Donald pleasance is an extraordinary actor and this B movie deserves to be watched if only for him and the B.C. scenery. As a huge fan of Pleasance I feel his talents were never realized, as a result of the material he was given to work with. With the exception of 'The great escape' Donald's expertise were never given full shrift. unless he was watched on stage perhaps.
9 Reviews
Eccentric Road Movie
NapoleonX3 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I picked this up for about 50p at a car boot. Intrigued because I am a big Donald Pleasance fan and this was a movie I'd never heard of. Unsurprisingly, as from the card box, it was probably last released in the UK around the late 1970's.
The box promised an hour and a half of adventure. Well it was lying, but that's probably because this movie is impossible to categorise or explain.
Essentially, it's probably a road movie. although the road is a mountain track and the vehicle is a three wheeled, three seater quad bike, and the "adventure" consists of the three protagonists constantly bickering and beating each other up.
The three characters - Logan, Gladys and Mazella are losers. Not lovable losers mind you. Losers with a capital L. Logan is a forgetful fool, possibly with Tourette's. Gladys is a bitter widow and Mazella is a buffoon. They all hate each other.
They decide to go and find Logan's Father's Gold Mine. On the way, they trespass on an Indian burial ground and get politely told to "fuck....off". They meet a nicer Indian whom Mazella donates his Mickey Mouse T Shirt to. They leave the brakes off their motorised trike, which falls off a cliff and then they find the mine. Which is unminable. They find a pot of gold under the floor and decide to raft the gold back to civilisation. They lose the raft and the gold.
That is the entire plot. It's not riveting. However, something strange happened. By the end, I found I was laughing with the characters, not at them. They are not endearing, and they can't stand each other's company. But by the time you've been through their trials and tribulations. You, as the viewer, have formed a bond with them, as they have between them. And that's down to the superb acting.
The point of the characters is not who they are, but where they have come from. And this is revealed throughout the film. Logan's account of his Mother's death is an astounding piece of acting by Pleasance. Logan shrugs it off, it means nothing to him, because Logan himself is not clever enough to realise how much it affected him, yet Pleasance puts Logan's history into every tic and swear word. The same with Gladys and Mazella. They are three rather unpleasant people until the film leisurely explores why they are who they are, purely through dialogue. It doesn't absolve them or make judgments.It just gives us three people with nothing, whose desire is gold, and who end up with nothing but each other, but the ending provides no comfort to their story.
There is no existentialism here, as is common in most road movies. Just simple numbing life and how it keeps happening at you without you having much say in the matter. The film quality is appalling, I still can't figure out how the colour manages to look both oversaturated AND washed out (Although the landscape is nonetheless breathtakingly beautiful), the directing is dodgy, the script banal, the acting as I say, is superb. Yet somehow, this is much more than the sum of its parts. It's not profound, moving, edgy or anything else. It just is. And being so, allowing the characters to flesh themselves out, makes it enthralling.
Not for everyone, but everyone should see it at least once, for absolutely no good reason, except that somewhere along the line, you begin to care about these three hapless jerks. This happens approximately two minutes before the end. So make sure you hang around till then.
The box promised an hour and a half of adventure. Well it was lying, but that's probably because this movie is impossible to categorise or explain.
Essentially, it's probably a road movie. although the road is a mountain track and the vehicle is a three wheeled, three seater quad bike, and the "adventure" consists of the three protagonists constantly bickering and beating each other up.
The three characters - Logan, Gladys and Mazella are losers. Not lovable losers mind you. Losers with a capital L. Logan is a forgetful fool, possibly with Tourette's. Gladys is a bitter widow and Mazella is a buffoon. They all hate each other.
They decide to go and find Logan's Father's Gold Mine. On the way, they trespass on an Indian burial ground and get politely told to "fuck....off". They meet a nicer Indian whom Mazella donates his Mickey Mouse T Shirt to. They leave the brakes off their motorised trike, which falls off a cliff and then they find the mine. Which is unminable. They find a pot of gold under the floor and decide to raft the gold back to civilisation. They lose the raft and the gold.
