Gordon Pinsent Movies
Gordon Pinsent is one of Canada's busiest and most recognizable character actors. Many viewers remember Pinsent as the President of the United States in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1969). Kids have heard him as the voice of the title character in the animated HBO series Babar (1989-93). Pinsent's other weekly TV roles have included Sergeant Scott in The Forest Rangers (1964), the title character in Quentin Dergens MP (1966), Hap Shaughnessy in Red Green (1990- ) and Sergeant Frazer in Due South (1994-95). Gordon Pinsent has also occasionally written and directed, performing both functions in the 1968 Canadian feature film John and the Missus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1983
A Case of Libel was adapted from the 1953 Broadway play by Henry Denker. The story was inspired by the real-life courtroom battle between journalists Quentin Reynolds and Westbrook Pegler. Gordon Pinsent plays a liberal news correspondent who has performed heroically in World War II. Nonetheless, he is characterized as a drunkard and a Communist sympathizer by ultraconservative columnist Daniel J. Travanti. With the help of brilliant attorney Edward Asner (based on the actual case's Louis Nizer), Pinsent brings a libel suit against Travanti. The climax, in which Travanti is tripped up by his own contradictory writings, was in reality based on a small portion of the Reynolds/Pegler litigation, but it provides a satisfactory "sauce for the goose" third act. A Case of Libel had previously been adapted for television in 1969, with Jose Ferrer and Arthur Hill in the cast. The later version premiered October 17, 1983 on the Showtime Cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Created by Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent as a potential TV vehicle for himself, A Gift to Last first aired as a one-off CBC special in 1976. Narrated by Melvyn Douglas, the program chronicled the lives and times of the Sturgess family, who lived in Tamarack, Ontario, at the turn of the century. On January 22, 1978, the weekly, one-hour series proper was launched. Covering the period between 1899 to 1905, A Gift to Last was told from the viewpoint of young Clement Sturgess (Mark Polley), whose widowed mother Clara (Janet Amos) did her best to raise Clement and his sister Jane (Kate Parr) in a fatherless household (Clement's father Harrison, a key character in the 1976 special, was killed off in the first episode). Aiding Clara was her mother-in-law Lizzy (Ruth Springfield) and her late husband's two brothers: James (Gerard Parkes), a mild-mannered businessman, and Edgar (Gordon Pinsent), a bombastic, globe-trotting sergeant in the Royal Canadian Regiment. Clement idolized his Uncle Edgar, even though the boastful career soldier had a habit of getting involved in shady and sometimes downright dishonest financial transactions, and despite the fact that virtually all of Edgar's grandiose dreams were doomed to spectacular failure. As the series progressed, Clara Sturgess was squired by grocer John Trevalyen (John Evans), whom she eventually married and with whom she had a child; James Sturgess entered politics, and was elected town mayor; and Edgar ended up wedding the Sturgess family maid, Sheila, in an award-winning episode. By the time the 21st and final hour-long episode rolled around, Clara had passed away and Edgar had settled down with the local militia. Sometimes described as the Canadian counterpart to The Waltons (though it was much, much more than that), A Gift to Last was syndicated internationally with great financial success; still, a "rediscovery" of the series in the United States is long overdue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Pinsent, Janet Amos, (more)
- 1996
Rising business executive Jake Peterson (Tim Matheson) is given a make-or-break assignment when he is sent to a small town for the purpose of severely downsizing the local tractor factory. Upon his arrival, Jake is mistaken by the townsfolk as the man sent to save rather than destroy their community, and is treated as such, much to his discomfort. Making his task even more difficult is Jake's blossoming romance with factory employee Emma Murphy (Melissa Gilbert), whose daughter Noelle (Michelle Trachtenberg) regards our hero as Santa Claus Incarnate. Made for the CBS TV network (and filmed under the title A Holiday for Love, Christmas in My Hometown premiered December 10, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
After a car wreck claims the life of her beloved husband, socialite Rachel Waring finds solace in the arms of a handsome free-lance photographer. Warmed by his apparent sensitivity, Rachel falls in love and marries him. Unfortunately, they are no sooner on their honeymoon, when things start going awry, beginning with his seemingly innocent request that she pose for a few bondage photos. The poor acquiescent bride has no idea that these photos will constitute an elaborate scam to extort money from her wealthy father. When Rachel learns the truth, the situation becomes deadly. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Filmmaker Atom Egoyan -- a longtime onscreen collaborator with the gifted young actress Sarah Polley (The Sweet Hereafter) -- executive-produced Polley's directorial debut, Away from Her, starring Julie Christie, Olympia Dukakis, Michael Murphy, and Wendy Crewson. Adapted by Polley from a short story by Alice Munro, this small-scaled two-character drama concerns Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona (Christie), a long-married couple, well into their golden years, who are much in love and connected to one another on every level. "Soul mates" in the purest sense of the term, the two feel a sense of ease and tranquility in their rural home. But when Fiona's memory begins to slip away and she insists on being taken to a rest home, the decision stirs up torrents of guilt and regret in Grant's heart. The rules of the center only complicate matters, as they forbid visitation and communication with Fiona for an interminable period of time. He determines to support his wife at all costs, even if must happen at the expense of his own peace of mind. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent, (more)
