A Bear Named Winnie is a 2004 made-for-television drama film directed by John Kent Harrison. It stars Michael Fassbender and David Suchet.[1][2] It concerns one of the real-life inspirations behind A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.[3]
| A Bear Named Winnie | |
|---|---|
| Written by | John Kent Harrison John Goldsmith |
| Story by | Simon Vaughan |
| Directed by | John Kent Harrison |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Charlie Mole |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Simon Vaughan Kim Todd |
| Cinematography | Jean Lépine |
| Editor | Ron Wisman |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production companies | Original Pictures PowerCorp |
| Original release | |
| Release | 12 December 2004 |
Plot
editAt the outbreak of World War I, troops march through the Manitoban city of Winnipeg. Among them is Lieutenant Harry Colebourn (Fassbender), a veteran with a gift for animals. He soon meets a bear, Winnie, who provides comfort for the soldiers and by order of General Hallholland (David Suchet), becomes the regimental mascot.
Cast
edit- Michael Fassbender as Harry Colebourn
- David Suchet as General Hallholland
- Gil Bellows as Colonel Barret
- Stephen Fry as Protheroe
- Jonathon Young as Macray
- Aaron Ashmore as Corporal Randy Taylor
- Ted Atherton as Captain Elliot
- Robert Gauvin as Sgt. Major Picard
Copyright
editTo avoid legal problems concerning the copyrights of both Disney and the Milne estate, Winnie the Pooh and anything related to the property is never referenced nor discussed throughout the film.[4][better source needed] [5]
Critical response
editJohn Ferguson of The Radio Times awarded it two stars and said, "This touching fact-based drama almost manages to carry off its combination of First World War setting and sentimental tale, but is unsure of its target audience."[6]
See also
edit- Goodbye Christopher Robin - a 2017 biographical drama film about Milne and his son, with Vaughan also acting as a writer and producer.
References
edit- ^ Maloney 2012, p. 30.
- ^ A bear named Winnie. WorldCat. OCLC 865232108.
- ^ Mattick, Lindsay (24 November 2015). "The story of how Winnie the Pooh was inspired by a real bear – in pictures". The Guardian.
- ^ "A Bear Named Winnie (TV Movie 2004)". IMDb.
- ^ "Bear who's Bonkers plays our Winnie". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "A Bear Named Winnie – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
Bibliography
edit- Maloney, Jim (3 September 2012). Michael Fassbender – The Biography. John Blake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78219-075-2.