That is the entire plot. It's not riveting. However, something strange happened. By the end, I found I was laughing with the characters, not at them. They are not endearing, and they can't stand each other's company. But by the time you've been through their trials and tribulations. You, as the viewer, have formed a bond with them, as they have between them. And that's down to the superb acting.
The point of the characters is not who they are, but where they have come from. And this is revealed throughout the film. Logan's account of his Mother's death is an astounding piece of acting by Pleasance. Logan shrugs it off, it means nothing to him, because Logan himself is not clever enough to realise how much it affected him, yet Pleasance puts Logan's history into every tic and swear word. The same with Gladys and Mazella. They are three rather unpleasant people until the film leisurely explores why they are who they are, purely through dialogue. It doesn't absolve them or make judgments.It just gives us three people with nothing, whose desire is gold, and who end up with nothing but each other, but the ending provides no comfort to their story.
There is no existentialism here, as is common in most road movies. Just simple numbing life and how it keeps happening at you without you having much say in the matter. The film quality is appalling, I still can't figure out how the colour manages to look both oversaturated AND washed out (Although the landscape is nonetheless breathtakingly beautiful), the directing is dodgy, the script banal, the acting as I say, is superb. Yet somehow, this is much more than the sum of its parts. It's not profound, moving, edgy or anything else. It just is. And being so, allowing the characters to flesh themselves out, makes it enthralling.
Not for everyone, but everyone should see it at least once, for absolutely no good reason, except that somewhere along the line, you begin to care about these three hapless jerks. This happens approximately two minutes before the end. So make sure you hang around till then.
Interesting little film made in Vancouver British Columbia
edwardiancinema14 January 2017
Beautiful photography complements this film about 3 people searching for a lost mine. The 3 leads are technically the principle cast, and do a good job with what they have to work with. Donald Pleasance is as eccentric as ever in the role of Logan, the man the mine was left to by his father. Kate Reid is a friend of Logan's, and Don Calfa plays Mazzella, a guy from Brooklyn NY, traipsing across the Canadian Countryside. I enjoyed Calfas performance, it reminded me somewhat of his role as the crazy mobster in "Weekend At Bernies" On the whole I would recommend this film to people who like independent cinema, and film with beautiful scenery of the great outdoors.
righteous trike
SnoopyStyle5 December 2023
Ralph Logan (Donald Pleasence) is a small time gold paner. Gladys (Kate Reid) is his reluctant friend. Mazella (Don Calfa) has a book of lost mines. Logan claims that he inherited a lost gold mine from his father. The trio sets off to find the remote mine.
This is a little Canadian indie with some government help. The three leads are very interesting veteran actors. Every horror fans know Donald Pleasence. It's interesting just for these performers. This seems to be trying for quirky comedy although it's hit and miss. Logan and Mazella can be annoying until you get used to them. This just doesn't have enough meat on the bone. The story is thin and there aren't many actual jokes. The 70's had a lot of rambling experimental flicks. They do have a righteous trike.
This is a little Canadian indie with some government help. The three leads are very interesting veteran actors. Every horror fans know Donald Pleasence. It's interesting just for these performers. This seems to be trying for quirky comedy although it's hit and miss. Logan and Mazella can be annoying until you get used to them. This just doesn't have enough meat on the bone. The story is thin and there aren't many actual jokes. The 70's had a lot of rambling experimental flicks. They do have a righteous trike.
The things we do for Donald ...
Coventry7 August 2022
It is my own but very devoted intention to watch every single movie Donald Pleasance ever starred in. He's not just a personal favorite actor mine, he truly was one of the greatest and most versatile actors who ever lived. And he definitely was one of the hardest-working men in show business, because with more than 250 titles on his repertoire - some of which nearly untraceable - is this little mission of mine practically impossible.
