# Angel Square > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Angel_Square > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Angel_Square.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Square > Source revision: 1339158131 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the offices, see [One Angel Square](/source/One_Angel_Square). 1991 Canadian film Angel Square Directed by Anne Wheeler Written by James DeFelice Anne Wheeler Based on Angel Square by Brian Doyle Produced by Arvi Liimatainen Starring Jeremy Radick Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge Nicola Cavendish Leon Pownall Michel Barrette Ned Beatty Cinematography Tobias A. Schliessler Edited by Lenka Svab Peter Svab Music by George Blondheim Production company National Film Board of Canada Distributed by Disney Channel Release date October 4, 1991 (1991-10-04) (VIFF) Running time 104 minutes Country Canada Language English ***Angel Square*** (also known as ***The Comic Book Christmas Caper***) is a 1991 Canadian film directed by [Anne Wheeler](/source/Anne_Wheeler) and starring [Ned Beatty](/source/Ned_Beatty) and [Nicola Cavendish](/source/Nicola_Cavendish).[1] The film is based on the novel of the same title by [Brian Doyle](/source/Brian_Doyle_(Canadian_writer)).[2] ## Premise In 1945, a boy investigates after his friend's father has his sense of security violated when he is brutally beaten by an unknown attacker while working.[3] ## Cast - Jeremy Radick as Tommy - Julie Bond as Mother - [Jay Brazeau](/source/Jay_Brazeau) as Mr. Rosenberg - [Nicola Cavendish](/source/Nicola_Cavendish) as Aunt Dottie - Brian Dooley as Bert - [Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge](/source/Guillaume_Lemay-Thivierge) as Coco Laframboise - [Leon Pownall](/source/Leon_Pownall) as Blue Cheeks - [Vlasta Vrána](/source/Vlasta_Vr%C3%A1na) as Logg - Paul Whitney as Mr. Ritchie - [Michel Barrette](/source/Michel_Barrette) as Voice - [Ned Beatty](/source/Ned_Beatty) as Officer Ozzie O'Driscoll ## Production Although Doyle's original novel had been set in [Ottawa](/source/Ottawa), Wheeler was not able to shoot the film there as the architecture of the [Lower Town](/source/Lower_Town) neighbourhood had become too modern for a film set in the 1940s.[4] Instead she shot the film in [Edmonton](/source/Edmonton), whose [Old Strathcona](/source/Old_Strathcona) neighbourhood still possessed more appropriate period detail.[5] It is unclear, however, whether the film version is canonically set in Ottawa or Edmonton, with both cities having been claimed by different sources. [Gerald Pratley](/source/Gerald_Pratley), further, ascribes the film with a setting of [Winnipeg](/source/Winnipeg) in his book *A Century of Canadian Cinema*.[1] Although the film was finished by fall 1990, its distribution arrangements were not finalized, and would have led to the film getting only a limited release at film festivals in the fall before opening commercially in the spring or summer of 1991 despite its Christmas theme.[6] Accordingly, the producers decided to delay release until 1991 so that the film could properly go into general release close to Christmas.[7] ## Distribution The film premiered at the 1991 [Vancouver International Film Festival](/source/Vancouver_International_Film_Festival),[8] before going into commercial release in November.[3] ## Critical response Rick Groen of *[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)* gave the film a middling review, writing that "Wheeler does have a keen eye for period detail (she's had practice - this is a chronological continuation of *[Bye Bye Blues](/source/Bye_Bye_Blues_(film))*), and handles the child actors well. As a director, positioning the camera, she's fine with the intimate moments, but her work in the action sequences borders on amateurish. The climax, the inevitable chase scene, is shot so claustrophobically that the motion drains right out of the picture - it's about as kinetic as a rusty [Lada](/source/Lada) on an uphill grade. To say there's a need for good family movies is a truism. But to applaud every sincere attempt to meet that need is no more than patronizing. *Angel Square* is no more than well-intentioned. Its attempt is honest, its achievement mediocre."