The Grey Fox

Infobox Film
name = The Grey Fox


image_size =
caption =
director = Phillip Borsos
producer = Peter O'Brian
writer = John Hunter
narrator =
starring = Richard Farnsworth
Jackie Burroughs
Wayne Robson
Ken Pogue
music = Michael Conway Baker
nowrap|Paddy Moloney (main theme)
cinematography = Frank Tidy
editing = Frank Irvine
distributor = Zoetrope Studios
released = flagicon|Canada December 16, 1982
flagicon|USA 18 March, 1983
runtime = 110 min
country = Canada
language = English
budget = nowrap|CDN$4 500 000
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0085622

"The Grey Fox" is a 1982 Canadian film written by John Hunter and directed by Phillip Borsos. It is based on the true story of Bill Miner, an American stagecoach robber who staged Canada's first train robbery on September 10, 1904. The film stars Richard Farnsworth as Miner. The cast also features Jackie Burroughs, Ken Pogue, Wayne Robson, Gary Reineke and Timothy Webber.

Plot summary

Stagecoach robber Bill Miner (Richard Farnsworth) is caught and sent to prison for 33 years. He is finally released in 1901. He wanders around, a man out of place in the new century, until he sees one of the first movies, "The Great Train Robbery", and is inspired to copy it in real life. After several unsuccessful attempts, he achieves his goal and hides out in a mining town in British Columbia, becoming a respectable resident. There, he meets and falls in love with early feminist and photographer Katherine Flynn (Jackie Burroughs). He considers settling down with her, but one last robbery proves to be his downfall.

Cast

*Richard Farnsworth as Bill Miner / George Edwards
*Jackie Burroughs as Katherine 'Kate' Flynn
*Ken Pogue as Jack Budd
*Wayne Robson as Shorty (William) Dunn
*Timothy Webber as Sergeant Fernie
*Gary Reineke as Pinkerton Detective Seavy

Awards

"The Grey Fox" has been designated and preserved as a "masterwork" by the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada, a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the preservation of Canada’s audio-visual heritage. [cite web |url=http://avtrust.ca/masterworks/2001/en_film_3.htm |title=Masterworks: The Grey Fox (1983) |publisher=avtrust.ca]

At the 4th Genie Awards in 1983, "The Grey Fox" was nominated for thirteen awards and won seven:

* Best Picture
* Best Director (Borsos)
* Best Foreign Actor (Farnsworth)
* Best Supporting Actress (Burroughs)
* Best Original Screenplay (Hunter)
* Best Art Direction (Bill Brodie)
* Best Musical Score (Michael Conway Baker)

It has also been listed in the Toronto International Film Festival's TIFF List of Canada's Top Ten Films of All Time in 1984 and 1993.

Critical reaction

Roger Ebert praised the film as "a lovely adventure" and gave it 3 1/2 stars. [cite web |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19820101/REVIEWS/201010328/1023 |title=The Grey Fox |publisher=rogerebert.suntimes.com |date=January 1 1982 |accessdate=2007-11-29] Rotten Tomatoes gave it a rare 100% fresh rating. [cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/grey_fox/ |title=The Grey Fox (1983) |publisher=rottentomatoes.com |accessdate=2007-11-29]

References

External links

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