Saint Ralph (2004)

Director:

Michael McGowan

Writer:

Michael McGowan (written by)

Release Date:

8 April 2005 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Finding yourself on the starting line of life.

Plot:

Saint Ralph is the unlikely story of Ralph Walker, a ninth grader who outran everyone's expectations except his own in his bold quest of trying to win the 1954 Boston Marathon.

Plot Keywords:

Boston Marathon | Marathon | Running | Miracles | Coma

Awards:

6 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Adam Butcher	...	Ralph Walker
Michael Kanev	...	Chester Jones
Gordon Pinsent	...	Father Fitzpatrick
Tamara Hope	...	Claire Collins
Chris Anton	...	Hulk (as Chris Ploszczansky)
Paulette Sinclair	...	Secretary Roddy
Campbell Scott	...	Father George Hibbert
Shauna MacDonald	...	Emma Walker
Jennifer Tilly	...	Nurse Alice
Lubica Kucerova	...	Woman in Shower
Ben Gans	...	Senior Citizen #1
Jock McLeod	...	Senior Citizen #2
Jeff Baxter	...	Cattana
Daniel Karasik	...	Bolan
Frank Crudele	...	Mr. Karl
Jonathan Walker	...	Mr. Collins
Keir Gilchrist	...	Kid Collins
Jonathan Wilson	...	Father Gregg
Robert Smith	...	Santa Claus (as Rob Smith)
Joan Massiah	...	Mrs. Scarlet
Gerard Parkes	...	Longboat
Boyd Banks	...	Worker #1
Henry Alessandroni	...	Worker #2
Fiona Highet	...	Nurse
Brandon Barré	...	Road Runner (as Brandon Barre)
John Blakey	...	Spectator #1
Naomi Emmerson	...	Spectator #2
Sean Cullen	...	Children's Aid Officer
Barry Stillwell	...	Mr. Jones
Jonathan Higgins	...	Boston Announcer
Michael David Brown	...	John Bannon (as Michael David Bown)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Bannan	...	Priest (uncredited)
Miranda Black	...	Nurse Riggin (uncredited)
Peter Feniak	...	Reporter #2 (uncredited)
Peter Tufford Kennedy	...	Reporter (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael McGowan

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael McGowan		written by

Produced by
Brian Barrett	....	associate producer: Amaze Film
Peter Emerson	....	associate producer: Amaze Film
Teza Lawrence	....	producer
Andrea Mann	....	producer
Seaton McLean	....	producer
Marguerite Pigott	....	executive producer
Michael Souther	....	producer (as Mike Souther)
Peter Sussman	....	executive producer
Gordon Yang	....	line producer

Original Music by
Andrew Lockington

Cinematography by
Rene Ohashi		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Susan Maggi

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen
Jenny Lewis		(as Jennifer Lewis)

Production Design by
Matthew Davies

Art Direction by
Ken Watkins

Set Decoration by
Erica Milo

Costume Design by
Anne Dixon

Makeup Department
Susan Exton-Stranks	....	key hair stylist
Mary Sue Heron	....	key makeup artist (as Marysue Heron)
Candice Ornstein	....	assistant makeup artist
Andrea Tranmueller	....	assistant hair stylist (as Andrea Traunmueller)
Kiisti Matsuo	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
John Harcourt	....	post-production supervisor: Amaze Film
Jennifer Macleod	....	post-production supervisor: Amaze Film (as Jennifer MacLeod)
Stephen Paniccia	....	production executive: Amaze Film
Paul Vella	....	executive in charge of production
Gordon Yang	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Velvet Andrews-Smith	....	trainee assistant director (as Velvet Smith)
Fergus Barnes	....	first assistant director
September Death	....	second assistant director
Mark MacDonald	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Jon Bankson	....	construction coordinator
Luis Camara	....	on-set dresser
Nitram Dass	....	set dresser
Brent Kelly	....	assistant set decorator
Jordan Kerner	....	set dresser
William Legere	....	head carpenter
Jack McCullough	....	key scenic artist
Mario Moreira	....	props master assistant: on-set
David R. Murray	....	set decorator swing
James R. Murray	....	property master (as James Murray)
Sean Scoffield	....	second assistant art director
Michael Shocrylas	....	assistant art director
Adrienne Trent	....	assistant props
Richelle Wilks	....	art department apprentice
Matthew G. Wright	....	set buyer (as Matthew Wright)
Geri Bertolo	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Richard Duhaney	....	sketch artist: paper props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Marina Adam	....	foley recording assistant
Benito Amaro	....	boom operator
Steph Carrier	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Stephen Carrier)
Michele Cook	....	adr editor
Michele Cook	....	dialogue editor
Eliot Crackower	....	sound re-recording assistant
Erik Culp	....	foley recording mixer
Ronayne Higginson	....	dialogue editor
Janice Ierulli	....	dialogue editor
David McCallum	....	supervising dialogue editor
Christopher Miller	....	first assistant sound effects editor (as Chris Miller)
Brent Pickett	....	first assistant dialogue editor
Donna Powell	....	foley artist
Valentin Pricop	....	sound recordist
David Rose	....	sound effects editor
Mark Shnuriwsky	....	sound effects editor
Lou Solakofski	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alan Tang	....	assistant sound effects editor
Jane Tattersall	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Warchol	....	sound effects editor
Randy Wilson	....	foley recording mixer
David Yonson	....	adr recording engineer

