Allan King Movies
Internationally acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Allan King is among his country's best filmmakers. His most famous film is his debut Warrendale, a wrenching documentary examination of life in a home for emotional disturbed teens. So brutal and disturbing was the 1966 made-for-television film that neither the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation nor the BBC would air the film. He released it theatrically in 1966 and it won a prize at Cannes and earned him a reputation as a major filmmaker. King was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. Before becoming a director he obtained a degree in philosophy, worked as a cabbie and traveled throughout Europe. In 1954 he began working for the CBC and became a television director in 1956. During the '60s, King began working independently as a director and producer. Later he took much of the footage he had not used in Warrendale and used it to create Children in Conflict, an 18-part television series. In addition to producing and directing features and television shows in Canada, King also made films in Great Britain. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 2006
EMPz is the nickname the residents of a Toronto suburb have given to their neighborhood, a community largely populated by low-income African-Canadians who struggle against the crime and violence that has become commonplace in their town. Brian Harvey is a community activist who works with at-risk youth in EMPz, setting up tutoring programs, after-school activities, free breakfasts for lower-income children and other programs in an effort to make a better life for young people, though he emphasizes that teenagers have to change their own minds about guns and gangs before their problems can begin to resolve themselves. Many young people in EMPz, however, feel they're engaged in a losing battle to reclaim their neighborhood given the attitudes of police and city officials about their community (several talk about being pulled over by traffic cops for "driving while black"). Veteran documentary filmmaker Allan King brought his camera crew to the EMPz during 2005, described as "the year of the gun" by the Canadian news media, and followed the efforts of Harvey and his compatriots to make a difference in a community that many in the city of Toronto had given up on. EMPz 4 Life received its world premier at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Canadian filmmaker and cinéma vérité pioneer Allan King directs the documentary Dying at Grace. The film follows the final events in the lives of five terminal patients in the palliative care unit at the Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre. Using neither voice-over narration nor interviews, King just spends time with the patients, their loved ones, and their caretakers. Subjects include Italian immigrant Carmela, lonely survivor Joyce, hopeful Eda, former biker Rick, and cancer patient Lloyd. King also spends much intimate time with the hospital staff working under the direction of chaplain Phyllis Bobbit. Dying at Grace was shown at the 2003 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carmela Nardone, Joyce Bone, (more)
This film, part of the HBO Young Inventor Series, looks at the great artist Leonardo da Vinci and his fascination with flight. Acclaimed filmmaker Allan King sets his 16th century story in Padua. The story follows da Vinci, played by Brent Carver, as he befriends a young boy named Roberto, acted by David Felton. The two explore their interest in birds, kites, and flight. The story line provides the backdrop for a portrait of the artist's genius, and a journey into his memoirs and notebooks. His drawings of parachutes, flying men, and flying machines were centuries ahead of their time. The film has been endorsed by Kid's First for its educational excellence. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
A 19th century Prussian boy still reeling from the untimely death of his mother finds his life thrown into chaos when his father is wrongfully imprisoned in a classical adventure tale written by Marlene Matthews and directed by Allan King. Lukas' (Zachary Bennett) mother has just died in childbirth, and as his embittered grandfather departs for Canada hoisting the brunt of the blame on Lukas' innocent father, Karl (Christian Kohlund), it appears as if his family will be torn apart forever. Things only get worse, however, when, after witnessing a murder by malevolent nobleman Count Otto von Lebrecht, Lukas learns that his father has been accused of Count Otto's bloody transgression. After being forced into indentured servitude for Baron von Knabig (Günther Maria Halmer), Lukas makes the acquaintance of Baroness Ursula (Gema Zamprogna), her kindly mother, and Nathan the Peddler (Jan Rubes), a generous man who aids the young boy in orchestrating a daring escape for himself and his father. When the escape goes awry and Lukas and his father aren't able to flee together, the young boy and Ursula begin a harrowing voyage to the New World as the vengeful Otto tracks their every move. As the young boy's father makes a desperate journey north to Canada in hopes of reuniting with his child, Lukas and Ursula struggle to survive a deadly smallpox outbreak, elude a pair of nefarious kidnappers, and find their way out of the vast Canadian wilderness. