SEEKERS 1954 Laya Raki CORNEL LUCAS PORTRAIT #P17

Original 9 1/4 inch x 7 inch Portrait of LAYA RAKI in the 1954 Ken Annakin Adventure THE SEEKERS, based on the novel by John Guthrie.

Famous for being the first ever colour film to be made in New Zealand, this Rank 1954 feature is overflowing with beautiful scenery, colour and set pieces. In 1821, British settler Phillip Wayne (Jack Hawkins) and assistant Paddy Clarke (Noel Purcell) arrive in New Zealand to explore the Bay of Plenty. Stumbling upon a Maori burial cave, they are captured and sentenced to death by the Maori for desecrating the resting place of their ancestors. Wayne’s prowess impresses the Maori chief, Hongi Tepe (Inia Te Wiata), and he offers Wayne a chance to save his life by enduring a trial by challenge. When Wayne succeeds the chief adopts him as his honorary son. Wayne then heads home and convinces his fiancée, Marion (Glynis Johns), to start a new life with him in New Zealand. Upon their return, Wayne introduces the Maori to Christianity while falling for the tribe leader's wife.

Portrait by Cornel Lucas. Born in 1923 Lucas was a world-renowned Rank Studios photographer known for his legendary black-and-white portraits of stars including Joan Collins, Brigitte Bardot, Lauren Bacall, Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn and Diana Dors, among many others.

The portrait is in very good condition with a synopsis tacked to the reverse.