9 minute read
Hollywood Comes to Paris, Ontario
Paris Past
By Chris Whelan
The Hard Part Begins (1973)
The first time a Hollywood style movie production filmed in our town was probably the 1973 movie The Hard Part Begins. A film about Jim King, a struggling country singer whose life is falling apart. His partner left him to pursue a solo career, his son is out of control and his ex-wife hates his guts and can't wait to see him fail. Life on the road is no fairytale. Scenes were filmed at the old Paris Inn, the Royal, the Coffee Cup and more. Currently streaming on YouTube last time we checked https://youtu.be/lxp8O8ZOP_4
Blood & Guts (1978)
Was filmed (among other places) at the Paris Fairgrounds, The Old Paris Inn, and the Syl Apps Arena. It’s the story of a young athlete that becomes the unlikely star of a traveling wrestling troupe, and a rival promoter will go to any length to steal him away. It stars William Smith who was probably best known for his portrayal as "Falconetti" in Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). Currently streaming on YouTube last time we checked
https://youtu.be/cThad6-ME3k
Ordinary Magic (1993)
Was Ryan Reynolds’ first film and it’s almost entirely filmed in Paris! This family-friendly movie is about a boy named Jeffrey (Ryan Reynolds), and when his father dies, Jeffery is sent to live with his aunt Charlotte (Glenne Headly) in Canada. Once there he leads his aunt and his friends in staging a nonviolent hunger strike to try to save his aunt's house from being demolished to make room for a ski resort. Currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and YouTube last time we checked https://youtu.be/RNs81MLYYBU
Spenser: Pale Kings and Princes TV Movie 1994 Unrated 1h 30m
When one of Susan's former patients, a news reporter, turns up dead on the outskirts of Wheaton, the cocaine capitol of Massachusetts, she and Spenser head out to Wheaton (Played by Paris) to find out why he was killed. With Hawk tagging along, they end up getting involved with Felipe Esteva, the head of the cocaine smuggling ring who has the entire town in his pocket. You can watch this film on YouTube but only in Spanish and no English subtitles but at least you get to see lots of Paris! https://youtu.be/1s6TdE5c04Y
Shadow Builder (1998)
Bram Stoker Horror Movie Rated R. Almost this entire movie is filmed in Paris and it’s about an evil Archbishop of the Catholic Church that summons a demon to try and destroy the world. The summoners are killed, but the demon escapes to hunt down its needed victim. The victim soon turns out to be a child that has the potential to become a saint. After ravaging the town and turning its citizens upon themselves, the demon soon locates and captures his prey. The boy is played by child star Kevin Zegers who was born and raised in Woodstock, Ontario and is now a pretty famous actor living in Los Angeles. Father Vassey is played by Michael Rooker known for “The Walking Dead” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” fame. You can watch this movie on YouTube. https://youtu.be/zkct5yblqDk
Phil the Alien (2004)
Phil the Alien (2004). Near a backwoods Ontario small town, a young alien, on vacation, crashes in his ship. Disoriented, this confused young extraterrestrial is captured by a young boy who, after naming him Phil, introduces him to the stupor of hard liquor before the boy's hick father throws him out. Roaring drunk and bunking with a friendly talking beaver, Phil eventually wanders into a bar where his new addiction traps him even while he wants to go home. Meanwhile, a secret US black ops organization activates a drunken field agent to find the alien. However, while he searches, Phil's easily manipulated personality leads him down paths that will profoundly affect his new native friends. You can watch the trailer on YouTube. https://youtu.be/9H-Af3U2yA8
The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio (2005)
Kelly and Evelyn Ryan live in Defiance, Ohio with their 10 children. At first glance their life seems idyllic; But Kelly (Woody Harrelson) was a garage-band crooner whose voice was ruined in an auto accident. He's resigned to a dead-end factory job that barely pays the bills and is given to fits of alcohol-induced rage. Evelyn (Julianne Moore), a stay-at-home wife and mother, deals with this abuse and their poverty by entering the jingle contests that were the rage in the 50's and early 60’s. She is very clever at it, winning more than her share of prizes, but her successes aren't enough to keep the wolf from the door. You can watch the trailer on YouTube. https://youtu.be/HiyFONPiAKE
Away from Her (2006)
Was filmed at various locations in Paris most notably scenes at Telfer Place and 2 Rivers Restaurant can be seen in the film. The story is about Grant and Fiona Anderson who have been married for forty-four years. Their marriage has been a generally happy and loving one although not perfect due to some indiscretions when Grant was working as a college professor. Fiona has just been admitted to Meadowlake, a long-term care facility near their country home in southwestern Ontario, because her recent lapses of memory have been diagnosed as a probable case of Alzheimer's disease. She and Grant made this decision together, although a still lucid Fiona seems to have made peace with the decision and her diagnosis more so than Grant. Click the poster to watch the trailer. You can watch the trailer on YouTube. https://youtu.be/OtLz-mRkNNE
Closing the Ring (2007)
is a life affirming film with nuanced performances by veteran actors Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer, Pete Postlethwaite, and Brenda Fricker. Younger actors Mischa Barton, Neve Campbell and Martin McCann also shine. Because of a plane crash towards the end of WW1 in the Belfast area, a newly wed Michigan beauty is deeply traumatized. She still lives in the same house she shared with her late husband and has an area behind a false door dedicated to him. Now in late middle-age she's still in mourning. A veteran flying ace ( Christopher Plummer) is in love with her. She keeps him at arms length. Her relationship with her grown daughter (Neve Campbell) is also troubled. A scene representing a dance hall in 1941 Belfast was shot in the Old Town Hall in Paris. You can watch the trailer on YouTube. https://youtu.be/1kjm4oXC6NA
Bark Ranger (2015)
Two kids and their trusty dog, Ranger, stumble across a treasure map while playing in an abandoned ranger station They set out on the adventure of a lifetime in search of a forgotten gold mine, but things take a turn for the worst when they come across a pair of bumbling crooks hiding out from the police You can buy "Bark Ranger" on Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, as download or rent it on Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, online/ You can watch the trailer on YouTube. https://youtu.be/JlgXelvpVRk
The Cuban (2019)
Was filmed at various locations in Paris and Brantford When a naive pre-med student named Mina gets her first job in a nursing home, an unexpected friendship with Luis, an elderly Cuban musician, reignites her love of music and changes her life forever The cast includes Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr , MTV's Degrassi actress Ana Golja, Giacomo Gianniotti of Grey's Anatomy fame and Canadian Screen Award winner actor Enrico Colantoni International award-winning director Sergio Navarretta, is leading the project along with award-winning writer/producerAlessandra Piccione and producer Tara Koltun. You can watch the trailer on YouTube. https://youtu.be/Ds6KEXFCM80
Let It Snow (2019)
The snow and cold weather in Brant provided the perfect backdrop for this Netflix movie. Let It Snow made its temporary home at the site of the Johnny Be Good Diner on Paris Road which was transformed into Waffle Town, a key location throughout the movie. Let It Snow is a 2019 American Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Luke Snellin from a screenplay by Kay Cannon, Victoria Strouse and Laura Solon, based on the young adult novel of the same name by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle. It was released on November 8, 2019, and can be seen on Netflix. You can watch the trailer on YouTube. https://youtu.be/pitxxQYZcug