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A 19th century Prussian boy still reeling from the untimely death of his mother finds his life thrown into chaos when his father is wrongfully imprisoned in a classical adventure tale written by Marlene Matthews and directed by Allan King. Lukas' (Zachary Bennett) mother has just died in childbirth, and as his embittered grandfather departs for Canada hoisting the brunt of the blame on Lukas' innocent father, Karl (Christian Kohlund), it appears as if his family will be torn apart forever. Things only get worse, however, when, after witnessing a murder by malevolent nobleman Count Otto von Lebrecht, Lukas learns that his father has been accused of Count Otto's bloody transgression. After being forced into indentured servitude for Baron von Knabig (Günther Maria Halmer), Lukas makes the acquaintance of Baroness Ursula (Gema Zamprogna), her kindly mother, and Nathan the Peddler (Jan Rubes), a generous man who aids the young boy in orchestrating a daring escape for himself and his father. When the escape goes awry and Lukas and his father aren't able to flee together, the young boy and Ursula begin a harrowing voyage to the New World as the vengeful Otto tracks their every move. As the young boy's father makes a desperate journey north to Canada in hopes of reuniting with his child, Lukas and Ursula struggle to survive a deadly smallpox outbreak, elude a pair of nefarious kidnappers, and find their way out of the vast Canadian wilderness. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zachary Bennett, Gema Zamprogna, (more)
- 1991
This made-for-cable-TV anthology is comprised of four provocative tales from one of America's most famous idealistic cynics, Kurt Vonnegut. The stories are "All The King's Horses," "Next Door," "The Euphio Question," and "Fortitude." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- R
Colleen Dewhurst plays Molly Dushane, the widowed matriarch of a small-town family. A tragedy occurred years earlier when her late husband committed suicide after threatening their daughter with a gun, and the family has fumbled with their difficult lives since. Though she often escapes reality by drinking, it doesn't seem escape enough as she finds out her ex-lover has died. In addition to being an alcoholic, she is also suffering from a terminal illness and longs to go to Italy once before she dies. Daughter Micheline (Megan Follows), finally confronting her own life, decides to take her mother to Italy where they find the different perspective they have needed. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colleen Dewhurst, Megan Follows, (more)
The bittersweet comedy Memories of Me stars Billy Crystal as Dr. Abbie Polin, a New York heart surgeon, long estranged from his father, Abe (Alan King). When the doctor suffers a mild heart attack, he tries to patch things up with his dad, hoping in this way to bring some equilibrium to his own life. This proves well-nigh impossible; Abe, the self-described "king of the Hollywood extras," is not only a play-actor in Tinseltown but in life itself, refusing to take on any real responsibilities, least of all the responsibility of parenthood. So far as Abe is concerned, his only "family" consists of his fellow extras. Though Abbie is extremely judgmental of his father, he himself is no prize in the commitment department, especially when dealing with his longtime lady friend (JoBeth Williams). Star/co-writer Crystal, co-star/co-producer King, and director Henry Winkler lay on the sentiment in thick, juicy slices toward the end. The final sequence in Memories of Me, a Felliniesque funeral, is very clever but somewhat out of synch with what has gone before. One of the film's highlights is a brief celebrity cameo by one of Alan King's "close personal friends." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Crystal, Alan King, (more)
- 1987
Can it be that the Unabomber caught Last Season during its very brief theatrical release? Christopher Gosch plays an ecology freak who endeavors to protect timid woodland creatures from thick-eared hunters. Gosch tries to draw attention to his efforts, but the hunters pay no attention. The lack of recognition eventually drives Gosch mad. And when Gosch gets mad, he gets even, in as destructive and horrific a manner as possible. It is this, coupled with the film's generous doses of female nudity, that earned Last Season its R rating. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
- PG
Based on a true story, this film follows the trials and tragedies that befall Walter Reamer (Tom Skerritt) and his wife, Olive (Ellen Burstyn), as they struggle to create a home and raise a family in the brutal Canadian frontier of 1919. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ellen Burstyn, Tom Skerritt, (more)
- 1981
- R
