Grey Owl (1999)

The story of the life and work of the Canadian fur trapper-turned-conservationist who claimed to be an aboriginal North American.

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writer:

William Nicholson (screenplay)

Stars:

Pierce Brosnan, Stewart Bick, Vlasta Vrana

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pierce Brosnan	...	Archie Grey Owl
Stewart Bick	...	Cyrus Finney
Vlasta Vrana	...	Harry Champlin
Annie Galipeau	...	Pony
Neil Kroetsch	...	First Hunter
Serge Houde	...	Second Hunter
Peter Colvey	...	Hotel Guest
Nathaniel Arcand	...	Ned White Bear
Jacques Lussier	...	Hotel Manager
Lee-Roy Jacobs	...	Hotel Porter
Jimmy Herman	...	Chief Pete Misebi
John Dunn-Hill	...	Sim Hancock
Graham Greene	...	Jim Bernard
Gordon Masten	...	Gus Mitchell
Chip Chuipka	...	First Trapper

Storyline

Archie Grey Owl is a trapper in Canada in the early 1930s when a young Iroquois woman from town asks him to teach her Indian ways. They live in the woods, where she is appalled at how trapped animals die. She adopts two orphaned beaver kits and helps Archie see his way to stop trapping. Instead, he works as a guide, a naturalist writer, and then the Canadian government hires him to save the beaver in a conserve by Lake Ajawaan in Prince Albert National Park. He writes a biography, which brings him attention in Canada and invitations to lecture in England. Before he leaves, he and Anahareo (Pony) marry. In England, his secret is revealed. Will Anahareo continue to love him?

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Plot Keywords:

canada | beaver | iroquois | writer | love | 

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Taglines:

He Fought To Change The World

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality/nudity

Details

Country:

UK Canada

Language:

English Ojibwa Sioux French

Release Date:

1 October 1999 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Búho Gris

Filming Locations:

Chelsea, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$162,360, 1 October 1999

Gross USA:

$632,617, 1 January 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beaver Productions,Ajawaan Productions,Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 1998, but not released until the end of 2000.

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Goofs

When Archie is skinning a deer he has it hung up by the neck. Normally game is hung by the hind legs and bled from the neck before it is skinned or butchered.

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Quotes

Pow Wow Chief: Men become what they dream... you have dreamed well.
[1:37:30]

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Connections

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

User Reviews

Simply Superb is what I call Grey Owl

I saw this movie on the Hallmark Channel and thought it was wonderful, especially since it was based on a true man. Pierce Brosnan was very good as the loner English man who took on the persona of the half breed Grey Owl. The photography was beautiful.

This movie made me do more research into this character Archie Belaney known simple as Grey Owl. I want to read as much as I can about him. At the time I did not know Richard Attenborough had directed it. But I am not surprised. I like all his movies whether he is acting or directing. I gave it the highest rating. However, I would have liked to have seen more in the movie about WHY he took on this persona as it only showed the two aunts who raised him and his room in their house.

You can't go wrong with this movie if you are like me and enjoy a beautiful story without hearing foul language and contrived special effects every few minutes.