Rudall Hayward

Who was Rudall Hayward?

Rudall Charles Victor Hayward was a pioneer New Zealand filmmaker from the 1920s to the 1970s, who directed seven feature films and numerous others. He was born in Wolverhampton, England, and died in Dunedin while promoting his last film.

He was the son of Rudall and Adelina Hayward, who came to New Zealand in 1905. With Henry John Hayward Rudall senior’s brother, his parents were involved with entertainment and silent cinema in New Zealand, in West’s Pictures and The Brescians.

Rudall was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and the Waihi School of Mines. He worked in Australia c1920 under Raymond Longford, on some of Longford's films: "The Sentimental Bloke", "On Our Selection", and "Rudd’s New Selection".

He made his first two-reel comedy The Man from Freeman’s Bay in 1920. He was prosecuted by the Auckland City Council in the Police Court and fined £1 on each of two charges for putting up posters for The Bloke from Freeman’s Bay in unauthorised places contrary to city by-laws, in October 1921.

His first feature was My Lady of the Cave, then Rewi’s Last Stand, The Te Kooti Trail, and The Bush Cinderella.