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IMDbPro

Paperback Hero

  • 1973
  • R
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
248
YOUR RATING
Keir Dullea and Elizabeth Ashley in Paperback Hero (1973)
DramaSport

A hockey player in a small town begins to lose his grip on reality, and starts to believe that he is a gunslinger in the Old West.A hockey player in a small town begins to lose his grip on reality, and starts to believe that he is a gunslinger in the Old West.A hockey player in a small town begins to lose his grip on reality, and starts to believe that he is a gunslinger in the Old West.

  • Director
    • Peter Pearson
  • Writers
    • Les Rose
    • Barry Pearson
  • Stars
    • Keir Dullea
    • Elizabeth Ashley
    • John Beck
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    248
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Pearson
    • Writers
      • Les Rose
      • Barry Pearson
    • Stars
      • Keir Dullea
      • Elizabeth Ashley
      • John Beck
    • 10User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins total

    Photos5

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    Top cast23

    Edit
    Keir Dullea
    Keir Dullea
    • Rick Dylan
    Elizabeth Ashley
    Elizabeth Ashley
    • Loretta
    John Beck
    John Beck
    • Pov
    Dayle Haddon
    Dayle Haddon
    • Joanna
    Franz Russell
    • Big Ed
    George R. Robertson
    George R. Robertson
    • Burdock
    • (as George Robertson)
    Margot Lamarre
    • Julie
    Ted Follows
    • Cagey
    Linda Sorensen
    Linda Sorensen
    • Mona
    • (as Linda Sorenson)
    Les Rubie
    • Jock
    • (as Les Ruby)
    Jacquie Presly
    • Marlene
    Chet Robertson
    • Father
    Winnie Rowles
    • Mother
    Gerry Cooke
    • Noogie
    John Ottenberg
    • Heavy
    Linda Findlay
    • Friend
    Mike Shabaga
    • Referee
    Pat Scott
    • Hippie
    • Director
      • Peter Pearson
    • Writers
      • Les Rose
      • Barry Pearson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews10

    5.9248
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7bchabel

    Dreary life in a small Canadian town and hockey.

    The movie isn't very good at any level. But it does have a nifty shower scene with Dullea and Ashley. To show how far Canadian movies have come, try seeing this and The Sweet Hereafter back to back. That is if you can get through this one.
    8grand_schuttz

    A Snide Commentary on Canadian Identity

    I discovered this film several years ago and much of it has stuck with me. The director, Peter Pearson, sets out to do a back-door comparison of the Canadian and American West by examining a small-town hockey hotshot and his delusions of grandeur. Keir Dullea of 2001: A Space Odyssey fame plays the protagonist, whose swagger is both out of touch with the reality of contemporary living, but is also based on the fictions of the "Wild West"--hence the film's title. If life isn't going to be more exciting, he's not opposed to forcing it a little bit so he can play out his fantasy of being an American bad boy in a sleepy Canadian farming town.

    This film beautifully illustrated the hazards of adopting an identity that was never our own.
    9credmond

    Underappreciated Canadian film that should not be taken simply at face value

    There are a few really good reasons why people should make an effort to see this film.

    First of all, it is a rare feature film unapologetically set in Saskatchewan that is above all entertaining. More importantly though, it is a good comment on Canadian culture being influenced by American culture in a fatal way.

    I found Keir Dullea's character, Rick, charming as the wanna be sheriff of a small Saskatchewan town in the 70s, equipped with a holster, cowboy hat and chaps, and a sheriffs star on the side of his bright red car. More importantly, the town never mocked him, and when they did he would always stood up for himself and beat the crap out of people making fun of him .

    In fact, as this dreamer he becomes the only interesting thing in the town which has you rooting for him throughout the film. If you're not reading between the lines of what this film is about though, it's still enjoyable to watch. And in its defence, it was made before the Tax Shelter era, so you can't write it off as a product of those days. It actually took heart to make this film, and it shows on screen.
    9mikepaul-3

    Funny, I really like the movie...

    I managed to get a VHS copy a few years back, and burned it to DVD-R for posterity.

    Perhaps I'm oversimplifying by describing it as a "Canadian 'Breathless'", but I still find that the shortest good description I can come up with.

    A lot less use of the Gordon Lightfoot music than I recall from years of watching it on Canadian TV, but that may just be fading memory rather than VHS music licensing problems.

    I also liked 'Slipstream' http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0072181/combined more than another reviewer, but some people look at movies as dreams they'd like to be in and some look at them like they were traffic accidents, so there's always going to be disagreements...
    6snicewanger

    Prime Example of 1970's Canadian Cinema

    I have to admit I first acquired this film so I could see Liz Ashley's nude shower scene and she did look great, but the rest of the film was not nearly as bad as I was afraid it was going to be. Despite his 2001 immortality as Star Child Dave Bowman,I have never been a big Keir Dullea fan. I always remember Noel Coward's observation after seeing Bunny Lake is Missing, "Keir Dullea gone tomorrow". The movie does have a certain charm and Dullea plays his child/man who refuses to grow up role with some vigor

    It's a bit dated now but if you're into the 1970's or primitive Canadian cinema, or you are hot for Elizabeth Ashley as I was, you might wish to seek this out. As far as I know it hasn't been released on DVD. I still have my VHS copy, however. Although the color is starting to fade

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
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    Sport

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To help Keir Dullea and Elizabeth Ashley feel comfortable in the shower scene, where they both appear naked, director Peter Pearson took off his clothes as well, and climbed into the shower with them.
    • Soundtracks
      If You Could Read My Mind
      Written and performed by Gordon Lightfoot

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 21, 1973 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Roughneck
    • Filming locations
      • Delisle, Saskatchewan, Canada
    • Production company
      • Agincourt Productions Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • CA$500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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