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- Owning a pair of the most incredibly soulful and searching eyes you'll ever find, Michael Sarrazin's poetic drifters crept into Hollywood unobtrusively on little cat's feet, but it didn't take long for him to make his mark. Quiet yet uninhibited, the lean, laconic, fleshy-lipped actor with the intriguingly faraway look and curiously sunken features enhanced a number of quality offbeat fare without ever creating too much of a fuss. While Hollywood couldn't quite pigeonhole him, they also weren't sure what to do with him. Out-and-out stardom would prove elusive.
He was born Jacques Michel Andre Sarrazin on May 22, 1940 in Quebec, Canada, and drifted through eight different schools before eventually dropping out. He worked at a Toronto theatre, on TV, and for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation during his teen years. He also studied acting at the Actors Studio in New York. While playing parts for the National Film Board of Canada in a handful of their historical documentary shorts, he was noticed by Universal and signed in 1965. Following insignificant roles in such series as The Virginian (1962) and in the mini-movie The Doomsday Flight (1966), the actor made his film debut in the post-Civil War drama Gunfight in Abilene (1967) starring an equally offbeat Bobby Darin. One scene had him being flogged shirtless. It was Sarrazin's second film, however, that created the initial stir playing grifter George C. Scott's young apprentice in The Flim-Flam Man (1967). Sarrazin's hesitant con artist more than held its own against the freewheeling Scott while also engaging in romantic clinches with Lolita (1962) sexpot Sue Lyon.
A number of other Sarrazin characters found their way as a result. He played a guileless tenderfoot again, this time taken under the wing of cowboy Anthony Franciosa, in A Man Called Gannon (1968) which takes an unexpected twist at the end; he shared the screen with fellow up-and-comers Harrison Ford and Jan-Michael Vincent as a green Confederate soldier in Journey to Shiloh (1968); earned a Golden Globe "best promising newcomer" nomination portraying an aimless surfer in The Sweet Ride (1968) opposite the spectacularly beautiful Jacqueline Bisset (they lived together for several years); and supposedly turned down the role of Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy (1969) in order to appear in the kinky love triangle In Search of Gregory (1969) as, yet again, another be charming young stranger, but that film was not successful.
This all culminated in the portrayal of his career as a wanderlust Depression-era floater plucked from the beach shore to participate in a grueling dance marathon. As Robert, the unassuming partner to feisty, cynical Jane Fonda's Gloria, in the bleak, fascinatingly depressing They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), Sarrazin was both soft and spellbinding. His pairing with Fonda is an eerie and ultimately doomed one resulting in a shattering climax. Remote and wordless, Sarrazin's strength lies in both his ease and passive defiance. His peaceful body language and the few calm utterances he allows himself seems to illicit a strange, neutralizing power. It's not the kind of movie persona, however, that wins awards - as it did for his more flamboyant co-stars Ms. Fonda, Susannah York and Gig Young.
Another glum, ostracized outsider role came in the showier form of Paul Newman's hippie half-brother in Sometimes a Great Notion (1971) and Sarrazin continued to show a flair for the unconventional with the non-mainstream Believe in Me (1971), as a medical student who shares a drug needle with (again) Ms. Bissett, and in The Pursuit of Happiness (1971) as a collegiate fighting the system. In Harry in Your Pocket (1973) Sarrazin again plays the naive square who falls in with a bad crowd (this time, pickpockets). He capped this radical run with a mesmerizing, intelligent and, of course, sympathetic portrayal of the monster in the mini-movie Frankenstein: The True Story (1973). As assurance of his offbeat popularity, he hosted Saturday Night Live (1975) twice.
A performance as the haunted title role in the psychological thriller The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975) proved to be one of his last hurrahs, as the film was a critical and box office failure. At this juncture his films (or his film roles) became underwhelming. He starred alongside Ursula Andress in the Italian film The Loves and Times of Scaramouche (1976), but the film was very poorly received. Utterly wasted even though second billed as Barbra Streisand's hubby in her slapstick vehicle For Pete's Sake (1974), he also headed up a so-so car chase film in The Gumball Rally (1976). He co-starred in the big budget escapist adventure Caravans (1978), but the film was a financial disaster. The 1980s signaled a significant down turn and strange pall in his films.
