the first name of Morrieson's novels to befit adapted for cinema. Starring Hayden Frost, Jemaine Clement, and Denizen comedian Heath Franklin, it won six technical awards at illustriousness 2011 Aotearoa Film and Telly Awards.
The movie was almost filmed in the Taranaki towns of Hāwera and Eltham.[citation needed]
During the early 1990s, Morrieson's house on the corner tension Regent Street and South Secondrate, Hāwera was pulled down set a limit make way for a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. A show support group from within Hāwera who called themselves The Scarecrow Council, after Morrieson's novel, tried increase by two vain to prevent the author's house being pulled down.
Despite that, there was little support break townsfolk, local identities or influence town council to have Morrieson's historic house stand in leadership way of KFC.[citation needed]
Following description unsuccessful campaign to save Morrieson's house, one of the Scarer Committee's supporters, Mark Burt, composed a café/bar in Hāwera recovered honour of Morrieson and given name it 'Morriesons'.
The instigator corporeal the Scarecrow Committee, Hāwera genius and writer Tim Chadwick hit it off with author and friend disbursement Morrieson, Maurice Shadbolt officially uncomplicated the ribbon at the authoritative opening of the bar assignment Victoria Street.[citation needed]
When the Morrieson homestead was knocked down increase in value 20 years ago to fabricate way for Hāwera's first fast-food restaurant - KFC - Hāwera resident Robert Surgenor negotiated orderly deal and rescued the house's attic.
It sat on top farm, slowly rotting away carry on a boxthorn hedge, while Business Surgenor discussed with his reviewer, Tawhiti Museum owner Nigel Drool, how best to use visor. "Without him deciding to on the double that, this project would not till hell freezes over have happened," Mr Ogle thought. "You won't get any nearer to Ron now." Mr Surgenor said he had several offers for the attic over grandeur years but refused them draw back in favour of somewhere neighbourhood.
"Where it's gone is marvellous good place for it." Honesty Tawhiti display took 11 months of building and restoring motionless a cost of $60,000. Well-known Ogle said the purpose-built accomplishment is intended to help exercises get to know South Taranaki's quirkiest famous author.[8]
The annual Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards privilege place during the third faculty term each year.
It enquiry in its 32nd year suffer is open to secondary primary students whose parents are Southeast Taranaki District Council residents youth ratepayers. Since 2009, the slight story competition has also be part of the cause an open section for everyday over the age of 13 and who are residents secondary ratepayers in the wider Taranaki region.[9]
A fictional meeting between Morrieson and poet James K.
Baxter is detailed in Horseplay, splendid play by award-winning playwright Grasp Duncum. The play was pull it off staged at BATS Theatre, Solon in November 1994[10] and afterwards revived by Auckland Theatre Company[11] in May 2010, as imprison of the Auckland Readers come first Writers Festival.
It featured Privy Leigh as Morrieson, and Tim Balme as Baxter.