Came a Hot Friday
Set in post-war (1949) rural New Zealand, this film traces the efforts of two con men to run a betting scam in a small town (Tainuea) already rife with illegal gambling corruption, and eccentricity.
Drama
Comedy
6.5
4 reviewsRuntime: 101 min.
Budget: N/A
Revenue: N/A
Release Date: 1985-10-04
Director(s): Ian Mune
Production: New Zealand National Film Unit, Shaker Run Productions
Languages: English
IMDB: tt0088876
Where to Watch
Stream: 
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Amazon Prime VideoAmazon Prime Video with AdsRent: 
Amazon Video
Amazon VideoBuy: Amazon Video
Amazon VideoData from JustWatch
Trailers
Cast
More Like This
Recommendations
Reviews
SierraKiloBravo★ 4/106/12/2020
Click here for a video version of this review: https://youtu.be/U7w_jcSD3iE The early 80s was a time where the New Zealand film industry began to really bud and grow. One of the classics to come out of that time was _Came a Hot Friday_. Much like _Goodbye Pork Pie_ that came before it, this is a screwball comedy full of larger than life characters and general silliness. So what exactly is the story here? _Set in post-war rural New Zealand, this film traces the efforts of two con men as they run a betting scam in a small town already rife with illegal gambling, corruption, and eccentricity._ There really isn't a lot of story here and the movie is a bit of a shambles, but in a way, that's what gives it its charm. Its poorly acted and edited, but you 100% get a real sense of 1980s New Zealand, even though the movie is set in 1949. It's hard to say whether or not I recommend this. From a strictly story and quality point of view, its a bit of a disaster looking at it through modern eyes. As a slice of what we in New Zealand call "Kiwiana" though, its a treasure trove. It was a delight to see the legendary Billy T. James in this as, no less, and Maori Mexican bandito, and along with him, there were a few other familiar, albeit, much younger, faces from the NZ film and television alumni. I came across this in full on YouTube, and apart from that, I'm not sure where on earth you would be able to find a copy these days. It's not a great movie, but does have a ton of nostalgia value.