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 | stagecoach | train robber | epilogue | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance | 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

In both 1984 and 1993, the picture was listed in "Canada's Top Ten Films of All Time" by the Toronto International Film Festival.

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Goofs

The intro cards state that in 1863, "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. 1863+18=1881. (The implication is that those 33 years were consecutive and unbroken.)

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Twilight Zone: The Movie/The Survivors/The Grey Fox/The Ruling Class (1983)

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Soundtracks

Invercargill March
Composed by Alex Lithgow
Published by W. H. Paling & Co. Ltd.

User Reviews

A no-nonsense and credible depiction of a Western outlaw.

Surely one of the most direct, honest and accurate depictions of life in the "Old West," the Grey Fox does not resort to violence, bluster or machismo to present its story. Instead, the film comes across as a story of a man whose life has gone wrong as the result of carefully thought out and well-reasoned choices, though nevertheless bad choices. This alone is particularly refreshing in a Western movie and makes the film a worthwhile experience.

The late Richard Farnsworth relies on his considerable skills as an actor and makes his character sympathetic and heroic, never losing sight that he is in fact a thief. The costumes, setting, dialog and yes, even the miserable weather are true to the historical period and makes the viewer feel as if they were there alongside the characters in this elegant story.

It's a wonderful film and a visual feast!