Bethune: The Making of a Hero
Bethune: The Making of a Hero | |
---|---|
Directed by | Phillip Borsos |
Written by | Ted Allan |
Starring |
Donald Sutherland Helen Mirren |
Cinematography |
Mike Molloy Raoul Coutard |
Edited by |
Yves Langlois Angelo Corrao |
Production company |
Filmline International |
Distributed by | Columbia TriStar Films |
Release date | September 17, 1990 |
Running time | 168 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Bethune: The Making of a Hero is a 1990 Canadian film directed by Phillip Borsos about the life and death of Dr. Norman Bethune, from Gravenhurst, Ontario. It stars Donald Sutherland, Helen Mirren, Helen Shaver and Colm Feore.[1] It was nominated for numerous awards in 1991 and 1993.[2]
A rare Canadian epic, Bethune: The Making of a Hero is more famous for its arduous production in China (it was the first Canada-China co-production, and one of the first large-scale Western productions in that country) and the bickering between the star and the writer than for anything else. Right from the start Donald Sutherland and Ted Allan clashed over the interpretation of Bethune's legacy. Sutherland (who somewhat resembles Bethune) passionately believed that despite his drinking and womanizing, Bethune became a saintly hero in China, whereas Allan (who had served with Bethune in Spain) equally passionately believed he might have been a hero but remained a deeply flawed man until the end. Director Phillip Borsos was caught in the middle of these conflicting visions and it shows.[3]
Cast
- Donald Sutherland as Dr. Norman Bethune
- Helen Mirren as Frances Penny Bethune
- Helen Shaver as Mrs. Dowd
- Colm Feore as Chester Rice
- James Pax as Mr. Tung
References
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
- ↑ "Bethune: The Making of a Hero". 17 September 1993 – via IMDb.
- ↑ Wise, Wyndham (1989). "The Bethune Myth: Man and Movie". Cinema Canada (September): 11–16.
External links