The chase for The Grey Fox wasn't as significant as the search was for Goin' Down the Road. Still, the film's spot on the TIFF Top 10 all-time Canadian films list in 1984 (tied for 5th with Les Ordres) and 1993 (8th) brought a lot of curiosity. The premise for The Grey Fox seemed simple: after 33 years, stagecoach robber Bill Miner leaves prison as an old man in 1901. Miner eventually gets to Canada where he then robs trains.
Bill Miner was a real person who went from the United States to Canada. American actor Richard Farnsworth is very well-cast as Miner.
The early part of the film focuses on how the world has changed around him: new technologies such as a mechanised apple peeler, automobiles, and movie theatres.
Miner and his new partner Shorty (Wayne Robson) hide out in Kamloops, British Columbia after robbing trains. There, Miner meets feminist and photographer Katherine Flynn (Jackie Burroughs). He doesn't seem like a hardened criminal in trying to woo Flynn but that is part of his charm.
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Miner is inspired in the film to rob trains based on the 1903 film The Great Train Robbery. A younger ex-con needles Miner because there are no more stagecoaches after Miner says professionals have to specialise.
The time gap is a concern since you don't get the impression that 2 years have gone by within the film. Amusing that the only time we see snow is when Miner first crosses into Canada. Almost a secret message that Canada means snow.
The writing of John Hunter and direction of Phillip Borsos gives the audience a dry presentation. The slow pace and beautiful British Columbia scenery tell their own story. Farnsworth's charm as Miner helps the story go along.
The film debates whether an animal can change its stripes or is destined to keep doing what made them who they are.
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Is The Grey Fox a Top 10 Canadian film? I've seen the top 9 Canadian films from both the 1984 list and the 1993 list. I wouldn't rank the film as high in either survey but a Top 10 finish for what Canadian film was back then is understandable. The standards were pretty low for a long time in Canadian film.
I've seen every film on the 2004 list; The Grey Fox would not have made my Top 10.
The Grey Fox is a heartily recommended film. The film tells a story in a way that is heartwarming but not in a corny way. Just not in a Top 10 kind of way.
photo credit: The Grey Fox film
video credit: YouTube/kinolorber
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