Maurice Richard

I have been a hockey fan for almost 40 years and have collected almost every dramatic film ever made about the sport. But, I'd have to say that "The Rocket" is far and away, the best one ever made. The cinematography is stunning, the acting spellbinding and the story gripping. It tells the story of a simple and tortured man who drives himself to excel at the sport he loves. It leads him to become the reluctant hero of French-Canadian culture, self-perceived as being held back and oppressed by the anglophones.

Roy Dupuis, who portrayed Maurice in no less than two other cinematic projects, perfectly captures the fire and intensity of the man in a most fitting, if not THE crowning tribute, to the legend of Maurice "The Rocket" Richard. Biname goes to great lengths to duplicate the look and feel of the late-30s, on into the mid-50s and certainly captures the collective agony and anger of early-to-mid 20th century French Canada.

Julie LeBreton is beautiful and amazing as Richard's wife, Lucille. Notable also are the cameo appearances made by NHLers Sean Avery (Bob Dill), Vincent Lecavalier (Jean Beliveau); Mike Ricci (Elmer Lach), Ian Laperierre (Boom Boom Geoffrion) and Stephane Quintal (Dollard St. Laurent). What "Slap Shot" proved, "The Rocket" confirms. Pro hockey players are damn good actors!

I realize funding for this movie was brought up in the infamous "Sponsorship Scandal" that dissolved former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal government in 2006, but you can't fault it at any level. It was worth every cent used to make it and it will be hard for Canadian cinema to duplicate this level of quality ever again.

In one of the comments on the film, the writer asks why there's no mention of Henri Richard, the "Pocket Rocket." The film really takes us up to it's climax, the Richard Riot, and Henri, fifteen years younger than Maurice, was starring with the Junior Canadians. Although he came up to play with his brother in the last years of Maurice's career, Henri was not on the team for the period covered by this film. The line of Henri at centre, Dickie Moore on left wing, and Maurice on right wing was called by the Rocket's great rival, Gordie Howe, the best line he ever played against. In a sense the movie stops at the point when Richard was the most popular player in Québec, that is before he became the greatest star in the rest of Canada too. When he received the Stanley Cup in Toronto after the Canadians swept the Leafs in four games straight to win their fifth championship in a row, everybody sensed it could be his last game, and he received a standing ovation in Maple Leaf Gardens, a rare honour for any visiting player, especially when he'd been throughout his career the Leafs' greatest rival. The film beautifully evokes the period when players were ordinary guys working for a living. The clothing and lighting are magnificent in capturing the feel of the forties and fifties, and the hockey sequences are amazing in that, having seen the Rocket play so many times, I lost sight that it was Roy Dupuis, not the Rocket, on the screen. And the sequence in which he kayos Bob Dill (Sean Avery in a piece of type casting if there ever was one!) is a dandy. That happened in New York and the Daily News, the tabloid famous for its great headlines, featured a full-page image of the Rocket standing over his fallen rival with a huge headline, "DILL PICKLED". I wish they'd put that in the film. Richard had a unique skating style and was unusual in those days because there were few left-hand shots playing right wing. And they were able to recreate one of the greatest goals in detail when the Rocket, after being knocked out by Boston's Leo Labine in the play-offs, returned in overtime and went end to end to score the winning goal against "Sugar Jim" Henry. Dupuis and the film magicians capture Richard's swooping, darting style beautifully. Richard may not have been the best player who ever played, but he was the greatest star the game will ever see. See this film and you'll be as close to seeing the real Rocket as it's possible to be.

Well done! The Rocket was a true inspiration to many and an icon in Canadian history. The NHL and Canada has changed in many ways since his playing days. This film biography inspires us to relive the past and to press forward in our own lives everyday. With a heart as large as the whole province of Quebec his courage was his most valuable asset. His passion to succeed was undeniable. The more popular he became through hockey the greater a threat he posed on the others that couldn't control him or french minorities. Yet, the legend was also a gentleman, a father and a role model for anyone who was fortunate to be in his presence. The film expresses all of this beautifully with an original feel and amazing on ice reenactments of famous games. Thanks for the film and thank you Mr. Richard.

Maurice Richard is a very good film about one of the most important Canadian athletes ever. The film addresses many issues concerning the famous Montreal riot, following a major penalty given to Richard just a few days before the beginning of the play-offs, and the "revolution tranquille" ignitor.

But this splendid film relates the story of an underdog player. His rise to hero and finally to that of a legend. It feels somewhat epic. The challenges Maurice faces are easy to relate to. You truly feel his angst has he's pushed around, beaten and bloodied. But still manages to overcome these problems and eventually becomes a symbol for every underdog who has ever dreamt of reaching the unreachable.

Maurice Richard isn't just a good quebecois film. It's simply a good film. Worth seeing.

This is an excellent film. I think that thing that I enjoyed most about this film is its humility. Despite his passion and brilliance on the ice, Maurice Richard was a humble man who never wore the mantle of greatness easily. Many of his accomplishments are depicted in this movie, but in a way that reflects this humble, yet utterly brilliant and great man. I was fortunate to be at the last game played in the Montreal Forum, almost 40 years after Richard last played for the team. The sixteen minute standing ovation and outpouring of emotion for this man when he was brought to centre ice is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

If you're not from Quebec, and more specifically from Montreal, then it may be hard to understand the impact that this man had on the province. He was, during his playing days, literally seen as a religious icon. This movie does an amazing job at telling the story of the Rocket's lasting social impact upon Quebec, and it does so in a very quiet and compelling fashion.

I should also point out the incredible detail that has gone into this film. As well as being an excellent actor, Roy Dupuis is a dead-ringer for the rocket. Mike Ricci is a carbon copy of Elmer Lach, and Vincent Lecavalier is a ringer for Jean Beliveau. The cages separating standing room from the seats were an actual feature of the forum through the 40s, and very much a symbol of French-Canadian working class discontent in Montreal at the time. The photograph sequence of Sugar Henry the Boston goalie who shakes Richard's hand after his game/series winning goal in the playoffs is lifted right out of the hockey history books--an amazing detail.