With a career as Pleasance's, you secretly hope to occasionally stumble upon a largely undiscovered but awesome gem, like "Wake in Fright" or "The Race for Yankee Zephyr". I strongly hoped for this to be the case with "Logan", but alas, it's tremendously obscure for a good reason. In this early 70s comedy/adventure about a trio of vagrants in search of an inherited but hidden gold mine, only Pleasance's performance and the astounding British-Columbia filming locations are worth mentioning.
"Logan" (official title: "The Rainbow Boys") is too talkative, not very funny when it tries to be, and the slapstick-like soundtrack is incredibly annoying. Even a terrific Donald Pleasance cannot compensate for the subpar performances of his two fellow leads, and even the breath-taking scenery of the great outdoors eventually doesn't suffice, neither.
With a career as Pleasance's, you secretly hope to occasionally stumble upon a largely undiscovered but awesome gem, like "Wake in Fright" or "The Race for Yankee Zephyr". I strongly hoped for this to be the case with "Logan", but alas, it's tremendously obscure for a good reason. In this early 70s comedy/adventure about a trio of vagrants in search of an inherited but hidden gold mine, only Pleasance's performance and the astounding British-Columbia filming locations are worth mentioning.
"Logan" (official title: "The Rainbow Boys") is too talkative, not very funny when it tries to be, and the slapstick-like soundtrack is incredibly annoying. Even a terrific Donald Pleasance cannot compensate for the subpar performances of his two fellow leads, and even the breath-taking scenery of the great outdoors eventually doesn't suffice, neither.
TIME IS NOT WELL SPENT IN VIEWING THIS.
rsoonsa5 June 2004
Competent direction and writing are lacking for this Canadian film shot in picturesque British Columbia, featuring Donald Pleasence as a gold prospector named Logan. Of rather an unstable disposition, Logan nevertheless keeps company with a widow played by Kate Reid when he is not panning for gold with little success, and suddenly the lives of the pair are disrupted by a young man from Brooklyn, Mazella (Don Calfa). Mazella shows Logan a book that describes possible locations of untapped gold mines in the Pacific Northwest and his discussion of them stimulates Logan to search for the "Little Lemon Mine" prospected by his late father who had failed to reach its lode. The oddly mingled trio spontaneously journeys, upon Mazella's quaint three wheeled motorcycle, into a wilderness on the track of the Little Lemon for which Logan has an old map, and they have some uninspired adventures along the way. Director Gerald Potterton's script wants clarity, lacks continuity, and even a better cast could not give it harmony, as Potterton's woeful attempts at humour do not amuse. One might expect that whenever a director is responsible for a film's screenplay, he should know how to tighten the action to align a story with his perceptions in order for the cast to avoid relying upon ad libbing, but such is not the case here, where torpor prevails and competent editing is an unfulfilled requirement. Pleasence therefore resorts, with scant control from the helm, to his customary hamminess while Reid simply seems to be befuddled throughout, leaving Calfa of the three principals owning the acting laurels, although his part as written lacks definition. The most rewarding aspect to this misfire, apart from the scenery, is its interesting scoring by always effectual Howard Blake, and although it seldom is matched with action on the screen, that is not a fault of the composer, but rather of generally shabby post-production efforts.
