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Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks

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Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks
Written byDonald Brittain
Richard Nielsen
Directed byDonald Brittain
StarringMaury Chaykin
Narrated byDonald Brittain
Music byEldon Rathburn
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersDonald Brittain
Adam Symansky
CinematographyAndreas Poulsson
EditorsRita Roy
Richard Todd
Running time115 minutes
Production companyNational Film Board of Canada
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
ReleaseOctober 27, 1985 (1985-10-27)

Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks is a Canadian docudrama film directed, written and produced by Donald Brittain.[1]

The film was about Hal C. Banks, a controversial American labour union leader who came to Canada in 1949 to help bust the purportedly Communist-controlled Canadian Seaman's Union and establish the Seafarers International Union as their replacement. Banks left Canada in 1962 after being brought up on criminal charges. Banks appeared before the Norris Commission, which was set up to investigate his strongarm tactics and links to beatings of opposition unions, and non signed shipping companies. In particular was the ULS and the Maritime Union run by his former lieutenant Michael Sheehan, who had testified before the Norris Commission against Banks, and led the push to loosen the SIU grip on the Great Lakes.[2]

Maury Chaykin played the role of Banks in dramatic reenactments, alongside a supporting cast that included Peter Boretski, Jason Dean, Marie-Hélène Fontaine, Colin Fox, Sean McCann, Gary Reineke, Larry Reynolds, Chuck Shamata, Barry Stevens, R. H. Thomson and Jonathan Welsh.

The film premiered at the 1985 Festival of Festivals,[3] but was distributed primarily as a CBC Television broadcast rather than theatrically. It was broadcast by CBC on October 27, 1985.[4]

Awards

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Festival of Festivals 1985 Best Canadian Film Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks Won [5]
ACTRA Awards April 2, 1986 Best Television Program Nominated [6]
Best Direction in a Television Program Donald Brittain Won [7]
Best Television Actor Maury Chaykin Won
Best Writing, Original Television Drama Donald Brittain, Richard Nielsesn Nominated [6]
Gemini Awards December 4, 1986 Best Writing in a Dramatic Program Won [8]
Best Direction in a Dramatic Series Donald Brittain Won
Best Actor in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries Maury Chaykin Nominated [9]
Best Supporting Actor R. H. Thomson Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jim Bawden, "Banks a rip-roaring drama". Toronto Star, October 27, 1985.
  2. ^ Rick Groen, "Portrait of Banks as a brutish amoral artist". The Globe and Mail, October 26, 1985.
  3. ^ "Film festival reels in Plenty". The Globe and Mail, August 16, 1985.
  4. ^ Noel Taylor, "Film-maker ready for flak over Hal Banks story". Ottawa Citizen, October 26, 1985.
  5. ^ Jay Scott, "Official Story voted most popular film; No Surrender, American Cousin critics' choices". The Globe and Mail, September 16, 1985.
  6. ^ a b "ACTRA nominations for 15th annual Nellie Awards on April 2". Montreal Gazette, March 18, 1986.
  7. ^ Adele Freedman, "Charlie Grant's War is ACTRA's top show of the year: Nellie makes last stand brisk but chummy". The Globe and Mail, April 4, 1986.
  8. ^ Sid Adilman, "Anne Of Green Gables a lucky child of Gemini". Toronto Star, December 5, 1986.
  9. ^ Sid Adilman, "Anne leads field in Geminis race". Toronto Star, October 16, 1986.
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