A Bear Named Winnie (2004)

It's 1914, the beginning of WWI. In White River, Ontario, en route to a training camp in Valcartier, Québec, with the Winnipeg section of the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, Army Lieutenant... See full summary »

Director:

John Kent Harrison

Writers:

Simon Vaughan (story), John Goldsmith,

Stars:

Michael Fassbender, Gil Bellows, David Suchet

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Fassbender	...	Lt. Harry Colebourn
Gil Bellows	...	Col. John Barret
David Suchet	...	General Hallholland
Stephen Fry	...	Protheroe
Jonathon Young	...	2nd Lt. Ian Macray
Aaron Ashmore	...	Corporal Randy Taylor
Ted Atherton	...	Captain Elliot
Robert Gauvin	...	Sgt. Major Picard
Joshua Ballard	...	Timmy
Miriam Smith	...	Timmy's Mother
Arne MacPherson	...	Wallace
Nathan Valente	...	Evans
Stan Lesk	...	George
Chris Sigurdson	...	Major Crawford
Carson Nattrass	...	Captain Osbourn

Storyline

It's 1914, the beginning of WWI. In White River, Ontario, en route to a training camp in Valcartier, Québec, with the Winnipeg section of the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, Army Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, who has a natural rapport with animals, saves a black bear cub from being killed by a hunter, who killed the cub's mother. Not knowing what else to do with the cub, Harry brings her along to camp to act as the unit's mascot, who he names Winnie - short for Winnipeg. Most of the men in the unit bond with Winnie, but having such a mascot is against the wishes of the head of the Canadian Expeditionary Force's veterinary division, Colonel Barret. Barret is a tough but fair man, who may have more problems than Winnie in the form of the Expeditionary Force's commanding officer, General Hallholland, a dipsomaniac who uses his position in the army for his own vainglorious purposes. Winnie's stay with Harry and the unit is not always a smooth one, especially in trying to stay under Barret's...

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Plot Keywords:

inspiration | zoo | soldier | winnie the pooh | bear | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic material and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

CBC [Canada]

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 2004 (Canada)

Also Known As:

A bear named Winnie

Filming Locations:

Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Original Pictures, Power, Powercorp

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At White River Ontario (on the north shore of Lake Superior) there is a park and a large monument to Winnie the bear who became Winnie The Pooh.

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Goofs

The troop train is a CPR train yet the coaches are green. CP's passenger coaches were always maroon.

User Reviews

The Most Beautiful Story Ever

What a beautiful movie! After seeing this movie, I guess I'll fall in love with Winnie the pooh much more than before.

This story happens around World War I. But it isn't about war... it's about love between Lt. Harry Colebourn and his little bear Winnie which later became the inspiration for the famous "Winnie the Pooh" stories.

I show my respect to Lt. Harry Colebourn, his fellow soldiers (especially Ian Macray) and Col.John Barret. Even though they were in the edge of war time, they did their best to take care of this little furry creature and kept love for her all the way.

I strongly recommend this movie to those who have furry family members. Animals can teach you what true love is...