Sons and Heirs

Sons and Heirs (stylized in all caps) is a 2022 New Zealand independent crime film written and directed by New Zealand filmmakers Leon Eldred and Ārana Edmonds^[3] and starring Leon Eldred, Tomás Bale, Jackson Harbers and Ārana Edmonds. The film is a New Zealand venture produced by Small Boat, and distributed by them as well. The film is loosely based on the Masterton electorate voted ‘no-licence’ in 1908, it chronicles the lives of the Gazebo brother's Tony Gazebo and Ralphy Gazebo as they rise to prominence as gangsters in the Wairarapa's world of organized crime. The film explores themes of betrayal, loss, broken relationships, together with the rise of mobsters in New Zealand society.

The film was shot largely by Kuranui students.

The story is set in 1947 during the Masterton prohibition and follows two brothers, Tony and Ralphie Gazebo, and their father, Frank. Frank works in his general store, selling the juice he makes at home. He barely makes ends meet. Frank tries to take out a loan but is denied due to a pre-existing one. Two gangsters (Gorilla Goon "G.G." and Richard Saunders) prey upon this and try to get him to take out an unlawful loan. Frank tells his sons about his failure to get a loan and their uncertain future. There's an idea between the brothers to sell alcohol, but they decide it's too dangerous.

The gangsters meet up with Frank, and he tries to back out, so "G.G" simply kills him. The brothers find out about their father's death, so they set out to turn their remaining juice into alcohol and sell it. The brothers go to a local speakeasy to meet "Black" Sal, the kingpin of the gang. The brothers give Sal a sample but hand it over to "G.G" to drink; he likes it, and the brothers unknowingly make a deal to sell it to the gang that killed their father. After a meeting with a politician goes wrong, the two brothers find out that the gang is responsible for the death of their father. In turn, they set out to get their revenge. Sal makes an order for them to brew more alcohol for a gathering of Sal's gang and a rival gang to celebrate the end of the prohibition.

Tony and Ralphie begin production of the alcohol for the gathering and dose it with poison, with the intent to kill everyone at the gathering. The gathering starts, and they share drinks and listen to Sal's speech about uniting into one gang. Everyone begins vomiting as a result of the poison, except for Sal, who doesn't drink. The brothers escape the party and end up getting hunted down at their own home. The two get shot to death by Sal's Winchester.

Cameo appearances from David Seymour, Patrick Gower and Paul Moon who all lent their voices to the film.^[4]

The film was made with financial support from South Wairarapa District Council^[5] and various other community organisations.

Sons and Heirs was directed by Leon Eldred and Ārana Edmonds.^[6] Edmonds served as a producers. Music was composed by Eldred, Michael McCall and Caleb Drinnan. The crew consisted entirely of kuranui students.^[7] Edmonds create many of the film's practical effects with more than 30 litres of fake blood.^[8]

Filming began in May 2022 and finished in October. The film was shot on location around the Wairarapa, towns like Masterton, Carterton, Greytown and Featherston. With interior scenes of the General Store at Cobblestones Museum.

1. "My Dixie Sweetheart" - written by Jimmie Davis, C. Sturdevant; performed by Jimmie Davis
2. "Rocky Mountain Lullaby" - written by Bob Miller, Esther Van Sciver; performed by Elton Britt
3. "No Home" - performed by The Blue Sky Boys
4. "You're A Builder Upper" - written by Yip Harburg; performed by Will Osborne & His Orchestra
5. "A Woman's Blues" - written by Jimmie Davis; performed by Jimmie Davis
6. "I Love To Whistle" - written by Jimmy McHugh, Harold Adamson; performed by Will Osborne
7. "One Night Of Love" - written by Schortzinger Kahn; performed by Will Osborne
8. "I Stumbled Over Love" - written by Bob Wright, Chet Forreat; performed by Will Osborne
9. "Afraid To Dream" - written by Harry Revel, Mack Gordon; performed by Will Osborne
10. "It's not I'm Such a Wolf, It's Just You're Such a Lamb" from Sweetheart of Sigma Chi - written by Lanier Darwin; performed by Phil Brito and Sonny Burke
11. "You Know and I Know" - written by Benny Bell; performed by The Pony Boys

The premiere was held in Masterton on November 5, and about 150 people turned out to view the film.^[9] The film was released on DVD in November 2022.

• Cinema of New Zealand

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