Children's book authors Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff's most beloved elephant comes to the big screen in this animated family tale. Elephant monarch King Babar tells the tale, that unfolds via flashback, of how a much-younger Barbar and his girlfriend Celeste save her village from the pugnacious rhinoceroses that have come to raid it. Though primarily aimed at younger audiences, parents should note that some scenes of abandoned babies maybe upsetting for little viewers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Pinsent, Gavin Magrath, (more)
- 1972
A priceless religious relic is transported from Mexico to LA under armed guard. As an added precaution, the case which contains the artifact is handcuffed to the wrist of a priest. Even so, the item vanishes before it reaches its destination. It's up to detective Banacek (George Peppard), a specialist in "unsolveable" mysteries, to find out what's happened. Broderick Crawford, Victor Jory, and Louise Sorel guest-star in this 90-minute episode of the TV series Banacek. No Sign of the Cross was first telecast October 11, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Advertised as the 100th production of American International studios, Blacula stars actor/singer William Marshall in the title role. An 18th century African prince, Blacula is transmogrified into a vampire while visiting Transylvania. Two centuries later, he rises from his coffin to wreak havoc in the Watts district of Los Angeles. Blacula's particular target is Tina (Vonetta McGee), whom he thinks is the reincarnation of his long-ago lady love. Thalmus Rasulala assumes the "Van Helsing" role as the vampire hunter who can't convince the authorities to cooperate. Yes, that is the same William Marshall who later played "The King of Cartoons" on TV's Pee-wee's Playhouse. A sequel, Scream, Blacula, Scream!, appeared not long after. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, (more)
Nastassja Kinski stars in this taut thriller as Susan, a woman who is still coming to terms with the murder of her husband two years after his death. One day Susan meets an artist named Kevin (Stewart Bick) and the two hit it off; two months later, they impulsively fly to Las Vegas and get married. However, it isn't long before Susan begins to wonder if she acted to hastily, and as she tries to resolve her anxieties about her relationship, she discovers a stalker has been following her. Things go from annoying to dangerous when the stalker begins leaving her messages threatening her life, and Susan realizes she has to find her psychotic "admirer" before it's too late. Blind Terror also features Gordon Pinsent and Maxim Roy. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nastassja Kinski, Stewart Bick, (more)
- 1991
After mysterious deaths occur in her Canadian community, Katy Bane is thought to be at the heart of it--as her father, Sawney Bane, was executed for the deaths of a thousand followers in Scotland. This feature is based on the true story of Katy Bane. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michelle Little, Gordon Pinsent, (more)
The Bonds of Love in this made-for-TV drama are those forged between divorcee Kelly McGillis and mentally disabled Treat Williams. What begins as a friendship between two lost souls blossoms into a deep and genuine romance. Their wedding plans are challenged by his mother (Grace Zabriskie) and father (Hal Holbrook)-who are not depicted as villains but merely well-meaning and overprotective (only Williams' brother, played by Steve Railsback, comes off in negative terms). Based on a true story, Bonds of Love is set in Kansas (though it was lensed in Ontario). The film premiered January 24, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The granddaddy of all "computer run amok" films, Colossus: The Forbin Project concerns a huge electronic brain designed to control the American missile defense system. Colossus' technicians do not count on the computer developing an intelligence of its own. Communicating with its Russian counterpart, Colossus decides to take over the earth, threatening global destruction should anyone try to pull its plug. The film's climax is unsettling, but no more so than the actual state of world affairs in 1970. Colossus: The Forbin Project was filmed in Canada. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Braeden, Susan Clark, (more)
- 1994
This Canadian made-for-television movie spawned the popular series about a crime-fighting Royal Canadian Mountie. Paul Gross stars as Constable Benton Fraser, an RCMP who sets out to track down his father's killer. His chase takes him all the way to Chicago where he hooks up with Ray Vecchio, (David Marciano) a macho, local Chicago detective. Together they hit the streets as a crime-fighting and justice-seeking duo. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Leslie Nielsen makes a return appearance as "legendary" Canadian mountie Sgt. Buck Frobisher, as do Alex Carter and Mark Melymick as well-meaning but bumbling FBI agents Ford and Deeter. Frobisher is among a group of singing mounties on board a train bound for an American concert. These redcoated songbirds as hijacked by a group of terrorists, led by Randal Bolt (Kenneth Walsh), who intend to kill everyone on board the train whether their demands are met or not. The climax involves a runaway choo-choo and Frobisher's sudden attack of "excess gas." Drama students will appreciate the character names given the members of the phony movie production crew. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on April 12, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1995