It started with his third-wheel participations in the excruciating bad and violent Morgan Fairchild/Andrew Stevens stalking thriller The Seduction (1982) and in the hard-edged vigilante film Fighting Back (1982) behind Tom Skerritt/Patti LuPone. When he did have a lead, the films themselves were flawed as in Keeping Track (1986) and the excessively sleazy Mascara (1987). Sarrazin has continued to work steadily, however, but the one great film that could put him into the top character ranks had yet to arrive. With age, the always-lean Sarrazin turned pale and haggard which lent itself toward rather eccentric casting.
Throughout the course of his career, Michael remained true to his homeland, appearing in many Canadian-based productions such as The Groundstar Conspiracy (1972), Double Negative (1980), Joshua Then and Now (1985), Captive Hearts (1987), The Phone Call (1989), La Florida (1993) and Crackerjack 2 (1997).
Sarrazin moved to Montreal many years back in order to be near family. He died there following a brief bout with cancer at age 70 on April 17, 2011, and was survived by daughters Michelle and Catherine, as well as producer/brother Pierre Sarrazin. While the fascination and appeal of Michael Sarrazin certainly cannot be denied, one wonders why Hollywood was not able to serve his talent better in later years. - Actor
- Producer
Rick Genest was born on 7 August 1985 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was an actor and producer, known for 47 Ronin (2013), In Faustian Fashion (2013) and Carny (2009). He died on 1 August 2018 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.- Actor
- Additional Crew
John Dunn-Hill was born in 1936 in Glasgow, UK. He was an actor, known for Punisher: War Zone (2008), 300 (2006) and Secret Window (2004). He died on 22 September 2015 in Montreal, Canada.- Daniel Pilon was born on 13 November 1940 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was an actor, known for Shoot 'Em Up (2007), Left Behind: The Movie (2000) and Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996). He was married to Susan Molgora. He died on 26 June 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Actress
- Producer
Lovely French Canadian actress Suzanne Cloutier, the daughter of the director of the National Printing Office, was born into a large family. She had indeed no fewer than six brothers and sisters. After happily growing up in the heart of nature (her parents had a house in the woods), she became a model in New York. A photograph of her was noticed by director-producer George Stevens who offered her a contract but, as she did not speak English well enough yet, she declined. Later on, having improved her level in Shakepeare's language, she was hired by a drama company featuring Charles Laughton. Which did not hinder her from playing in French for, after her American experience, she chose to join Jean Dasté's company in France. It is when she appeared in one of the plays produced by Dasté that she was hired by Julien Duvivier for her first major role in the movies, the unfortunate Marie Lambert in The Sinners (1949). Another interesting role in an interesting movie followed ( Juliette, Gérard Philipe 's dream lover in'Marcel Carné''s poetic Juliette ou La clef des songes (1951). To crown it all, 'Orson Welles' chose her to play Desdemona in his admirable adaptation of 'William Shakespeare''s Othello (1951). Suzanne Cloutier really excelled in the pathetic role of the beautiful but doomed wife of the jealous Moor. It looked as if Suzanne was then on the threshold of a great career. In fact, It was the contrary that happened due to the fact that she chose family life instead . Indeed after marrying Peter Ustinov she practically retired from artistic life. Too bad for the frustrated spectator but so much the better for her as she always declared herself happy with her married life.- Don Drysdale was born on 23 July 1936 in Van Nuys, California, USA. He was an actor, known for The Greatest American Hero (1981), The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961) and Then Came Bronson (1969). He was married to Ann Meyers and Ginger Drysdale. He died on 3 July 1993 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Barbara Bennett was born on 13 August 1906 in Palisades, New Jersey, USA. She was an actress, known for Love Among the Millionaires (1930), The Valley of Decision (1916) and Syncopation (1929). She was married to Laurent Surprenant, Jack Randall and Morton Downey. She died on 8 August 1958 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Gorgeous and beguiling brunette knockout Maria De Aragon was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Maria began her acting career with small roles in the movies "For Those Who Think Young," "Nightmare in the Sun," and "Come L'Amore." De Aragon carved out a nifty little niche portraying dangerous, but irresistible femme fatale types in several deliciously down'n'dirty 70's drive-in exploitation features: she's faithless husband Peter Carpenter's enticing young mistress Nanette in the tawdry "Love Me Like I Do;" at her all-time bitchy best as wicked and conniving sex-crazed nymphomaniac Victoria Waterman in the splendidly sleazy "Blood Mania," and one of the titular lethal ladies in the hugely enjoyable "Wonder Women." Maria had a change of pace good girl part as fetching love interest heroine Jeanne in the laughably lousy cheapie science fiction clunker "The Cremators." De Aragon achieved her greatest enduring cult popularity with her brief, but memorable appearance as would-be alien assassin Greedo in "Star Wars." Her last film role to date was as a French proprietor in the gritty urban action opus "Street Wars." In addition to her movie credits, Maria has also appeared in the stage productions "Bernie's Troupe," "Claim It," and "The Dancer." Maria De Aragon passed away while residing in the CHSLD Nicolet nursing home in her native Montreal.
