In 1973, the black rocks of a pre-regreened Coniston and Copper Cliff served as the backdrop for the Canadian noir film ‘Between Friends’, a film most people have never heard of but one with a clear link to both Die Hard and Quentin Tarantino
It’s 1973 and Sudburians sitting in their seats at the City Centre Cinema One would definitely recognize the rocky landscapes up on the big screen.
For this, Will and Coker enlist the assistance of his daughter , her boyfriend and his American surfing buddy to plan an elaborate heist. The filming location chosen by the production team is known locally as “the other side of the tracks” . Here we find a shabby derelict dwelling perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the recently shutdown Coniston smelter.
The budget for this new film was $500,000, considerably more than he had in his pocket for Goin' Down the Road, which was made on a shoestring budget of $27,000. The film’s lead is Michael Parks, a 33-year-old native of California, who was as far out of his environmental element as one would imagine. This was his first venture into Canada for filming, but nowhere near his beginnings in film. His first film role was the title character in the 1965 movie Bus Riley's Back in Town, co-starring Annie-Margaret. Parks was also a country and jazz singer who had already recorded four albums prior to his adventure in our city.
In Between Friends, Parks’ main wardrobe consists of a Second World War bomber jacket. The story goes that it was spotted being worn by a passerby to the film set, who generously offered him the coat. This coat became his character’s trademark. The third person in the triumvirate of main characters is Torontonian Chuck Shamata, who unlike his more experienced co-stars, was just beginning in the business, with this being his first motion picture role.
And finally, remember that boy walking to the hockey rink in Coniston? During a scene involving the three main characters discussing their next moves while standing in the middle of a Coniston road, two young boys pass behind them, ambling up onto the adjacent train tracks. One of those boys would make his trips to the rink payoff — he is future NHLer Jim Fox, who played nine seasons for the LA Kings and is the team’s current TV colour commentator.
In September 1974, Donald Shebib screened Between Friends at the Sorrento Film Festival. Italian newspapers at the time reported that they viewed the movie's story of the bloody conflict between a gangster from Canada and one from the United States as symbolic of underlying conflicts between the two neighbouring countries.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Applications open for Greater Sudbury Development Corporation boardThe City of Greater Sudbury is seeking applications for the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation board
Read more »
McAndrew, who pitched for the 1969 and 1973 Mets, dies at 80Jim McAndrew, who lost his major league debut to Bob Gibson in a 1968 spot start for the New York Mets when Nolan Ryan was called away to military duty, then beat Steve Carlton a month later for his first win, has died. He was 80.
Read more »
One arrested after search nets $38K in illegal drugs: GSPSSudbury woman, 43, facing several charges following March 22 search warrant
Read more »
The Stampeders include Sudbury date on alleged ‘final’ tourLongtime Canadian classic rock radio staples The Stampeders are bringing their country-infused songs to Laurentian University’s Fraser Auditorium on April 13
Read more »
$150K from feds for new Sudbury theatre equipmentYES Theatre will purchase new lighting console and counterweight fly system
Read more »
Let’s eat! Wander and the fine art of pairing oysters with vinoWander Food and Wine in downtown Sudbury is truly unique in the Nickel City food scene
Read more »