Warmth and Character outweighs technical shortcomings
gvrdeu21 June 2005
This film is a must see for fans of the three stars, Donald Pleasence, Kate Reid and Don Calfa. The viewer needs to avoid getting caught up some of the "low budget" production foibles that lend an amateurish feel to parts of this film. The authenticity of the British Columbia west during the 60's and 70's is spot on. The heat of the opening scene with the insects and birds competing with the river's burble is a refreshing dose of actual sound compared with the current crop of movies filmed out west whose creators can't resist adding in the screech of an eagle or the call of a loon whenever a vista comes upon the screen. Kate Reid, plump and middle aged as Gladys, an unlikely love interest or at least a winter bed warmer and companion of the endearing prospector Logan played by Pleasence. The two are locals of the spectacular Fraser Canyon in BC and the movie builds around the accidental meeting of Logan and Mazella played by Don Calfa. Logan pays for some groceries with gold dust and Mazella happens to notice, his interest piqued, the two cross paths again outside when Mazella smashes into a local Indian's car and Logan reluctantly offers a helping hand defending Mazella and taking him off to get patched up by Gladys. A simple genuine bond is immediately established at the kitchen table between the three and a plan is hatched to attempt to rediscover Logan's father's old gold mine. Notable hilarious dialog at a stop at a cabin on the way has Logan and Mazella lost in male conversation about the most trivial of detail regarding hobbies and long nights in the bush and crushing gold bearing ore,"it is a lot of work" that it cannot help but get the tight-asses laughing. Logans constant reminiscences about his father and his need to defend his honor to Gladys lends pathos that can't help but warm the heart of even the worst cynic. Calfa, Reid and Pleasence are a pleasure to watch. This is their film along with the wilderness back drop, and it should be enjoyed for all its personality and not scrutinized to heavily for production shortcomings. Films with this kind of innocence and brilliant character portrayal should be dragged back from obscurity.
Hey man where's Dave?
bellshawn10 December 2023
Dave's not here man...
Well it's a movie, a Canadian road adventure movie. Not too sure what else I could say about this movie to to use up all my IMDB characters for a full review.
First off I put it on to see some early film work from SCTV alum Dave Thomas but no matter how hard I looked I couldn't see him in any shot.
We have 3 main leads with 5 other supporting actors, 1-store clerk, 1-accident victim, and 3 native Canadians. I don't even think there was any animals to help bring to life the backgrounds.
It's mainly shot on logging roads, starts with a river shot, a shot on the highway, a sceen in a general store, then back on the road. We get to see inside a home for a bit then we end off at a little shack adjesent to a mine. Really seems like they were all the free spots to film that wouldn't cost them any money or more likely where Canada told them they could film.
But really, where's Dave man??
I was hoping for at least a decent size role which would have made it maybe funny.
Well it's a movie, a Canadian road adventure movie. Not too sure what else I could say about this movie to to use up all my IMDB characters for a full review.
First off I put it on to see some early film work from SCTV alum Dave Thomas but no matter how hard I looked I couldn't see him in any shot.
We have 3 main leads with 5 other supporting actors, 1-store clerk, 1-accident victim, and 3 native Canadians. I don't even think there was any animals to help bring to life the backgrounds.
It's mainly shot on logging roads, starts with a river shot, a shot on the highway, a sceen in a general store, then back on the road. We get to see inside a home for a bit then we end off at a little shack adjesent to a mine. Really seems like they were all the free spots to film that wouldn't cost them any money or more likely where Canada told them they could film.
But really, where's Dave man??
I was hoping for at least a decent size role which would have made it maybe funny.
I liked it
soviet210123 January 2008
Some comments on this movie are unfair, I think. It's just a goofy little comedy, nothing more. Is it perfect? Nope. But there are many moments of pleasure, one being Donald Pleasence's eccentric performance. "Bastards!" I remember seeing this on TV many times as a kid, so that's probably why I have a fondness for this. I was lucky enough to find a VHS copy on Ebay. Too bad it's not on DVD, even a cheap two-for edition.
Also good is Don Calfa, as a really out of it, seriously goofy New Yorker who is lured to British Columbia on vague dreams of striking it rich. Kate Reid holds it together as a grumpy though sane woman, in stark contrast to Donald Pleasence's barely in control character and Don Calfa's airhead one.
All in all, I'd recommend it if you can find a cheap copy on video, or if it's on TV one late night...
Also good is Don Calfa, as a really out of it, seriously goofy New Yorker who is lured to British Columbia on vague dreams of striking it rich. Kate Reid holds it together as a grumpy though sane woman, in stark contrast to Donald Pleasence's barely in control character and Don Calfa's airhead one.
All in all, I'd recommend it if you can find a cheap copy on video, or if it's on TV one late night...
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