This offbeat and atmospheric western is set in 1893, as a gang led by longtime outlaws Bill Doolin (Burt Lancaster) and Bill Dalton (Scott Glenn) is on the verge of falling apart due to time and fatigue. A pair of teenage girls who long to be part of the outlaw mythos of the west meet up with Dalton and Doolin: Jenny (Diane Lane) and Annie (Amanda Plummer). The girls brings an unexpected second wind to the gang, as they help them plot a new series of robberies and escapes, but this burst of new activity also attracts the attention of law officer Tilghman (Rod Steiger), who is determined to put them behind bars. While Cattle Annie and Little Britches was a box office flop thanks to poor handling by the distribution company that released it, it's developed a strong reputation among film buffs and western fans; it also featured Plummer's first screen appearance. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Lancaster, John Savage, (more)
- 1977
This drama is based on the classic novel by W. O. Mitchell. In the story, two boys (Brian Painchaud and Douglas Junor) growing up in the Depression a small Saskatchewan town, must confront the hard facts of life as they mature. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Painchaud, Douglas Junor, (more)
- 1976
This CBC anthology consisted of six hour-long dramas about immigrants in Canada, and how life in the Dominion was perceived through the protagonists' eyes and experiences. Individual episode titles included "Honour Thy Father," "Kaleshnikoff," "The Day My Grandad Died," "Turncoat," "Yesterday Was Years Ago," and "Maria." First telecast on November 28, 1976, Here to Stay ran until January 9, 1977, when it was succeeded by the potpourri public-affair series For the Record. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Debuting Wednesday, October 6, 1976, on the CBC, the Canadian drama anthology Front Row Centre offered a mix of original dramas, stage adaptations, and remakes of plays seen on other TV anthologies. Highlights included Sarah, a portrait of Sarah Bernhardt starring Zoe Caldwell, which subsequently matriculated into a successful one-woman show. Also presented were such chestnuts as Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author, featuring an impressive U.S.-Canadian cast. The final telecast of Front Row Centre occurred on March 15, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Hosted by the ineluctable Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent, this six-part documentary series certainly delivered on the promise of its title. Each 60-minute episode concentrated on a different and fascinating aspect of Canadian culture, education, politics, media, and performing arts. Innumerable celebrities, creative persons, pedants, and decision-makers appeared to offer their unique perspectives. Produced by a veritable honor roll of top Canadian documentary filmmakers, The Great Canadian Culture Hunt was seen from March 10 to April 14, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Pinsent
- 1973
In order to set the scene for this Canadian film, the director rounded up 10 troubled youth and placed them together in a farmhouse, filming their interactions for ten weeks. One of the boys is a speed freak, and recounts the story of how he broke the news to his parents. In another scene, two parents visit and quietly scold their children for doing nothing with their lives; amusingly, in identical ways the two youngsters manage to show their bashfulness and resentment of this dressing-down. This somewhat contrived cinema verité documentary was shot at about the same time as the U.S. television documentary An American Family, which unveiled the workings of the Loud family. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Director Allan King filmed the Edwards family for 70 hours to tell this story of marital difficulties. Advertising exec Billy is married to Antoinette and have a son named Bogart. Their time is mostly spent arguing, but there are some lighthearted moments to this real life drama. After the release of the film, the Edwards had another child and supposedly calmed their once-stormy relationship. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Edwards, Antoinette Edwards, (more)
- 1967
Now almost forgotten, Warrendale brewed up a storm of controversy when it first emerged in 1967. Canadian documentary filmmaker Allan King takes us within the walls of an institution for emotionally disturbed adolescents. It is the philosophy of Warrendale that the best therapy for the young charges is to allow them as much personal freedom as possible. Thus, the kids smoke, swear and discuss sex in the frankest terms. Though Warrendale was originally made for television, neither the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation nor London's BBC, appalled by the film's scatology and frighteningly detailed therapy sequences, wanted anything to do with this hot-potato property. King arranged for the film to be released theatrically; as a result, Warrendale shared the International Critics Prize (with Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow-Up) at the Cannes Film Festival. Producer-director Allan King later utilized outtakes to expand the film into the 18-part TV documentary series Children in Conflict. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
