The Morning Man

The Morning Man (French: Un matin, une vie) is a Canadian crime drama film, directed by Danièle J. Suissa and released in 1986.[1] A fictionalization of the true story of Robert Lavallée-Ménard, a convicted bank robber who escaped from prison and successfully established a career as a local morning radio host in Chicoutimi, Quebec, before being recaptured,[2] the film stars Bruno Doyon in the title role as Paul Nadeau-Ménard, an escaped convict and radio host who enters a romantic relationship with local doctor Kate Johnson (Kerrie Keane) after going to her for treatment of the injuries he incurred in his escape, and Marc Strange as John Mailer, the police detective pursuing him.[3]

The Morning Man
FrenchUn matin, une vie
Directed byDanièle J. Suissa
Produced byGaston Cousineau
Danièle J. Suissa
Written byClarke Wallace
StarringBruno Doyon
Kerrie Keane
Marc Strange
Music byDiane Juster
CinematographyRené Verzier
Edited byYves Langlois
Production
company
3 Thèmes Inc.
Productions SDA
Release date
  • September 26, 1986 (1986-09-26)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Lavallée-Ménard, who had been paroled from prison and was again working as a radio host by the time the film was made, directly participated in its promotion.[4]

The film was not positively received by critics. Matthew Fraser of The Globe and Mail heavily criticized it, both for downplaying the real criminal and broadcasting aspects of the story in favour of a fictionalized romance, and for shooting the film in English even though the real-life story involved francophone Quebecers.[2]

It was one of five films nominated for Best Quebec Film at the 1987 Montreal World Film Festival, but lost to Night Zoo (Un zoo la nuit).[5] René Verzier received a Genie Award nomination for Best Cinematography at the 8th Genie Awards in 1987.[6]

References
  1. Gerald Pratley, A Century of Canadian Cinema. Lynx Images, 2003. ISBN 1-894073-21-5. p. 147.
  2. Matthew Fraser, "The Morning Man: Film turns gritty tale into porridge". The Globe and Mail, October 3, 1986.
  3. Bruce Bailey, "Hold-up man to morning man: great story but so-so film". Montreal Gazette, September 27, 1986.
  4. Ina Warren, "The morning man who was on the lam". The Globe and Mail, November 30, 1985.
  5. "Un zoo best Quebec film". Montreal Gazette, August 22, 1987.
  6. "Nominees for Genie awards". Ottawa Citizen, February 5, 1987.


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