The Only Thing You Know
| The Only Thing You Know | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Clarke Mackey |
| Produced by | Clarke Mackey |
| Written by | Clarke Mackey |
| Starring |
Ann Knox Allan Royal John Denos Hugh McIntyre Eileen McIntyre |
| Music by |
Paul Craven Iain Ewing |
| Cinematography | Paul Lang |
| Edited by |
Iain Ewing Clarke Mackey Rebecca Schechter |
| Distributed by | Canadian Filmmakers' Distribution Centre |
Release date | 1971 |
Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
The Only Thing You Know is a Canadian drama film, directed by Clarke Mackey and released in 1971.[1]
Described by critics as a female version of the 1964 film Nobody Waved Good-bye,[2] the film stars Ann Knox as Ann, a teenager who is dissatisfied with her suburban Toronto life.[3] Striking out on her own, she moves in with her boyfriend Scott (Allan Royal) in the downtown St. James Town neighbourhood, but becomes embroiled in a complex love triangle with Scott and his friend Paul (John Denos).[4]
The film's cast also includes Hugh McIntyre and Eileen McIntyre as Ann's parents.
Production
The film was influenced by the then-experimental blend of docufiction techniques innovated by films such as Nobody Waved Good-bye and À tout prendre.[1] Its script consisted solely of a 15-page story outline, around which the actors improvised their dialogue so that the film would feel like a documentary.[1] It was made on a budget of just $23,000.
Reaction
Knox won the Canadian Film Award for Best Actress, and Mackey won a special jury award for the film.[5]
Despite favourable critical response and Knox's award win the film received only limited release; apart from the Stratford Film Festival[5] the film was never screened outside of Toronto,[4] and even CBC Television rejected the film as too experimental for a mass-market network television airing.[6] Although the film was strongly championed by The New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther, Mackey was also unable to secure a distribution deal in the United States.[1] The film was screened at the 1984 Festival of Festivals, and was later broadcast on CBC and TVOntario,[1] but was generally not widely seen until it was released on DVD in 2006.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Celebrated film finally gets its due". Queen's Journal, October 20, 2006.
- ↑ Geoff Pevere, "Toronto on Film: Part 7". Toronto Star, September 14, 2009.
- ↑ "Young Torontonian makes perceptive movie". Toronto Star, June 2, 1972.
- 1 2 "Only Thing You Know: pleasing growing pains". The Globe and Mail, June 5, 1972.
- 1 2 "New Quebec film sweeps 8 Canadian film awards". Toronto Star, October 2, 1971.
- ↑ "Theatres show a profit but is it all real?" Toronto Star, January 6, 1972.