It’s Time To Shine: Canadian Film’s Hit Factory
Sure, Mariah Carey’s ill-fated movie debut Glitter was filmed in Canada, but the country has produced more than enough hits to balance out the occasional lapse in judgment. According to the National Film Board of Canada, Toronto is among Canadian cities that are a big draw to movie studios because many locations can easily substitute for other cities at a fraction of the cost of shooting in the real locations. It may come as a surprise to some that several hit movies were indeed filmed in Canada.
Superman III (1983) – One of the first blockbusters to be filmed in Canada nearly 30 years ago, this third installment of the franchise featured original movie Superman Christopher Reeve. Richard Pryor, Jackie Cooper, Annette O’Toole and Robert Vaughn round out an excellent cast in an average movie.
The Notebook (2004) – Based on the hit novel by Nicholas Sparks, the film adaptation stars fellow Canadians Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. It’s fairly faithful to the book’s account of a romance spanning more than 60 years.
Happy Gilmore (1996) – Adam Sandler at a time when his zaniness was appealing. Yes, this is the film with a cameo by Bob Barker in the famous golf scene.
The Canadian Film Office reports a growing number of movie studios turning to Canada as a cheaper alternative to Hollywood with better available locations. Canada’s devotion to film is evidence by the annual Toronto International Film Festival, held annually in September. Cartman might not approve, but for many Canadians it’s aboot time Canada gets credits for its role in movie history.