Billy T. James

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.

Cinema documentary feature celebrating iconic New Zealand entertainer, Billy T James.

In April 1990, Billy Taitoko James came back from years of ill health, and made a triumphant return to performing his unique brand of music and comedy. It was a last hurrah for James, whose transplanted heart gave out on him the following year, but it's a worthy swansong. His unique brand of humour is captured here at its affable, non-PC, best, with Billy T giving everything he's got - every gag is rounded off with his trademark 'bro' laugh - for a loudly appreciative audience. Guests include Sir Howard Morrison.

A bored Colorado ski patrolman comes to New Zealand for the winter season. In between skiing on various North and South Island fields and preparing for the "Ironman' endurance contest, he has a good time with the people he meets. Billy T. James features briefly as an entertainer cum 'fright-a-minute'- aviator. This is a hybrid genre, a semi-dramatized documentary with champion skiers playing themselves.

Featuring the characters from Murray Ball's "Footrot Flats" (New Zealands most beloved local cartoon strip), questions to be answered include: Will Wal Footrot win the affections of Cheeky Hobson over the sleazy Spit Murphy? Will the Dog win the affections of the lovely Jess? Will Wal make a good impression on the selectors at Saturday's rugby match? Can Rangi and Pongo save Cooch's prize stag from the depths of Blackwater Station, home of the Murphys, their vicious dogs and deadly croco-pigs? All this and more will be answered as the small town of Raupo comes to life on the big screen.

Everyone is always asking for a DVD with more of Billy T sketches, well here it is, the pick of the skits "The Man, The Legend, The Cuz" featuring those favourite characters, from The News, The Traffic Cop, The Hard Case, The Tanula Kid, The Firing Squad and lots, lots more. "The Man, The Legend, The Cuz" higlights Billy's enormous talents as a comedian, entertainer, singer and actor with plenty of never seen before on DVD clips of Billy's funniest classic moments. "The Man, The Legend, The Cuz" demonstrates Billy's great ability at impersonation from John Wayne to Ronald Reagan to Adolf Hitler!!!