The Third Walker is a 1978 Canadian drama film directed by Teri McLuhan.[1] The film explores the effect on two families in Cape Breton Island of having had their infant sons mistakenly switched at birth by the hospital.[2]

The Third Walker
Directed byTeri McLuhan
Written byTeri McLuhan
Robert Thom
Produced byTeri McLuhan
Brian Winston
StarringColleen Dewhurst
William Shatner
Frank Moore
Monique Mercure
Anthony Meyer
Andrée Pelletier
David Meyer
CinematographyRobert Fiore
Edited byUlla Ryghe
Music byPaul Hoffert
Production
companies
Melvin Simon Productions
Quadrant Films
Wychwood Productions
Release date
  • 1978 (1978)
Running time
84 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

It was financed by Melvin Simon Productions.[3]

Plot

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Kate Maclean (Colleen Dewhurst) and Munro Maclean (William Shatner) have two twin boys, Andrew (Andrew Rankin) and James (Darren DiFonzo). One day at school, Andrew has a new classmate named Étienne Blanchard (Simon Rankin), who looks virtually identical to Andrew and has the same birthday; after medical tests confirm that Étienne and James were switched at the hospital, however, Étienne's mother Marie (Monique Mercure) leaves town rather than complying with the court order to surrender custody of Étienne to the Macleans in exchange for James. This development fractures the Maclean family, as Kate's unrelenting obsession with regaining custody of Étienne destroys her relationships with both Munro and James.[2]

Years later following Munro's death, the now adult Andrew (David Meyer) and Étienne (Anthony Meyer) reunite at his funeral for the first time since the incident; while Andrew has maintained a brotherly bond with James (Frank Moore) despite their mother's attitude, it too is now tested by Andrew's desire to build a closer relationship with his real twin.[2]

Awards

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The film garnered three Canadian Film Award nominations at the 29th Canadian Film Awards: Best Actor (Moore), Best Supporting Actress (Mercure), and Best Musical Score (Paul Hoffert).[4]

References

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  1. ^ Martin, Robert (May 23, 1978). "Canadian films go to Cannes market". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. 15. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ a b c "Film Reviews: T.C. McLuhan's The Third Walker". Cinema Canada, June 1978. pp. 38-39.
  3. ^ FILM CLIPS: Mr. Simon Goes to Hollywood SCHREGER, CHARLES. Los Angeles Times (2 Apr 1979: f9.
  4. ^ "Four films nominated for Etrogs". The Globe and Mail, August 24, 1978.
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