IMDb RATING
6.0/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
The story of the life and work of the Canadian fur trapper-turned-conservationist who claimed to be an aboriginal North American.The story of the life and work of the Canadian fur trapper-turned-conservationist who claimed to be an aboriginal North American.The story of the life and work of the Canadian fur trapper-turned-conservationist who claimed to be an aboriginal North American.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 5 nominations total
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
6.04.2K
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Featured reviews
I found this film to be intriguing.
I know some people think the movie is boring but I disagree. It is a biography of a very complex and extraordinary person. I liked the characters in the film and think that leaving parts of Archie's life a mystery captured his humanity. I don't think the purpose of a good biography should be the detailing of someone's life but rather the complexities and relationships that make them interesting. And what is more fascinating than someone so successfully reinventing themselves? "Men become what they dream - you have dreamed well." Good job to Lord Attenborough. I also wanted to mention that Nathaniel Arcand really stood out to me as a charismatic actor and I hope to see him in more films.
A Good, Unique Film, at a Pastoral Pace
Pierce Brosnan will probably be the only thing familiar in Richard Attenborough's new biopic. The rest is new to international audiences: Canadian history and First Nations Culture.
"Grey Owl" is a light examination of how an man came to be adopted into the Ojibway of Northern Ontario, learning and preaching environmentalism decades before it became politically correct to do so. The film contains a love story, a moral message, and a man tortured by his past. That torture, though, is not always brought to life with the dramatic impact that it might.
Nevertheless, it is a film which holds its audience without any violence. It pays deep respect to Canada's First Nations, and presents them in a dignified and non-stereotypical manner. Brosnan's performance is somewhat stiff, but I suspect that's just how Lord Attenborough wanted him.
Thanks from a proud Canadian.
"Grey Owl" is a light examination of how an man came to be adopted into the Ojibway of Northern Ontario, learning and preaching environmentalism decades before it became politically correct to do so. The film contains a love story, a moral message, and a man tortured by his past. That torture, though, is not always brought to life with the dramatic impact that it might.
Nevertheless, it is a film which holds its audience without any violence. It pays deep respect to Canada's First Nations, and presents them in a dignified and non-stereotypical manner. Brosnan's performance is somewhat stiff, but I suspect that's just how Lord Attenborough wanted him.
Thanks from a proud Canadian.
For Nature Lovers
Saw this movie on VHS. Relaxing movie with wonderful scenery. Grey Owl wrote many books. I plan on getting some of them. Brosnan does a great job, after all the charactor is supposed to be English. It shows the irony in the beliefs of non-Indians. Should be of interest to people who care out ecology.
Worthy and graceful
I saw the British premiere of this in Bridgend, South Wales - Richard Attenborough was met with generous applause, his film with polite applause. It is a film equally of the heart and of the head, with emotions and affecting performances never quite being allowed to get in the way of the beautiful photography.
Charming in its own way and with a fascinating tale to tell, Grey Owl never quite gets fired up in the same way as historical rivals like Braveheart and Titanic. And this, possibly shamefully, probably just ironically, would seem to be due to the very thing that Attenborough is keen to sell his own movie on - its lack of violence, action, sex and, above all, excitement.
Still, a graceful and involving film - one which deserves the tag 'worthy' more than many others.
Charming in its own way and with a fascinating tale to tell, Grey Owl never quite gets fired up in the same way as historical rivals like Braveheart and Titanic. And this, possibly shamefully, probably just ironically, would seem to be due to the very thing that Attenborough is keen to sell his own movie on - its lack of violence, action, sex and, above all, excitement.
Still, a graceful and involving film - one which deserves the tag 'worthy' more than many others.
A story worth telling
All in all a good film and better for the fact that had the film not been made the story might remain hidden to the masses. Brosnan does a good job as the native American with a hidden past and the photography is stunning. To some, this may be too whimsical, to others boring - for me it is a gentle, well-told tale and perfect for family viewing. Now that's not something you get a lot of recently.
Did you know
- TriviaThe autobiography "Grey Owl and Me" by Canadian environmentalist Hap Wilson devotes a chapter to the author's time working on this film. Wilson served as Pierce Brosnan's personal skills trainer.
- GoofsWhen Grey Owl's publisher Champlin arrives by airplane, to convince Grey Owl to go on tour in England, the airplane shown is clearly a DeHavilland DHC-2 "Beaver" on floats. This scene is set in approximately 1935, but the DeHavilland Beaver did not make its first flight until 1947.
- Quotes
Pow Wow Chief: Men become what they dream... you have dreamed well.
[1:37:30]
- ConnectionsFeatured in Heritage Minutes: Grey Owl (1999)
- How long is Grey Owl?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Сіра сова
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $30,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $632,617
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $162,360
- Oct 3, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $632,617
- Runtime
- 1h 58m(118 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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