The Bay Boy (1984)

A teenage boy living in a Cape Breton coal mining community during the 1930's finds himself contemplating life and is haunted by a murder he witnessed in town.

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writer:

Daniel Petrie

Stars:

Liv Ullmann, Kiefer Sutherland, Peter Donat

6 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liv Ullmann	...	Jenny Campbell
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Donald Campbell
Peter Donat	...	Will Campbell
Alan Scarfe	...	Sgt. Tom Coldwell
Mathieu Carrière	...	Father Chaisson
Chris Wiggins	...	Chief Charlie McInnes
Thomas Peacocke	...	Father McKinnon
Isabelle Mejias	...	Mary McNeil
Jane McKinnon	...	Diana Coldwell
Leah Pinsent	...	Saxon Coldwell
Peter Spence	...	Joe Campbell
Josephine Chaplin	...	Marie Chaisson (as Joséphine Chaplin)
Pauline Lafont	...	Janine Chaisson
Roy McMullin	...	Paul Ratchford
Kathy McGuire	...	Sister Roberta

Storyline

A Roman Catholic teenage boy in Nova Scotia during the 1930s faces various growing-up problems: Should he become a priest? What should he do about the murder he witnessed, committed by a local cop and upstanding parishioner? And how far should he go with his girl friend, who happens to be the murderer's daughter?

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Plot Keywords:

murder | 1930s | sex scene | kissing | spanking | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Canada France

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bad Company

Filming Locations:

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD4,248,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$162,364

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$162,364

Company Credits

Production Co:

International Cinema Corporation (ICC), Bay Boy Productions, Films A2

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first of two movies featuring Kiefer Sutherland and Peter Spence. The second movie being Crazy Moon (1987).

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Goofs

When Sutherland witnesses the murder, it can be clearly seen, though in shadow, that the murder weapon is a revolver. Later however, when Sutherland is shown the murder weapon in the police station, the weapon is a semi-automatic, and not a revolver.

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Connections

References Lloyds of London (1936)

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Soundtracks

Les patineurs (Skaters Waltz)
(uncredited)
Music by Emil Waldteufel
Performed by Donkin Citizens Band

User Reviews

sins of omission

"The Bay Boy" was clearly a labor of love for writer/director Daniel Petrie. In all his long, successful directorial career ("A Raisin in the Sun", "Fort Apache the Bronx", "Resurrection"), this is his sole writing credit. The film takes place exactly where Petrie himself grew up - Glace Bay, Nova Scotia - on the island of Cape Breton. But, for all the personal identity and local talent involved, it's not nearly as good of a film as some others made on the island like "Margaret's Museum" and "New Waterford Girl". The thing that holds back the story here is Petrie's filmmaking approach. The soundtrack constantly intrudes with out-of-place music, and the acting is too often directed toward an older style approach. It's well-made, yes, just not nearly as convincing as it might have been.

For such a totally obscure film, there are a couple of recognizable faces. Liv Ullmann and Kiefer Sutherland (in his second role) are the core of the story here, an exploration of the complexities of the mother/son relationship. Another Nova Scotian actor, Peter Donat, has a less noticeable role as the father. In the end, "The Bay Boy" would have been much better served by a more realist, quiet approach. Daniel Petrie seems intent on filming his story as if it were a 1930s movie, which tends to keep everything at a distance. There's a lot of feeling put into it, a lot of talent. But it just doesn't come out quite right. I got something from it, just not nearly enough.