- Catherine Bégin was born on 22 April 1939. She was an actress, known for Martyrs (2008), Laurence Anyways (2012) and Covergirl (1983). She died on 29 December 2013 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Greg Kramer was born in 1961 in Hertfordshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for 300 (2006), The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and On the Road (2012). He died on 8 April 2013 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Jacques Lussier was born on 1 March 1960 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was an actor and writer, known for Norman's Awesome Experience (1988), J'te demande pas le ciel! (1991) and Sous le signe du lion. He died on 14 April 2024 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Actor
- Writer
- Art Department
Michel Côté is a French-Canadian actor. He is best known for his performance in the comedy Broue and his role in Omertà. He was born on June 25, 1950 in Alma, Québec, Canada. For his Education, he studied and graduated out of the National Theatre School of Canada in 1973. Michel is best known for his TV shows TV shows: La Petite Vie, Et Dieu créa... Laflaque. He is married to Véronique Le Flaguais since 1972 and they have two sons. Maxime Le Flaguais (Born in 1983 and known for movies Tentacules 8, le retour de la chose, The Sands, Turn Off Before Living) and Charles Côté.
Michel also formed "Broue" with Marc Messier and Marcel Gauthier in 1979. He also convinced Jean-Marc Vallée to film C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005) in Montréal instead of in the USA. Côté won the Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for C.R.A.Z.Y.
From a modest family, he made known classical studies. For personal enjoyment, he played in amateur plays. With Marc Messier and Marcel Gauthier, it is one of the pillars (bar) of the traveling comedy, Broue. Despite his 33 years of age, this comedy is always a great success and constitutes the bulk of its income. It is presented from October to April. For this reason, all his films are always made from May to September.
Throughout his career, he played various roles in television series, most notably the Omertà trilogy and Omertà La Petite Vie. He played in several films, including Le Dernier Tunnel, C.R.A.Z.Y., De père en flic, Liste noire, etc.. He received a Gémeau Award in 1999 for her performance in Omertà, Genie Award for best actor and the Jutra for best supporting actor. He is married to Véronique Le Flaguais and the father of two sons, Charles and Maxime.- Catherine Colvey was born on 1 October 1951 in Canada. She was an actress, known for I'm Not There (2007), Deadfall (2012) and One Eyed King (2001). She died on 8 June 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Domini Blythe was born on 28 August 1947 in Cheshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Trotsky (2009), Formula I (1988) and Search for Tomorrow (1951). She was married to Jean Beaudin. She died on 15 December 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Pierre Falardeau was born on 28 December 1946 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was a director and actor, known for Elvis Gratton (1981), February 15, 1839 (2001) and Le party (1990). He was married to Manon Leriche. He died on 25 September 2009 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.- Mordecai Richler was born on 27 January 1931 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was a writer and actor, known for The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974), Barney's Version (2010) and Fun with Dick and Jane (2005). He was married to Florence Wood. He died on 3 July 2001 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Actor
- Writer
John McLeish was born on 10 May 1916 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was an actor and writer, known for Fantasia (1940), The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) and Carnival Courage (1945). He was married to Lila Dorothea Wead. He died on 30 October 1968 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- As his father had an amateur theatre troup in Hull, he began acting as a child. In the 1940s he became a member of "Les Compagnons de St-Laurent", a theatre troup directed by Father Émile Legault, in which he worked with Gilles Pelletier, Jean Coutu and others. Later going to France, he worked first for Jean Dasté at the Comédie de Saint-Étienne then at the TNP (Théâtre National Populaire) for Jean Vilar with 'Gérard Philippe' and Philippe Noiret among others. Coming back to Québec in the 1950s, he was an important actor in theatre, tv and movies.
