The Boy in Blue
Ned Hanlan was Canada's most successful sculling champion at the turn of the 20th century. This dramatization of his life begins in his youth, when the wild young man is informally adopted by a gambler who promotes Ned on the sculling circuit, betting on the boy's rowing skills solely to make money off him. Later, a ruthless businessman named Knox takes over Ned's career, but when Ned realizes how dishonest Knox is, he finds another manager. Walter is an inventor and the first honest man Ned has dealt with in his career and, under Walter's guidance, Ned rises to great success in the sculling world.
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- Cast:
- Nicolas Cage , Cynthia Dale , Christopher Plummer , David Naughton , Melody Anderson , James B. Douglas , Walter Massey
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Reviews
I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
One of my all time favorites.
It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
It isn't Hollywood, thank goodness. Cage is just a baby and still fresh looking incredibly fit. Not quite so today! Some great talent for sure. The story is basically true and Ned Hanlan was an arrogant hot head who proved to the world what a professional champion could do. He was undefeated and took on the world. Reports of the time did say, the more clothes he took off, the bigger he looked. He was a rascal who sometimes toyed with his competition. I love the local color, including the Segwun, the oldest operating commercial screw steamship in North America. Book your tickets today! I loved the scene showing the scull. A beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Some of the race scenes are definitely a bit lame. The pace of the rowing is like a walk in the park and it certainly feels staged. Hanlan's Point in Toronto is famous and infamous! Rowing is a magnificent sport. It combines incredible fitness, cutting edge technology and a fierce will to win.
I am actually IN this movie (I was an extra in the racing scenes - that's me in a tan dress with a parasol, listening to the band play, and again up on a lock gate, watching the racers - and my father and brother were extras in it too, my dad played a nineteenth-century bookie!), so I would really like to be able to give it an excellent review. I have to be honest, though - the script is pretty bad, Nicolas Cage had very little to work with here, Christopher Plummer is wasted, and even the racing scenes are cut badly so they're not very exciting. It was much more fun to film than it is to watch - I'd say only seek out this one if you're a big Nicolas Cage fan and are intent on seeing every film in which he's acted.
Warning - Spoilers The Boy in Blue is a representation of the life of Ned Hanlen - a rowing champion during the late 19th century. Learning his craft as a whiskey runner Ned moves into the world of high stakes rowing (popular during the era) and through love and emotional growth becomes a champion.While well done for a period piece the life of Ned Hanlen, as told in The Boy in Blue, does not represent a story compelling enough to carry an entire movie. Interesting in it's technical details (I've done a small amount of rowing and thought the sport was well captured) the amount of drama in Mr. Hanlen's life just does not rise to the level needed to make the movie consistently interesting.David Naughton plays the sleazy manager/promoter (with the requisite Heart of Gold); Christopher Plummer plays the sleazy backer/gambler (no Heart of Gold) and Cynthia Dale plays the love interest. While mildly interesting the attempts at sabotage, thuggery and skulduggery just don't add up to a "movies worth" of a story.
We saw it for the first time on AMC, which is FINALLY starting to show some different movies........it presents a sport that I believe most Americans are unfamiliar with.......Personal comment: I don't believe that people should stoop to cheat in ANY SPORT or to sabotage anther's chances of winning. FAIR IS FAIR! This movie came out a few years later than CHARIOTS of FIRE, and one cant help but feel the same emotions of being in a race whether on land or the water. Good sportsmanship should always be at the top of ones personal goals........and really enjoying competition. Ah, Nicolas did well in keeping in shape to do this movie!!!! AND the musical score is great too!!!.S.T. rainbowsmileyfish says hello :-)<>{