Sandy Wilson Movies
In this finely crafted Canadian character study, filled with light comic touches, Graham (Kim Coates) is an out of work symphony violinist. About the only job he can find is playing the bass fiddle with the Harmony Cats, a just-barely making it country band, led by Frank Hay (Jim Byrnes). Graham is not the only non-fan of country music in the outfit. For instance, their drummer, Reg, is a loyal jazz afficianado, and their guitarist greatly prefers heavy metal. They are kept on track and on schedule by Alma, who alternately bullies and mothers the band members. Graham's girlfriend goes ballistic when she discovers that the band will be traveling with Frank's daughter Debbie (Lisa Brokop) as a featured singer. Graham is growing just a little too fond of the girl for her comfort, although this is usually expressed as appreciation for her musical gifts. Those same gifts are also appreciated by a Nashville producer (played by country great Hoyt Axton). ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kim Coates, Jim Byrnes, (more)
- 1989
This semisweet backwards glance at 1960s impulsiveness stars Margaret Langrick as a Canadian college freshman. She undergoes a bit of a culture shock when her white-bread values are challenged by her new hippie friend Liisa Repo-Martell. With a trio of her new and old chums, Langrick heads to Portland to attend a wedding. Once they arrive at the ceremony, the girls wreak a little bit of sexual havoc amongst the male guests before deciding to journey on to California. Thus a pattern is set for the previously shy and sheltered Langrick of letting her heart rule her head-a pattern ending up as far afield as Europe! American Boyfriends was the sequel to the equally fey, funny and freewheeling My American Cousin (1985). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Margaret Langrick, John Wildman, (more)
- 1988
In this made-for-television drama, the excitement of the Christmas season is dampened for a young boy as he struggles to deal with the death of his father. The cast includes Linda Griffiths, Louise Tripp, and Geoff Bowes. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Linda Griffiths, Geoffrey Bowes, (more)
- 1985
- PG
Set in the late '50s, the life of a young Canadian girl (Margaret Langrick) is plagued by boredom until her older California cousin Butch (John Wildman) visits her house. With a healthy dose of James Dean rebelliousness, Butch introduces her to rock & roll and chewing gum, among other things. The film won big at Canada's 1985 Genie Awards, carting off the Best Picture trophy, as well as Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Margaret Langrick, Richard Donat, (more)
- 1971
This first outing for Canada's most noted woman producer/director Sylvia Spring is an autobiographical sketch of herself during her 20s and her fumblings with men and romance. She settles in with a Marxist lad, experiences the carefree lifestyle of the '60s, befriends a goofy man, and has an unrequited crush on an unfocused young businessman. Eventually, she dumps the Marxist. This film is interesting for its evocation of Canadian youth culture in the '60s. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- 1971
- G
The Boy Friend began life as Sandy Wilson's small-scale pastiche of British musical comedies of the 1920s. When the play was brought to America in 1954, its star was the
teenage Julie Andrews. Because The Boy Friend requires a minimum of sets, props, and costumes, it has become a favorite of amateur theater groups throughout the world. But director Ken Russell, notorious for his onscreen excesses, abandoned the film's simplicity. He fashioned a humongous parody of the Busby Berkeley film musicals of the 1930s, staged on a scale that made Berkeley seem stylistically modest. Fashion model Twiggy plays Polly Browne, an aspiring musical comedy star, working as stage manager of a production of The Boy Friend. She is transformed into a star when she replaces leading lady Rita Monroe (Glenda Jackson, unbilled), who twists her ankle seconds before the curtain goes up. Before the evening is over, Polly is scampering over outsized sets, and ducking around seemingly thousands of chorus girls and boys. Christopher Gable, who plays Polly's on-stage leading man, also choreographed the lavish musical numbers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
teenage Julie Andrews. Because The Boy Friend requires a minimum of sets, props, and costumes, it has become a favorite of amateur theater groups throughout the world. But director Ken Russell, notorious for his onscreen excesses, abandoned the film's simplicity. He fashioned a humongous parody of the Busby Berkeley film musicals of the 1930s, staged on a scale that made Berkeley seem stylistically modest. Fashion model Twiggy plays Polly Browne, an aspiring musical comedy star, working as stage manager of a production of The Boy Friend. She is transformed into a star when she replaces leading lady Rita Monroe (Glenda Jackson, unbilled), who twists her ankle seconds before the curtain goes up. Before the evening is over, Polly is scampering over outsized sets, and ducking around seemingly thousands of chorus girls and boys. Christopher Gable, who plays Polly's on-stage leading man, also choreographed the lavish musical numbers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Twiggy, Christopher Gable, (more)
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