Between Friends (1973 film)

1973 Canadian film

Between Friends

Directed by| Donald Shebib
Written by| Claude Harz
Produced by| Chalmers Adams
Starring| Michael Parks
Bonnie Bedelia
Chuck Shamata
Henry Beckman
Hugh Webster
Cinematography| Richard Leiterman
Edited by| Tony Lower
Donald Shebib
Music by| Matthew McCauley

Release date

* 1 October 1973 (1973-10-01)

Running time

| 91 minutes
Country| Canada
Language| English

Between Friends is a 1973 Canadian crime film directed by Donald Shebib. It was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival, and was featured in the Canadian Cinema television series which aired on CBC Television in 1974.[1]

## Plot

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A botched mine robbery in Northern Ontario involves the troubled quartet of Chino (Chuck Shamata), his American surfing buddy Toby (Michael Parks), his girlfriend's father (Henry Beckman) and Coker (Hugh Webster). While the robbery is being planned, Chino's girlfriend Ellie (Bonnie Bedelia) becomes attracted to Toby.[2]

## Cast

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* Michael Parks as Toby
* Bonnie Bedelia as Ellie
* Chuck Shamata as Chino
* Henry Beckman as Will
* Hugh Webster as Coker

## Reception

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Though Between Friends was a commercial failure for director Shebib, it is "easily his most critically applauded film",[3] some critics going so far as to call it his masterpiece.[4] Wyndham Wise called it "a taut, serious dramatic study of loyalty, Canada/US relations and the limitations of male bonding", and asserted the failed heist sequence rivals any American film noir.[5]

The film was a finalist for Best Picture at the Canadian Film Awards in 1973,[6] losing to Slipstream.

## References

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1. ^ Corcelli, John (August 2005). "Canadian Cinema". Canadian Communications Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
2. ^ "Shebib's debut into front ranks". The Globe and Mail, 13 October 1973.
3. ^ Pevere, Geoff (2012). Donald Shebib's Goin' Down the Road. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 99\. ISBN 9781442645899. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
4. ^ Wise, Wyndham, ed. (2001). Take One's Essential Guide to Canadian Film. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 2222\. ISBN 9781442656208. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
5. ^ Wise, Wyndham. "Donald Shebib". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
6. ^ "Fine lineup for Film Awards". The Globe and Mail, 9 October 1973.

## External links

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* Between Friends at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Donald Shebib

* Good Times, Bad Times (1969)
* Goin' Down the Road (1970)
* Rip-Off (1971)
* Between Friends (1973)
* Second Wind (1976)
* The Fighting Men (1977)
* Fish Hawk (1979)
* Heartaches (1981)
* By Reason of Insanity (1982)
* Running Brave (1983)
* Slim Obsession (1984)
* The Climb (1986)
* The Little Kidnappers (1990)
* Change of Heart (1993)
* The Ascent (1994)
* The Pathfinder (1996)
* Down the Road Again (2011)
* Nightalk (2022)

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