[3] For the *[Edmonton Journal](/source/Edmonton_Journal)*, Marc Horton wrote that "For adult viewers, there's not much doubt that Tommy will puzzle the whole thing out and find out just who beat Sammy's father and why. And even given the reason - ugly anti-Semitism - there is a "niceness" to this film which sets it apart from so much of the other movie fare out there. What the film lacks is grit. The movie is at its very best in the fantasy sequences where Tommy becomes a figure of heroic, romantic, elegant proportions. Radick, a young actor who is not always that compelling, seems to soar in these scenes when he assumes the role of a tough-talking [Bogart](/source/Humphrey_Bogart) character or a stylish and cosmopolitan [Fred Astaire](/source/Fred_Astaire). And the music is tremendous. Wheeler collaborated with [George Blondheim](/source/George_Blondheim) on the two main songs and both are superb, although the nod must go to a tune called Such Magic, which is sung by Big Miller in the film. It's very special. But whether this whole thing works for its intended audience is another matter. The pacing is slow and there are noticeable sags throughout, particularly when you keep in mind that the under-12 set is accustomed to action sequences delivered in a steady rhythm. And it's doubtful whether nostalgia will wash with that sort of audience as well."[9] ## Awards Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref. Genie Awards 1991 Best Adapted Screenplay Anne Wheeler, James DeFelice Nominated [10] Best Overall Sound Garrell Clark, Paul A. Sharpe Won [11] Best Sound Editing Alison Grace, Gael MacLean, Anke Bakker, Debra Rurak, Cal Shumiatcher Won Best Original Song George Blondheim, Anne Wheeler "Such Magic" Won ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pratley_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pratley_1-1) [Gerald Pratley](/source/Gerald_Pratley), *A Century of Canadian Cinema*. Lynx Images, 2003. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-894073-21-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-894073-21-5). p. 14. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Noel Taylor, "Trip down memory lane leads to Angel Square; Film-maker Wheeler inspired by book on wartime Lowertown". *[Ottawa Citizen](/source/Ottawa_Citizen)*, August 26, 1991. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-groen_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-groen_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-groen_3-2) Rick Groen, "Film Review: Angel Square". *[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)*, November 15, 1991. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Fred Haeseker, "Wheeler's new film wraps up". *[Calgary Herald](/source/Calgary_Herald)*, April 15, 1990. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Allen Panzeri, "Lights, camera, action around Edmonton as city stars in latest Anne Wheeler film; There are plenty of recognizable location shots in Angel Square". *[Edmonton Journal](/source/Edmonton_Journal)*, April 9, 1990. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Noel Taylor, "Movie set in Ottawa almost didn't open here". *[Ottawa Citizen](/source/Ottawa_Citizen)*, September 29, 1990. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Delay may help Wheeler film". *[Edmonton Journal](/source/Edmonton_Journal)*, November 21, 1990. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Elizabeth Aird, "Moviegoers sure to be Singin' in the Rain at film festival". *[Vancouver Sun](/source/Vancouver_Sun)*, September 21, 1991. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Marc Horton, "Angel Square warm, nostalgic; Anne Wheeler's locally filmed tale may be too grown-up for intended audience". *[Edmonton Journal](/source/Edmonton_Journal)*, October 11, 1991. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "Genie candidates announced". *[Edmonton Journal](/source/Edmonton_Journal)*, October 10, 1991. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** "Dreaming of Genies comes true for winners". *[Halifax Daily News](/source/Halifax_Daily_News)*, November 28, 1991. ## External links - [*Angel Square*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101348/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [NFB collections page](https://web.archive.org/web/20070830210948/http://www.nfb.ca/collection/films/fiche/?id=30178) v t e Films directed by Anne Wheeler Feature films A War Story (1981) Loyalties (1986) Cowboys Don't Cry (1988) Bye Bye Blues (1989) Angel Square (1991) Better Than Chocolate (1999) Marine Life (2000) Suddenly Naked (2001) Knockout (2011) TV films Change of Heart (1983) The Diviners (1993) A Beachcombers Christmas (2003) Mom, Dad and Her (2007) The Horses of McBride (2012) Stop the Wedding (2016) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Angel Square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Square) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Square?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.