Between Friends is a 1973 Canadian crime film directed by Donald Shebib. It was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival, and was featured in the Canadian Cinema television series which aired on CBC Television in 1974.[1]
| Between Friends | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Donald Shebib |
| Written by | Claude Harz |
| Produced by | Chalmers Adams |
| Starring | Michael Parks Bonnie Bedelia Chuck Shamata Henry Beckman Hugh Webster |
| Cinematography | Richard Leiterman |
| Edited by | Tony Lower Donald Shebib |
| Music by | Matthew McCauley |
Release date |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Plot
editA botched mine robbery in Northern Ontario involves the troubled quartet of Chino (Chuck Shamata), his American surfing buddy Toby (Michael Parks), his girlfriend's father (Henry Beckman) and Coker (Hugh Webster). While the robbery is being planned, Chino's girlfriend Ellie (Bonnie Bedelia) becomes attracted to Toby.[2]
Cast
edit- Michael Parks as Toby
- Bonnie Bedelia as Ellie
- Chuck Shamata as Chino
- Henry Beckman as Will
- Hugh Webster as Coker
Reception
editThough Between Friends was a commercial failure for director Shebib, it is "easily his most critically applauded film",[3] some critics going so far as to call it his masterpiece.[4] Wyndham Wise called it "a taut, serious dramatic study of loyalty, Canada/US relations and the limitations of male bonding", and asserted the failed heist sequence rivals any American film noir.[5]
The film was a finalist for Best Picture at the Canadian Film Awards in 1973,[6] losing to Slipstream.
References
edit- ^ Corcelli, John (August 2005). "Canadian Cinema". Canadian Communications Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "Shebib's debut into front ranks". The Globe and Mail, 13 October 1973.
- ^ Pevere, Geoff (2012). Donald Shebib's Goin' Down the Road. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 99. ISBN 9781442645899. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ^ Wise, Wyndham, ed. (2001). Take One's Essential Guide to Canadian Film. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 2222. ISBN 9781442656208. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ^ Wise, Wyndham. "Donald Shebib". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ "Fine lineup for Film Awards". The Globe and Mail, 9 October 1973.