I Dug the Dugout
As a kid I used to stare in awe
at Tarzan’s jungle thing.
How on earth did Janet’s grand malfunction
not visit Me-Jane in mid-swing?
But all the more amazed I stared
at determined tribal ranks,
that fed themselves to crocodiles
paddle-pushing warped banyan planks!
Not fictional film - its better than fiction. Can’t be overlooked if we’re talking about canoeing and film…
And the movie Grey Owl is worth watching, too. Pierce Brosnan plays Grey Owl. Not really about canoeing, but there is some canoeing in the movie. Grey owl was an interesting historical character and his is an interesting story.
Grey Owl’s actual writing is worth checking out as well.
Tales of an Empty Cabin and Grey Owl: 3 Complete Works are the ones I’ve read and would recommend. Others might be worth checking out as well. All I’ve seen are written in an early 20th century style which takes a little getting used to, especially if one is in the habit of reading a lot of stuff online. Grey Owl don’t do tweets.
I have a copy of Gray Owl’s “Pilgrims of the Wild” on Kindle. I’ve enjoyed it very much. (I rather suspect that Archie Belaney would perhaps Tweet and possibly also be a youtube influencer today.)
Quite possibly he would tweet, but I doubt that if he did it would be in as flowing, detailed, and descriptive a style as his other writing. I’m not sure that twitter followers would even tolerate such linguistic excess if he did.
This is the reason I specifically asked for fiction. I did a search before posting and Bill’s films are all highly acclaimed.
Oh, and also I guess Fellowship of the Ring has canoeing in it.
My apologies. Sorry about that… but Black Robe isn’t fiction either. I believe that is based on the founding of an actual mission by an actual priest though, no doubt, some liberties were taken in the telling.
And Ben’s right also - Paddling is almost as incidental to the movie Grey Owl as it is in Lord of the Rings. In Grey Owl’s books he is often photographed paddling with beaver, posing with a paddle, seated in front of a cabin with a canoe pulled up in front, but those photos were taken after the time in his life that the movie depicted. I guess I associate him with paddling because I’ve seen those photos and because the place and era depicted in both the movie and his writing I associate with canoeing, much as one associates horses with westerns.
What we need a new Hollywood genre: the northern. Why are we so caught up in countless fictions based in the west of that era and not the north? Why are there no shows like Rawhide (Beaver Pelt?) based on fur trade brigades traveling with canoes instead of horses? (I wonder, do horse lovers have westerns that are favored - regardless of plot, photography, acting, etc. - because they feature great horses or horsemanship? I know I can enjoy an otherwise pretty crappy movie - the River Wild, for example - if it has some good paddling sequences…)
BTW, Bill Mason’s early movie Paddle to the Sea would qualify as a fiction, no? (Its an NFB production and available free - It might be fun for the kids.) For better or worse it doesn’t have much in common with Deliverance or River Wild though…
No problem. There are just other threads pointing out all the training and documentary films relating to canoeing. Was hoping to find some new entertainment that’s not strictly factual or educational…There are some canoeing scenes in Frontier, but they are few and far between.
Purely fictional/oldie: River of no Return
Starring Marilyn Monroe, Robert Mitchum, and Rory Calhoun.
Bad guy runs off and leave Monroe, Michum, and his young son stranded on river in the middle of nowhere; Alaska if I remember correctly. Mitchum builds log raft to get downstream to civilization.
They encounter travails aplenty.
Enclosed photo was taken of Marilyn on a day off from filming the movie. Some fair action sequences of rafting, but certainly NOT a “barn burner” by any means…except for Marilyn!. I wouldn’t have kicked her out of my canoe(or anywhere else), for eating crackers.
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That is a great picture!
Going Off On Tangent Threads Midst the Knitted Curves
Those beaver tails push on through swells
before the platinum peaks.
And Norma Jean keeps memories keen
for us old coots’ canoeing freak.
But, being a canoe aficionado, the real (workable) question that comes to mind is, What’s up with that extra outwale gunnel strip? Looked through some wood canvas canoe images on Googs and I did not see one in the many images of Chestnuts, etc. Extra stiffener? Splash rail? The image’s lighter tonal variation on the underwale makes me think it was a later add-on to the upperwale.
The Frank Church “River of No Return” is the Salmon River in Idaho and that is actually the location of the story line in the movie. Some filming was done on the Salmon but much was done in Alberta, Canada around Banff.
I noticed Marilyn is demonstrating very good torso rotation in that photo.
And the thumb on top position of her control hand demonstrates that she is proudly displaying the “American stroke”, though she may be in Canada.
And may not she be chided
for no p-f-d,
for it helps keep afloat
these tossed thoughts in me,
that well-rounded hulls
though perhaps tad tippy,
can take on top-heavy loads
and still be a pleasure at see…er, at sea.
Okay, I’m an incorrigible ole coot, ladies. Someone’s gotta carry the candle for Jsaults and Fat Elmo (and Elton’s winded Marilyn) round here. Perhaps Bob’s gotta a pic of a shirtless Clark Gable, James Dean, Kirk Douglas, or even Adolphe Menjou, in a Chestnut Pal for the gals?
In spite of her smile Marilyn has a death grip on that paddle.
The best and the inspiration for our Pukaskwa to Michipicoten trip.
I regret to inform you, I can’t help you with guy’s photos. The only exception I can think of are vintage photos of Civil War soldiers, their weapons, uniforms, and accoutrements
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I think I was about 12 when my interest in women began. 3 of my first favorites were Natalie Wood, Bridget Bardot, and Marilyn Monroe. That interest has never wavered.
I still “love the ladies”; I’m too old to change.
BOB
From canoes instantly to rafts, to log rafts, to the Civil War and then …pin up girls.
I am starting to think that the internet has shrunk the average attention span of Americans to around 5-10 seconds.
A brand new human being, razor sharp, all firm and tan
All clean, all pure, with a 30 second attention span
As the clock strikes 12 and we’re ready for parlor games
You play blind man’s bluff, and I’ll play charades…
A man walks down the street
He says, “Why am I short of attention”?
Got a short little attention span…
And, why are my nights so long?
Where is my wife and family?
What if I die here?
Who’ll be my role model?
Now that my role model is gone,gone?
5 to 10 seconds, 5 to 10 minutes, 5 to10 hours, 5 to 10 months, 5-10 years, 5 to 10 decades, 5 to 10 centuries.
In the grand scheme of things; it don’t matter…
Nothing of major significance is happening here.
Move along, nothing to see here; stay on task.
The computers, and the cameras are on; the thought police are monitoring your behavior prole.
Buy products; that’s your function.
Not paying attention…
BOB
