Goin’ Down the Road is an iconic Canadian film known more to Canadians because of the SCTV parody Garth and Gord and Fiona and Alice. But what about the actual 1970 film considered to be the launching pad for English-Canadian films?
The theme of Goin’ Down the Road is about socio-economic concerns as well as the stark perceived differences between Maritimers and the big city of Toronto. Joey and Pete are Nova Scotians who travel to Toronto looking for promised jobs from those who had already fled to Toronto.
When Joey and Pete get to Toronto, they find the jobs aren’t there. They want jobs but jobs outside the menial cannery jobs back home. Sure enough, Joey gets a cannery job right away. Pete has dreams of having an office and a secretary. But he finds that he doesn’t have the experience.
Pete eventually joins Joey at the cannery plant. They find like-minded people who also fled the Maritimes for Toronto. Doubt creeps in on the way to Toronto, their first night in Toronto, and throughout the film.
They do take advantage of Yonge Street, Toronto’s iconic north-south street that divides west from east in Toronto.
The men may be out of the Maritimes but the Maritimes haven't left them.
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Betty illustrates the separation between Joey and Pete. Joey and Betty start dating almost from the time he arrives in Toronto. Soon, Betty is pregnant, adding to the economic woes of the group.
The film has a cinema vérité feel at times, almost like a documentary at times. You can forget at times that they are actors as opposed to just real people.
Toronto of 1970 feels like a long time ago but there are visible landmarks such as Allan Gardens, the new City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square, the old City Hall, The Toronto Islands, and of course, Yonge Street. The CN Tower wasn’t finished until 1976.
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Doug McGrath plays Pete, who doesn’t want to back away from an argument or a fight. McGrath brings an intensity and anger to Pete. McGrath appeared at one of the coaches in Porky's over a decade later. If you've seen Goin' Down the Road Again, McGrath is the one in that film.
Paul Bradley is Joey, the quieter of the two. Bradley brings a sadness to Joey, a simple man trying to find the Canadian dream that includes a colour TV set. Jayne Eastwood as Betty brings her own level of sadness and acceptance to their evergrowing miserable lives. Even when she is pregnant, abortion isn’t considered.
The soundtrack features a couple of Bruce Cockburn folk songs, which add an appropriate slice of Canadiana into the mix.
Goin’ Down the Road is a glimpse into what was happening in Canada with the human pipeline going west from the Maritimes. The film is about friendship and dreams of a better life.
The film won best featured film for the Canadian Film Awards. McGrath and Bradley shared the Best Actor award.
video credit: YouTube/RedLife27
photo credit: Goin' Down the Road
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