Special Effects by
Reg Ashby	....	special effects key
John LaForet	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
David Alexander	....	visual effects animator
Ioan Balcosi	....	compositor
Mark Fordham	....	matte painter
Genevieve Forte	....	digital artist
Gudrun Heinze	....	lead compositor
Gudrun Heinze	....	visual effects on-set supervisor
Mary Holding	....	compositor
Elizabeth Holmes	....	compositor
Ariel Joson	....	visual effects animator
Lisa-Marie Marrelli	....	compositor
Ian Maxwell	....	visual effects coordinator
Mihaela Orzea	....	compositor
Mike Pieczonka	....	lead visual effects animator
Jane Sobel	....	visual effects coordinator
Mark Stevens	....	visual effects production assistant
Allan Walker	....	matte painter
Aaron Webster	....	visual effects animator
Tony Willis	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Jordan Anderson	....	stunt player
Randy Butcher	....	stunt coordinator
Curtis Parker	....	stunt player
Randy Butcher	....	stunt motorcycle rider (uncredited)
Blair Johannes	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Nicole Blanchard	....	clapper
Nicole Blanchard	....	film loader
Paul Cameron	....	dolly grip
Gilles Corbeil	....	Steadicam operator
Gilles Corbeil	....	camera operator
Paul Dias	....	gaffer
Rob Dias	....	electric (as Roberto Dias)
Christian Drennan	....	key grip
Shem Ellis	....	best boy electric
Carl Flood	....	electric
Amanda Goble	....	second assistant camera
Lennox Green	....	generator operator
Chris Kelly	....	grip
Chris Livingstone	....	grip
Trevor Moores	....	grip
Nick Porter	....	electric (as Nicholas Porter)
Christopher Raucamp	....	focus operator
Brent Robinson	....	underwater first assistant camera
Tyler Sellers	....	best boy grip
Amanda Wojtaszek	....	camera trainee
Ken Woroner	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Dylaine Bovaird	....	background casting assistant
Kay Denver	....	background casting
Christopher Richards	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Constance Buck	....	costume supervisor
Jennifer Buck	....	costume supervisor: extras
Anna Dal Farra	....	assistant costume designer
Nicole Pearson	....	costume truck supervisor
Sheila Radovancevic	....	costume supervisor: extras

Editorial Department
Erin Deck	....	first assistant editor
Mark Kueper	....	tape-to-tape colorist
Ricardo Olivero	....	film timer
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Daryl Branston	....	assistant music score engineer
Nicholas Dodd	....	conductor
Nicholas Dodd	....	orchestrator
Simon Edwards	....	music consultant
Andrew Lockington	....	music score producer
David Nichol	....	music copyist
Annelise Noronha	....	assistant music score engineer
Dan Parr	....	music copyist
Dennis Patterson	....	music score engineer
Michael Perlmutter	....	music supervisor: S.L. Feldman & Associates (as Michael A. Perlmutter)
Ron Searles	....	music score mixer
Ron Skinner	....	music score engineer
Lenny Solomon	....	orchestra contractor
Ron Korb	....	musician: flute (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Steven 'Sparky' Carr	....	transportation captain
Tom Chapman	....	driver
Michael Curran	....	transportation coordinator (as Michael P. Curran)
Wayne Davey	....	driver: honeywagon
Tim Fagan	....	unit driver
Larry Greer	....	driver
Steve Keates	....	driver
Paul Langdon	....	picture vehicles
Richard Miazek	....	head driver
George Palmer	....	driver
Ted Zurawel	....	driver