- Jaclyn Linetsky was born on 8 January 1986 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. She was an actress, known for Evolution Worlds (2002), What's with Andy? (2001) and Caillou (1997). She died on 8 September 2003 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Russell Lees was born on 8 May 1957 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. He was a writer, known for Assassin's Creed III (2012), Assassin's Creed: Unity (2014) and Far Cry New Dawn (2019). He was married to Lisa. He died on 6 January 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Pierre Trudeau was born Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau on October 18, 1919 in Montreal, Quebec. He was the son of Charles-Émile Trudeau and Grace Elliott. Trudeau had an older sister and a younger brother, Suzette and Charles Jr.
Trudeau's father died when Pierre was 15. After that, Trudeau and his brother and sister were raised by their mother, who Trudeau remained in contact for the rest of her life.
Throughout World War II to the 1950's, little did the know about the man named Pierre Elliott Trudeau. He started his career in the late 1940's and the early 1950's.
Then, in 1968, Trudeau started to make headlines, as he became the 15th Prime Minister of Canada after Lester B. Pearson retired as Prime Minister and Liberal.
His personal life brought shock and surprises. In 1971, Trudeau married Margaret Sinclair, a woman almost thirty years younger than him. Together they had three sons, Justin, Alexandre and Michel. The Trudeaus separated in 1977 and the divorced was finalized in 1984.
On June 4, 1979, Trudeau was defeated by the Conservatives leader Joe Clark. But just nine months after the Clark government was defeated and weeks after Trudeau resigned, Trudeau undid his resignation and glided his way back to 24 Sussex, with another majority government. This was Trudeau's last chance too.
On June 30, 1984, Trudeau retired and John Turner took his spot in office. Later on, Trudeau fathered a daughter with Deborah Coyne, named Sarah Elisabeth Coyne, when he was 71 years old.
In November of 1998, Canadians saw Trudeau grieving the death of his youngest son Michel in an avalanche. Friends would say that Trudeau was never the same.
On September 28, 2000, Trudeau died at the age of 80. He was suffering from Parkinson's disease, but the cause of Trudeau's death was prostate cancer. His funeral was held on October 3 in Montreal. Trudeau will be remembered for his strength of character. - Actor
- Director
- Writer
Quebec-based actor whose career spanned five decades. He studied at the Professional Broadway Workshops under Harold Clurman and Sanford Meisner. He worked in the United States (notably for Joseph Papp's NY Shakespeare Festival) as well as for many of the major companies in Canada including the Bulldog, National Arts Centre and Centaur Theatre, Montreal. He was co-founder of the King's Theatre in Prince Edward Island, the Piggery Theatre and Playwrights Workshop. He was also a founding member of Canadian Actors' Equity and served in the governing bodies of both the local and national associations for over 34 years.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
He finished his medical studies at the age of 22 to please his parents, but he was already developing an attraction to the visual arts and to cinema. As a teenager, he had made two shorts with Michel Brault. In 1953, he wrote a television script. He joined the Office national du film du Canada (National Film Board) in 1954. After his first feature film was made in 1958, he went to France, where he worked with both François Truffaut and Jean Rouch. In the 1960s, he became involved in the 'cinema direct' movement, once again back in Quebec. In 1971, he directed My Uncle Antoine (1971), nearly unanimously believed to be his best work, as well as one of the greatest works of the Canadian cinema. Beginning in the mid-1970s, Jutra worked mostly in Toronto, where funding was easier come by. He began to suffer from a severe case of early-onset Alzheimer's and, given his knowledge of the condition due to his medical training, chose to take his own life. Just as the character he created in Take It All (1963), Jutra drowned himself in the freezing waters of the St. Lawrence River. His body was not recovered until the following spring.- Monique Mercure was born on 14 November 1930 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was an actress, known for Naked Lunch (1991), The Red Violin (1998) and J.A. Martin photographe (1977). She was married to Pierre Mercure. She died on 16 May 2020 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Director
- Editor
- Writer