Assigned to protect a federal witness, Fraser (Paul Gross) learns to his chagrin that the man in question is Gerrard (Ken Pogue), who killed Fraser's father (Gordon Pinsent) back in Canada. With Gerrard at large in Chicago, Fraser is ordered to bring the fugitive back alive at all costs. As Fraser wrestles with his own vengeful impulses, he must also contend with a handful of rogue Federal agents who have no intention of allowing Gerrard to testify in court. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on December 22, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1995
While pursuing a gang of diamond thieves and kidnappers, Fraser (Paul Gross) is thrown from a van and rendered unconscious. When he awakens, he realizes that his memory has been erased. As Fraser laboriously picks through his past (courtesy of filmclips from previous Due South episodes), hopes to rescue the crooks' hostage grow dimmer and dimmer. Filmed as the final episode of Due South's second season, this episode was slated to premiere over the American CBS network on May 31, 1996, but was yanked at the last minute. As a result, the episode debuted September 19, 1996 on Canadian television--and was not seen in the US until it was picked up by the TNT cable service on November 4, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1995
Having been shot by his partner Ray (David Marciano) in the previous episode "Victoria's Secret", Fraser (Paul Gross) recuperates in the hospital. With plenty of time on his hands, Fraser tries to get over his duplicitious ex-lover Victoria (Melina Kanakaredes), and wonders if his friendship with Ray can ever be repaired. And, oh yes, he manages to get involved in the pursuit of a gang of murderous extortionists, thanks to the enthusiasm of his physical therapist Jill Kennedy (Laurie Holden). First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on June 9, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1995
Ray (David Marciano) leaves Chicago to accompany Fraser (Paul Gross) to the latter's Canadian home turf, there to rebuild the cabin Fraser inherited from his late father. Unfortunately, the pilot hired to fly them to the Great White North is really a convicted felon, who bails out of the plane in mid-air. After the two lawmen crash-landing in the wilderness, a blinded, crippled Fraser must rely upon city-bred Ray for survival--all the while conducting a search for the missing "pilot", who plans kill his pursuers before they catch up with him. Comedian Red Green shows up as an airport controller. Originally telecast in Canada as the opener of Due South's second season, this episode debuted in the US on January 5, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1994
Accompanied by his trusty pet wolf Diefenbaker, RCMP constable Benton Fraser doggedly pursues the murderer of his Mountie father (whose death has been officially deemed an "accident") from the snowy environs of the Yukon to the urban sprawl of Chicago. Once in the Windy City, Fraser meets wisecracking local police detective Ray Vecchio, whose career has likewise been motivated by the death of his father. Forming a tentative friendship, Fraser and Ray become an unofficial team, determined to track down miscreants by combining their separate but equally effective police methods. Along the way, our heroes discover that Fraser's father was killed while investigating a large-scale coverup involving a hydroelectric dam project. This two-hour pilot episode of the weekly seriocomic cop series Due South has since been divided into two hour-long episodes for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1995
Rick Rossovich guest stars as Canadian pro hockey player Mark Smithbauer, an old friend of Benton Fraser (Paul Gross). Alas, Mark is not the Mark that Fraser remembers from his youth: Where once he played for love of the game, Smithbauer has become an arrogant, money-grubbing jerk. Even worse is the fact that Mark has apparently been bribed to lose a game by vicious bookmaker Broda (Miguel Fernandes). It should surprise no one that this episode ends with a wild car-and-skate chase through the icy streets of Chicago. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1995
Shoemaker Joey Paducci (Rod Wilson) is arrested for stealing from a church collection box. It turns out that Paducci has been reduced to poverty by a gang of extortionists, headed by Frank Zuko (Jim Bracchita), childhood classmate and schoolyard tormentor of Detective Raymond Vecchio (David Marciano). In order to free Paducci and others from Zuko's iron grip, Ray must personally stand up to the bullying gang boss. Meanwhile, Fraser (Paul Gross) has quite a time avoided the amorous advance of Ray's sister Francesca (Ramona Milano). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1995
When Canadian mountie Fraser (Paul Gross) and American cop Ray (Raymond Vecchio) are assigned to protect their respective country's diplomats at a NAFTA convention, Fraser manages to run afoul of his Mexican counterpart, government agent Anita Cortez (Maria Therese Rangel). One mishap leads to another, and before long Fraser is reduced to addressing invitations for the convention under the supervision of several 12-year-olds. Even so, Fraser and Anita manage to forget their differences long enough to go after a suspected assassin. Take a look at the names of the three "Special Agents" in the supporting cast--sound familiar? First broadcast on American television, this episode made its US debut on February 16, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
