The Boy in Blue

I am actually IN this movie (I was an extra in the racing scenes - that's me in a tan dress with a parasol, listening to the band play, and again up on a lock gate, watching the racers - and my father and brother were extras in it too, my dad played a nineteenth-century bookie!), so I would really like to be able to give it an excellent review. I have to be honest, though - the script is pretty bad, Nicolas Cage had very little to work with here, Christopher Plummer is wasted, and even the racing scenes are cut badly so they're not very exciting. It was much more fun to film than it is to watch - I'd say only seek out this one if you're a big Nicolas Cage fan and are intent on seeing every film in which he's acted.

Nicholas Cage plays Canadian rowing champion, Ned Hanlan, from his humble beginnings rowing illegal liquor across the border, to his championship race in England. The problem is, you've seen it all before. Pick any boxing, baseball, or football film, and you will be on very familiar ground with "The Boy in Blue". In addition, Cage's romance of Cynthia Dale comes across as really sappy and uninteresting. The movie plays like a series of Victorian postcards. Even usually reliable villain, Christopher Plummer, is no more ruthless than a puppy dog. This movie is way too predictable, toothless, and sugar coated, and does not live up to expectations. - MERK

It is a fun movie to enjoy as a rags to riches story. Some movies are just set for enjoyment. Some people relate to the circumstances of the character. Ned is given a chance to improve and showcase his talents. Youth has it's natural peaks and valleys but the hero will get discouraged. His mentor pulls him out of his funk with the hard work it takes to become a champion. The uphill battle for competition is evident, however; the class system of the time will need some humorous maneuvering. The introduction of the sliding seat is a game changer for the sport of sculling. Perfect movie for the Olympic season or NCAA inter-collegiate rowing championships. Brown holds the record of 7 titles. Yale and Harvard are traditional rivals while Texas holds the current title. Nicholas Cage will floor young and old with his trim, chiseled looks. Oxford makes the perfect Goliath.

He wins over many with just his smile and blue eyes, his storied acting career is just beginning. A Canadian hero story with a strong supporting cast of veteran actors.

If you row or are competitive you'll enjoy this movie, just don't over think it. (Worth the rent).

Nick Cage was only 22 when he made this period piece. Chariots of Fire (1981) must have been in the back of his mind. Ned Hanlon was not a big enough name to interest the viewer, and he was a naive young man. But it was a nice, but not remarkable movie. He did build his pecs up for this-- he always gets into his character.

I saw this in a theatre out of pure curiosity back in 1986. The ads gave no indication what this was about--it just showed Nicolas Cage with his shirt off showing his VERY nice chest. It was a dull true story of Ned Hanlan who was a world class sculler--or something like that. It takes place in the 19th century (the ads didn't mention that either) and I usually hate period pieces--that didn't help me like the movie more. The only good thing about this was Cage--he WAS good and his body looked fantastic. But, unless you're interested in sculling, you'll probably be bored silly.

There was one unintentionally hilarious scene in which Cage tries to rip open a woman's shirt--and it wouldn't rip! He fumbles with it before he finally gets it off. The audience I saw it with was laughing hysterically.