Jeff Barnaby was born on 2 August 1976 in Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation Territory, Quebec, Canada. He was a director and editor, known for Rhymes for Young Ghouls (2013), Blood Quantum (2019) and The Colony (2007). He was married to Sarah Del Seronde. He died on 13 October 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Griffith Brewer was born on 2 November 1922 in Montreal, Québec, Canada. He was an actor, known for The Sum of All Fears (2002), Happy Birthday to Me (1981) and Power Games (1989). He was married to Marie. He died on 17 July 2011 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Director
- Script and Continuity Department
- Writer
Jean-Claude Lord was born on 6 June 1943. He was a director and writer, known for Éclair au chocolat (1979), Bingo (1974) and The Vindicator (1986). He was married to Lise Thouin. He died on 15 January 2022 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Jean Guimond was born in 1932. He was an actor and producer, known for Being Human (2011), Salut bonjour (1988) and The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne (2000). He died on 6 November 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Producer
- Director
- Animation Department
Norman McLaren is one of the most awarded filmmakers in the history of Canadian cinema, and a pioneer in both animation and filmmaking. Born in Scotland, he entered the Glasgow School of Fine Arts in 1932 to study set design. His early experiments in animation included actually scratching and painting the film stock itself, as he did not have ready access to a camera. In the early 30s he worked as a cameraman in Scotland and England, and in 1936 went to Spain to film the Civil War. He emigrated to the US in 1939, aware that war was imminent, and in 1941, at the invitation of John Grierson, he moved to Canada to work for the National Film Board.
McLaren made several propaganda films for the NFB, but continued develop his experimental work in his spare time. He later founded the animation department at the NFB, where he was at his most prolific. His most famous work, Neighbours (1952), utilized a style of animation known as pixilation, where the camera films moving people and objects a few frames at a time, giving the action a frantic, unearthly look. The short film won McLaren an Oscar. He continued to use a variety of styles and techniques on his animated shorts, including the optical editor to film _Pas de Deux (1968)_, filming through a prism for _Line: Horizontal (1962)_ and also using live action featuring himself in Opening Speech (1960).
In addition to film, McLaren worked with UNESCO in the 50s and 60s on programs to teach film and animation techniques in China and India. His five part "Animated Motion" shorts, produced in the late 70s, are an excellent example of instruction on the basics of film animation.
McLaren died in 1987, leaving behind a lasting legacy to the film and animation world. The Canadian Film Board recognized this in 1989 by naming the CFB head office building the Norman McLaren Building.- Gilles Pelletier was born on 22 March 1925 in Québec, Canada. He was an actor, known for The Barbarian Invasions (2003), Sous un ciel variable (1993) and Jesus of Montreal (1989). He was married to Françoise Graton. He died on 5 September 2018 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Richard Dubé was a writer, known for Indéfendable (2022), L'indice Mc$ween (2017) and Tout le monde en parle (2004). He was married to Izabel Chevrier. He died on 6 January 2024 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- John Buchan was born on 26 August 1875 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, UK. He was a writer, known for The 39 Steps (1935), Thirty Nine Steps and The 39 Steps. He was married to Susan Charlotte Grosvenor. He died on 11 February 1940 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actress
Kate McGarrigle was born on 6 February 1946 in Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was a composer and actress, known for The Squid and the Whale (2005), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) and Before Tomorrow (2008). She was married to Loudon Wainwright III. She died on 18 January 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- David Scott was born on 1 December 1962 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was an actor, known for Firehead (1991), Center of the Web (1992) and This Is Elvis (1981). He died on 5 January 1993 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Born in 1925, "The Great Antonio" or "Le Grand Antonio" for the French CanadianS that knew him, was a legendary Strongman who lived in Montreal since His arrival after the WWII. He became famous by pulling four city buses full of passengers. He appeared in Quest for Fire (1981) and the Abominable Snowman (1996 version) and had many TV appearances like in the Johnny Carson show. Little is known of his origin. He was an impressive man with his 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches)height and his 225 kg (near 500 pounds). He passed away at the age of 77 on September 7th, 2003.