Other crew
Dean Armstrong	....	acting coach
Shannon Brand	....	assistant to the producers: Amaze Film
Anthony Carovillano	....	on-set craft service
Jill Carter	....	script supervisor
Jane Douglas	....	post production accountant
Aaron Horton	....	production assistant
Dennis Jacobson	....	first assistant accountant
Susan James	....	production coordinator
Tam Khuu	....	post production accountant
Jane Kim	....	production assistant (as Jane G. Kim)
Janice Lee	....	publicist
Robin Oliphant	....	production financing
Chandra-Li Paul	....	accommodation coordinator
Steena Petersen	....	on-set craft service
Irene Phelps	....	production accountant
Catherine Sample	....	assistant production coordinator
Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy	....	story editor
James Stevens	....	assistant location manager
Vess Stoeva	....	third assistant accountant
Beth Sulman	....	unit publicist
Michael Tough	....	location manager
Sue Valencia	....	business and legal affairs
Donald Vermeer	....	on-set craft service
Rick Whalen	....	location production assistant
Andrea Eisen	....	tutor (uncredited)

Thanks
Mark Daniels	....	thanks
Louis DiFlorio	....	thanks (as Lou DiFlorio)
Gord Downie	....	thanks
Gord Kemp	....	thanks
Larry Lawrence	....	thanks
Martha Lawrence	....	thanks
Gerry McGowan	....	thanks
Mary McGowan	....	thanks
Evan Solomon	....	thanks
Don Souther	....	thanks
Myrtle Souther	....	thanks
Ryan St. Peters	....	thanks
Justin Stephenson	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Alliance Atlantis Communications (presents) (production) (as Alliance Atlantis)
• Amaze Film + Television (production) (as Amaze Film)
• Running Miracles Productions

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Communications (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Bazuca Films (2008) (Chile) (all media)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Corus Entertainment (2004) (Canada) (all media) (for West of Ontario)
• EuroVideo (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Movie Network, The (2004) (Canada) (all media) (for Ontario and The Maritimes) (as The Movie Network Astral Media)
• Odeon Films
• SND (2005) (France) (all media)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2005) (USA) (all media)
• Super Écran (2004) (Canada) (all media) (for Quebec) (as Super Écran Astral Media)

Special Effects

• Calibre Digital Pictures (visual effects) (as Calibre)

Other Companies

• Astral Media  developed and produced with the participation of (as Astral Media The Harold Greenberg Fund)
• Boston Athletic Association  the filmmakers wish to thank
• Canadian Television Fund  produced with the participation of
• Casablanca Sound Services  post-production (as Casablanca)
• City of Cambridge  the filmmakers wish to thank
• City of Hamilton  the filmmakers wish to thank
• City of Toronto, Ontario  the filmmakers wish to thank (as City of Toronto)
• Corus Entertainment  produced with the participation of
• Entertainment Partners Canada  payroll services (as Entertainment Partners Canada Inc.)
• Film Effects  title design and digital opticals by (as Film Effects Inc.)
• Government of Canada - Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit Program  produced with the assistance of (as The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit)
• Government of Ontario: Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Program  produced with the assistance of
• Hamilton Port Authority  the filmmakers wish to thank
• Jones Brown Insurance  insurance (as Jones Brown Inc.)
• Movie Central  developed and produced with the participation of (as Movie Central, a Corus Entertainment Company)
• Movie Network, The  produced with the participation of (as The Movie Network Astral Media)
• Production Services  camera equipment provided by
• Regional Municipality of Waterloo  the filmmakers wish to thank
• Rights Company, The  clearances provided by
• Rights Company, The  script research services
• Royal St. George's College  the filmmakers wish to thank
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music supervision
• Starcraft  craft service
• Studio Catering  catering
• Super Écran  produced with the participation of (as Super Écran Astral Media)
• Téléfilm Canada  produced with the participation of (as Telefilm Canada)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and partial nudity

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Germany:6 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | UK:12 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

The name of the imaginary author of Ralph's manual on long-distance running, Simon Longboat, was borrowed from the great Canadian runner Tom Longboat, who won the Round the Bay Race in 1906 and the Boston Marathon in 1907.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The actual winner of the 1954 Boston Marathon was Veikko Karvonen from Finland. His finish time was 2:20:39.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ralph Walker:Forgive me father for I have sinned. It has been 11 weeks since my last confession.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Hour: Episode #7.24" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Hallelujah

Delightful

Every once in a while, a "feel good" movie pops up that surprises me. Always on the look-out for movies that my wife will watch, I picked this off the shelf and was simply delighted watching it. The story was better than the run of the mill tear-jerker and was made credible by the performance of young Mr. Butcher in the title role, the sweet and beautiful teenage Ms. Hope and the convincing performances of Campbell Scott and Gordon Pinsent as the priests with opposing views. To a pair of cradle Catholics like my wife and I who grew up in the 50s, the bittersweet romance of coming of age was very compelling. In short, this is a good film. Enough nostalgia to spark old memories for oldies like us and with enough sentiment not to be overly sentimental and maudlin. Check it out. You'll be glad you did.