Phar Lap's Son

Phar Lap's Son is a lost 1933 New Zealand black-and-white talkie comedy film directed by Frank Hurley. The film is based on the life of David J. Davis, owner of the famous racehorse Phar Lap. The film was New Zealand's second talkie and was shot on location in Dunedin, New Zealand, using the city's streets and landmarks as backdrops. Following its completion, the film was shown in Auckland and Christchurch, but it was never released commercially. Only about 45 seconds of the film exist today. Phar Lap's Son was the first New Zealand film to feature a horse as a central character. The film also marked the acting debut of New Zealand's most renowned actor, Claude Rains. Phar Lap's Son is considered to be a lost film, and very little footage of the film is still available today. The film's disappearance has been cited as one of New Zealand's greatest cultural losses.