- Actor
- Writer
Guy L'Ecuyer was born on 26 July 1931 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was an actor and writer, known for Au clair de la lune (1983), La fleur aux dents (1976) and Aux frontières du possible (1971). He was married to Madeleine.. He died on 20 September 1985 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.- Actor
- Writer
- Composer
Luc Durand was born on 14 September 1935 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was an actor and writer, known for Inspector Gadget (1983), Le siège de l'âme (1997) and La gammick (1975). He was married to Pauline Langlais and Louise Duperré. He died on 3 July 2000 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.- Mike Phillips was born on 23 July 1930 in Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada. He was an actor, known for The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Mandela (1987) and Limbo (1972). He died on 15 September 1999 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Lita Tresierra was born in 1977 in Costa Rica. She was an actress, known for The Factory (2012), Durham County (2007) and The Dead Zone (2002). She died on 21 June 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Douglas Campbell was born on 11 June 1922 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Oedipus Rex (1957), Bill Brand (1976) and Double Negative (1980). He was married to Ann Casson and Moira Wylie. He died on 6 October 2009 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
A distant relative of Herman and Joseph Mankiewicz, Francis was born in Shangaï in 1944. In 1945, his family moved to Montreal, where Francis would spend all his childhood. In the sixties, he graduated in Geology from Montreal University and worked in the woods for a while before realizing geology might not be his true calling. In 1966 he enrolled at the 'London School of Film Technique'. Back in Montréal in 1968, he worked as assistant director on commercial films like 'L'Amour humain' and 'Love is a four-letter word'.
In 1972, he directed his first fiction movie 'Le Temps d'une chasse', a character study based on his own screenplay and partly inspired by his days as geologist. The film was well received by critics and was presented at the Venice Film Festival. But it was only in 1978 that Mankiewicz directed his second picture 'Une Amie d'enfance', a dramatic comedy from a theater play by Louis Saïa and Louise Roy.
1980 saw the release of his third film, 'Les Bons débarras', an original screenplay by maverick novelist Réjean Ducharme. As soon as it came out, the film was considered a milestone in Québécois cinema, a reputation that time hasn't tarnished. The film swept the Genie awards, taking eight trophees including best film and best director while actress Marie Tifo's interpretation of the main character won the Silver Hugo at Chicago Film Festival.
Once again written by Réjean Ducharme, Mankiewicz's next film, 'Les Beaux souvenirs' (1981), was eagerly awaited and shared obvious similarities with 'Les Bons débarras' in themes and approach. Unfortunately, while some critics expressed enthousiasm, the global reaction was lukewarm.
Between 1983 and 1985, Mankiewicz worked on an adaptation of Anne Hébert's novel 'Les Fous de Bassan', but left the project after heavy frictions with the producers. The film was eventually made with Yves Simoneau at the helm. Mankiewicz, for his part, was hired by CBC producer Bernard Zuckerman to direct 'And Then you die', an atmospheric thriller that won two Gemini TV awards. During those years he also directed Sam Shepard's play 'Comme une vue' in Montréal, his sole venture in the theater world.
Based on a novel by Jacques Savoie adaptated by Savoie and Mankiewicz, 'Les Portes tournantes' was premiered at Cannes Film festival in 1988 in section 'Un Certain Regard'. It was distinguished by the Oecumenical jury and drew favourable notices before winning two Genies.
Mankiewicz then teamed up again with Bernard Zuckerman on two mini-series : 'Love and hate' (1990) and 'Conspiracy of Silence' (1991). Written by Suzette Couture and focusing on real life criminal cases, they both performed very well at the Geminis, winning respectively 5 and 7 trophees, each time including best dramatic mini-series and best direction.
