After four decades, Duddy Kravitz goes to Cannes
After four decades, Duddy Kravitz goes to Cannes
Landmark movie The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz finally lands a spot in next months Cannes Classics series.
By : Martin Knelman , Toronto Star, Entertainment, Published on Mon Apr 29 2013
Richard Dreyfuss and Micheline Lanctot in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz.
It took 39 years but the Cannes Film Festival is finally rolling out its red carpet for The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz .
Ted Kotcheffs landmark 1974 movie , based on Mordecai Richlers novel and starring Richard Dreyfuss, has landed a spot in the 2013 lineup of prestigious Cannes Classics series at the festival, which runs from May 15 to 26. An official announcement from France was made on Monday.
Kotcheff himself will make the trip to Cannes from his Los Angeles home for the Duddy screening during the second week of the festival.
All I can say is its about time.
Flashback to 1974. A selection panel, set up by the government of Canada, recommended Duddy as Canadas official entry at Cannes. I was a member of that committee. At the time, I considered it not merely the best Canadian movie of 1974 but one of the best movies in Canadian history. I still do. And in its miraculous new digital version, it looks better than ever on the big screen.
To our surprise and dismay back then, the festival rejected Duddy . The reason? Cannes officials of that era found the movie anti-Semitic. And for many years Cannes was far more enthusiastic about French-language Canadian movies than English-language entries.
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http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2013/04/29/after_four_decades_duddy_kravitz_goes_to_cannes.html
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I really loved this film when it came out, but I hated how Duddy treated his French-Canadian girl friend, whom he had taken advantage of in order to advance his dream. This movie has been considered one of the 10 best movies made in Canada, and although it did win some important awards, it is finally getting the recognition it has always deserved.
I can't believe anyone even knows about this movie. Glad to see it get some creds.
Yeah, all in all, Duddy was an assbag. But a likeable assbag.
I first saw this back in the '70's, sitting down on the grass on a warm Alabama night at the Drive In with a group of my miscreants friends, smoking piffle, and enjoying our scruffy selves. Great little movie!
One of the best truly Canadian films (even if it had some American actors).
I saw it again recently for the first time since the '70s. It still holds up. It has long been on my favorites list. There were a number of good ones in that decade out of Canada.
I'm also a big fan of Aussie and Kiwi directors.