Martin's Day (1984)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Alan Gibson

Writers:

Chris Bryant (writer)
Allan Scott (writer)

Release Date:

22 February 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Threatened with recapture after a prison escape, Martin Stechert grabs a 12-year-old as hostage. He proves to be named Martin...

Plot Keywords:

Hostage | Prison | Escape | Child Driving Car | Intergenerational Friendship

Cast

Richard Harris	...	Martin Steckert
Lindsay Wagner	...	Dr. Mennen
James Coburn	...	Lt. Lardner
Justin Henry	...	Martin
Karen Black	...	Karen
John Ireland	...	Brewer
Saul Rubinek	...	Hitchhiker
Dwayne McLean	...	Youngman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Aarrons	...	Malvern Cop
Frank Adamson	...	Garby
Philip Akin	...	Cop 1
Richard Blackburn	...	Marksman
Jeff Braunstein	...	Berglas
Martin Buchert	...	Young Steckert
George Buza	...	Prison Guard 1
J. Winston Carroll	...	Train Driver
Eugene Clark	...	Hydro Repairman
Bob Collins	...	Truck Driver
Richard Donat	...	Senior Policeman
Eric Fink	...	Walter
Pat Hamilton	...	Malvern Wife
John Lefebvre	...	Prison Guard 2
Cathy McClenahan	...	Police Radio Operator
Robin McCullough	...	Prison Van Guard
Michael Millar	...	Cop 2
Wesley Murphy	...	Donovan
Dini Petty	...	Newscaster
Simon Reynolds	...	Jim
Ralph Small	...	Mike
Jaclyn Stevens	...	Karen's Daughter
Hugh Webster	...	Gas Station Attendant
Roberta Weiss	...	Teenage Girl
Bob Windsor	...	Train Engineer

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Havelock, Ontario, Canada

Company:

United Artists

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Perfect World (1993)

Martin's Day, a True Gem!

I first saw Martin's Day when I was just 10 years old, at home, on The Movie Channel, and still remember the impact it made on my life. It touched me as no other film had touched me, and I remember balling my eyes out.

After the first time I saw it, I couldn't find it anywhere else. I would ask around and no one had ever heard of the film! I guess it was one of those more rare films that not many people knew about, because no one, and I mean no one, knew what I was talking about. I searched and searched throughout the years, checking video stores shelves and scanning cable TV listings, but always came up short. Finally, in 1996 I found out I could special order it, I did, and have probably watched it at least 50 times since--and it still makes me cry, every time.

Martin's Day is about Martin Steckert, a man who is in prison (but genuinely a good guy), who yearns to make it back to the special lake where he grew up as boy. This was a special place, where he lived off nature, spent time with his dog, and was left alone to enjoy life. Soon into the movie, he escapes and starts making his way back to the lake.

It isn't long before the cops find him, and Steckert grabs a child as a hostage to convince the police to back off. Soon Steckert and his hostage (the 2nd Martin) become best friends, and have many fun adventures together--from robbing a toy truck, to hi-jacking a train, all on the way to this special lake.

Throughout the movie, Steckert has great flashbacks of him at the lake as a boy.

I won't ruin the ending for you, but I will tell you, this movie is a must see. It is the BEST movie I have EVER seen in my life! I am, without a doubt, the biggest fan of this movie EVER! I managed to find the song that the two Martin's are singing throughout the movie ("I'm going back, to where I come from...). I'm even planning a trip to Canada to see the lake and cottage where Martin's Day was filmed. Crazy, I know--but that movie just means so much to me.