The Grey Fox

Critics Consensus

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80%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 751

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The Grey Fox Photos

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Movie Info

Francis Ford Coppola protégé Phillip Borsos directs this elegiac, low-key tale about real-life bandit Bill Miner that has become a classic of Canadian cinema. Having been released from jail in 1901 following a 33-year prison sentence for robbing stagecoaches, Bill Miner (Richard Farnsworth) finds himself living in a society that has completely changed from the one of his youth. He tries to put his life of crime behind him and settle down in Washington state with his sister, but the quiet life does not suit him. He feels restless but uncertain as to how to proceed next. The answer comes to him when he sees Edward S. Porter's The Great Train Robbery. Soon, Miner has slipped over the border into Canada and, along with his new partner, Shorty (Wayne Robson), robs the Canadian Pacific Railway Transcontinental Express. Later, while laying low after the crime in a remote corner of British Columbia, he meets the beautiful, strong-willed photographer Kate Flynn (Jackie Burroughs). In writing this script, Borsos reportedly made heavy use of contemporary court documents and testimonies. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival in honor of its 20th anniversary. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Rating:

PG
Genre:

Art House & International, Drama, Western
Directed By:

Phillip Borsos
In Theaters:

Dec 16, 1982 wide
Runtime:

90 minutes
Studio:

United Artists

Cast

Richard Farnsworth
as Bill Miner

Jackie Burroughs
as Kate

Wayne Robson
as Shorty

Ken Pogue
as Jack

David Petersen
as Louis

Timothy Webber
as Sgt. Ferdie

Peter Jobin
as Sgt. Wilson

Bill Meilen
as Ducks Engineer

Bill Murdock
as Mission Engineer

Gary Reineke
as Detective Seavey

Don MacKay
as Al Sims

Samantha Langevin
as Jenny

George Dawson
as Accomplice

Ray Michal
as Gunsmith

Stephen E. Miller
as Danny Young

David Crowley
as Oregon Engineer

Gary Chalk
as Oregon Train Mail Clerk

Jack Leaf
as Shopkeeper

Sean Sullivan
as Newspaper Editor

Jack Ackroyd
as Fireman (Mission)

Nicholas Rice
as Mail Clerk (Mission)

Frank C. Turner
as Hotel Clerk

Paul Jolicoeur
as Conductor

Paul Whitney
as Mountie

Murray Ord
as Mountie

Anthony Holland
as Judge

Lisa Westman
as Farm Girl

Thomas Heaton
as Tom

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Critic Reviews for The Grey Fox

All Critics (13) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (13)

Here's one of the loveliest adventures of the year, a movie about a stubborn, indomitable character who robs people because that's what he knows best.

Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic
One of the best films of the 1980s and one of the greatest films to come out of Canada.

Sep 14, 2012 | Rating: 5/5

Phil Hall
Film Threat
Richard Farnsworth emanates roguish strength and independence as a legendary train robber.

Aug 19, 2004 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice
Richard Farnsworth's career finds elegant summation in this breezy laid-back Western.

Nov 1, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium
Outstanding, understated Western; great performance by Farnsworth as an outlaw whose time has passed.

Oct 23, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

View All Critic Reviews (13)

Audience Reviews for The Grey Fox

Jan 20, 2010

Finally saw it thanks to TIFF's recent 30th anniversary airing. Unfortunately what could be Canada's greatest film is caught up on a poor distribution deal and hadn't been aired in decades. Despite damage to the original film, this one sparkles particularly due to the performances. Farnsworth steals the show as the train robber that we want to see succeed.

John B Super Reviewer
May 25, 2008

one of the great Canadian movies

Adam M Super Reviewer