The Grey Fox (1982)

When an aging, but gentlemanly stagecoach robber is released from prison, he decides to go to Canada to become a train robber.

Director:

Phillip Borsos

Writer:

John Hunter

Stars:

Richard Farnsworth, Jackie Burroughs, Ken Pogue

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 12 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Farnsworth	...	Miner
Jackie Burroughs	...	Kate
Ken Pogue	...	Jack Budd
Wayne Robson	...	Shorty
Timothy Webber	...	Fernie
Gary Reineke	...	Detective Seavey
David Petersen	...	Louis Colquhoun
Don MacKay	...	Al Sims (as Don Mackay)
Samantha Langevin	...	Jenny
Tom Heaton	...	Tom
Jim McLarty	...	Accomplice (as James McLarty)
George Dawson	...	Accomplice
Ray Michal	...	Gunsmith
Stephen E. Miller	...	Danny Young
David L. Crowley	...	Oregon Train Crew - Engineer

Storyline

Old West highwayman Bill Miner, known to Pinkertons as "The Gentleman Bandit," is released in 1901 after 33 years in prison, a genial and charming old man. He goes to Washington to live and work with his sister's family. But the world has changed much while he has been away, and he just can't adjust. So he goes to Canada and returns to the only thing familiar to him -- robbery (with stagecoaches changed to trains).

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Plot Keywords:

train | canada | train robber | color in title | ex convict | 

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Taglines:

The robber who'll steal your heart [UK Video]

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Raposa Cinzenta

Filming Locations:

Cheakamus Canyon, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 4,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zoetrope Studios, Mercury Pictures, Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 110 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

At Canada's Genie Awards in 1983, the fourth held, the picture was nominated for thirteen awards, and won seven.

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Goofs

The intro cards state that in 1866, "the gentleman bandit" began robbing stage coaches at sixteen and committed twenty six robberies over eighteen years. Later, the card state that in 1901, he was released from prison after 33 years in San Quentin. 1901-33=1868. 1866+18=1884. (The implication is that those 33 years were consecutive and unbroken.)

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Connections

Referenced in South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000)

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Soundtracks

"The Job of Journeywork"
Arranged by Martin Fay

User Reviews

Title role in The Grey Fox is one of Richard Farnsworth's most compelling

When Richard Farnsworth died a few years ago, among the films cited were his Oscar-nominated roles in Comes a Horseman and The Straight Story, and his supporting roles in hits like The Natural and Misery. The Grey Fox rarely got a mention which is a shame because it's one of Mr. Farnsworth's most compelling as we follow his portrayal of the real-life stagecoach robber Bill Miner after being freed from jail and his attempts in living a straight life with his sister and her husband. But times have changed the last 33 years and so in the early 20th century, Miner goes back to his old habits and robs trains (he got the inspiration watching The Great Train Robbery), then poses as George Edwards in a British Columbia town with his cohorts in tow. He also later falls for a feminist who takes pictures...I'll stop there and say while Miner does bad things, he gets some admiration for the gentlemanly way he does them, hence his "gentleman bandit" moniker. If you're interested in western rarities and are a fan of Farnsworth, I highly recommend The Grey Fox.