Those were to be Mankiewicz last films. In August 1993, he died unexpectedly of cancer at age 49. In his work, Mankiewicz often focused on family in crisis, relations between adults and children, echoes from the past. His premature death was a great loss for Canadian and Québécois cinema. Remain 'les beaux souvenirs' !- Actor
- Writer
Louis Negin was born on 20 October 1929 in London, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for 54 (1998), Pontypool (2008) and Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002). He was married to Charles Dunlop. He died on 2 December 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Actor
- Writer
Jean-Louis Roux was born on 18 May 1923 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was an actor and writer, known for C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005), Monsieur Lecoq (1964) and The Hotel New Hampshire (1984). He died on 28 November 2013 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Merlee Shapiro was an actress, known for Eye of the Beholder (1999), Artificial Lies (2000) and Cruising Bar (1989). She died on 15 December 2011 in Montreal, Québec, Canada.
- Jean-Louis Paris was born on 20 September 1924 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was an actor, known for The Pyx (1973), L'amour (1969) and Manette ou les dieux de carton (1967). He died on 7 June 1996 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Reine France was born on 7 January 1927 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. She was an actress, known for Let's Talk About Love (1976), Jo Gaillard (1975) and Terre humaine (1978). She died on 22 May 1996 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Gisèle Schmidt was born in 1921 in Canada. She was an actress, known for La petite patrie (1974), Montréal P.Q. (1992) and Nénette (1991). She died on 30 January 2005 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Nelly Arcan was born on 5 March 1973 in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, Canada. She was a writer, known for Nelly (2016), Le diable au corps (2008) and Campus, le magazine de l'écrit (2001). She died on 24 September 2009 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Luce Guilbeault was born on 5 March 1935 in Outremont, Québec, Canada. She was an actress and director, known for La maudite galette (1972), D'abord ménagères (1978) and IXE-13 (1972). She died on 12 July 1991 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Harry Hill was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was educated in Aberdeen Grammar School and then undertook an honors degree course in English at Aberdeen University. He began performing in a choir to overcome a stammer, and got his first taste of acting at university when he appeared in several student shows. He made his own puppet shows and went around primary schools entertaining his fellow students.
His Edinburgh-born father had moved to Aberdeen as manager of the SAI fertilizer factory. His mother came from Musselburgh.
During his studies at Aberdeen University, Hill excelled in both comedy and drama.
On graduating with honors in English, he took up a year-long appointment at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, a popular first posting for Aberdeen English graduates at that time. Thereafter, he attempted to launch a career in the theatre but had a hard struggle finding work. A season of summer stock in Alberta and a tour with Vancouver Playhouse tided him over until he spent 12 months as the artistic director of a new theatre company in Victoria, British Columbia.
In 1969, he returned to university work, lecturing in English at Winona State College, Minnesota. The following year, he joined the English department of Concordia University, Montreal, as lecturer assistant, rising to associate professor. From then until he took early retirement from the university, in 1999, he enjoyed a dual career of academic and actor. He appears to have been as much at home in the lecture-room as he was in the theatre. A former student testified that, in the opinion of numerous former students, he was "quite simply the best teacher" they had ever had.
Hill was equally comfortable on radio, stage, film and television. He first taught English at Loyola College was also an associate professor of English at Concordia University until June, 1999, as well as a published writer (A Voice for the Theatre, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1984) and recording artist.
Before coming to Canada in 1963, he performed frequently at His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen in musicals, operetta and opera as well as in the modern and classical repertory.
In all he did, he was committed to the cultured life, and the vitality of the arts in the lives of all with whom he came in contact. He had expensive, but refined cultural tastes.
He did a great deal of voice work in film and television. He was probably best known for lending his plummy voice to the stuffy, rheumatism-plagued old raven Jacob Scribble in the Canadian cartoon series 'Wunschpunsch'.
Sadly, Jacob was his final acting role. He suffered from poor health in his last years and died of a short illness in Montreal in August 2005, at the age of 64.