The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 69

nCi3lKltC, Montreal, Saturday, December 28, 1985 G-7 El iffe of ty r-, TTT -r --XT 1 U- s.s i 1 IfT Because I hero-worshipped him he disillusioned me. At that time, in Spain, he was a heavy drinker and I was very moralistic and puritanical. It took my research into his life in China to make him come back into perspective for me." Stage play The script for Bethune, which Allan expects to have ready in January, is based on a stage play he just completed. Allan believes the play and the script are the best things he's ever done. Best known for the screenplay of Lies My Father Told Me, Allan is also the author of last year's Leacock Award-winning novel, Love is a Long Shot, and the recent collection of short stories called Don't You Know Anybody Else? "I'm finally satisfied with what I've written about Bethune," Allan said.

"He was the most exciting man I ever knew. He was a great Canadian figure, a great figure of the 20th century and I feel now I've done him justice." The film will cover Bethune's life from 1924 to his death in 1939 at the age of 49. It will trace the unlikely path he followed: from renowned thoracic surgeon to front-line doctor, from bourgeois dandy to committed revolutionary. Told from the point-of-view of Bethune's wife, Frances, whom he married three times, it will also focus on their enigmatic love affair. 'Entire story' "I've never told the entire, intimate story of him and Frances, but this time I have," Allan said.

"The film is going to deal with their life together and how his commitment to what he believed in affected their relationship." As pleased as he is ith the script, Allan remains guarded, perhaps even superstitious, when discussing the film's progress. "In the parlance of the movie industry, it's almost go," Allan said. By JOEL YANOFSKY Special to The Gazette ever a person's life lent itself to being made into a movie, it is tl Norman Bethune's. From his political awakening in Montreal to his martyrdom in China, he was as complex and extraordinary as any modern Western figure. In fact, the potential for turning Bethune's story into a Canadian film epic seems so natural that, naturally, it hasn't been made yet.

But screenwriter Ted Allan, producer Pieter Kroonenburg of Montreal's Filmline International and actor Donald Sutherland intend to correct that oversight this August when shooting on Bethune: The Making of a Hero is scheduled to begin in China. Major coup On location, Bethune will have the unprecedented financial support of the Chinese government. This is a major coup for the production and testament to the reverence with which the Chinese still regard the Canadian doctor who sacrificed his life for their cause. Almost 40 years after their last meeting, Allan's respect for Bethune is also intact. In one way or another, he has been obsessed with Bethune for most of his adult life.

In 1952, with co-author Sydney Gordon, Allan wrote Bethune's biography The Scalpel, The Sword. Since its publication, it has sold more than 2 million copies and has been translated into 22 languages. But writing the biography didn't purge Allan of his ambivalent personal feelings about Bethune. Allan knew Bethune in Montreal in the 1930s. Both men were idealistic communists and later both men fought in the Spanish Civil War, with Allan serving as Bethune's political officer.

I "We had a very stormy relationship," Allan said during a recent visit to his hometown Montreal. "He was like a surrogate father to me. i- The real Dr. Norman Bethune tending patient in China. a month ago, with a promise from the Chinese government to participate financially in the filming of Bethune.

"This is an amazing feat because the Chinese have never put money into a foreign production before," Kroonenburg said. The Chinese government will, in effect, be co-producers of Bethune. They will contribute their services, paying for all costs incurred on location: from transportation to supplying technicians and actors. Since the most dramatic part of Bethune's life takes place in China including his 300-mile trek on foot to the frontlines of the Sino-Japanese War the assistance of the Chinese is a major step in getting Bethune off the shelf and into production. Another major step is Sutherland's dedication to the part his apparent willingness to remain free of other obligations so he can play Bethune next summer.

It's a role he has played before in a low-budget CBC television movie several years ago. Tango Argentino may go on North American tour According to Allan one of the rear sons Bethune was never made by. a Hollywood studio in the past was because they couldn't get the big star they believed they needed. Now, Allan is sure Bethune has its star: "Donald is exactly right. I think he's ideal." For all its epic potential the film will be shot on three continents, first in Asia, then Europe and finally North America it will probably be Bethune's flawed but ultimately heroic character that will capture the imagination of Canadian and international audiences.

"People who learn the facts of his life become fascinated by him," Kroonenburg said. "He's a sort of cross between a madman and. saint. He drank too much, had lots' of women and then the whole Chinese end of his life was a sort of a redemption or a purification process. "Our film will be moving away a little bit from uncritical hero-worship.

It will try to show Bethune's importance and greatness by showing him as a human being." at 9:30 p.m. iililiiliriiiiirti mnii Nault Music by Tchaikovsky laiiMirMT it irt To ter 3 -4 DONALD SUTHERLAND As Bethune in CBC production His caution is understandable. Allan has gone through more than a decade of false starts and near-misses with other Bethune projects. "I've sold options to three different Hollywood studios including Warner Brothers and Columbia Pictures over the last 10 years and at the last minute something always happened and the deal fell through. I can only hope this production will follow a different pattern." There is every indication it will.

On paper, it looks like an ideal union between a writer who knew Bethune intimately warts and all and a production company that is starting to hit its stride. According to Kroonenburg, Film-line is now in a position to become one of the biggest production companies in Canada. It is doing four major films this year, including the six-hour mini-series Spearfield's Daughter and is involved with Choices, starring George C. Scott and Jacqueline Bisset and being shot in Montreal. "I don't think anybody in Canada has been busier in the last year than we have," Kroonenburg said.

"That's part of the reason we are able to undertake a prestigious project like Bethune." Kroonenburg took an option on Allan's script about a year ago. "I'm originally from Holland and I was totally unaware of Bethune. But about 18 months ago I came LONG JOHN BHLDRY with a 9-piaca band Featuring CATHY MACDCNALD FRI. JAN. 3 P.M.

M.M $5.98 -JUKt'JlL'JLI cftm IP rz. 1 il i rr am. 10-t" ssMim (toil) Let The Gazette's Saturday Travel pages help you chart out your vacation plans. HhTTinl i "let's Spend The Night -1 Together New Year's Eve Extravaganza TED ALLAN Brings story to screen across one of Ted's old scripts and it impressed me a lot. That plus the fact that no one has been able to pull it off so far provided me with quite a challenge and I decided to take a crack at it." The last producer to take a crack at Bethune was Canadian filmmaker John Kemeny who "tried to do it five or six years ago, but it never got off the ground because it was very expensive at the time, about $25 million U.S.

When we picked it up we decided to go in a different direction," Kroonenburg added. Imported factors With the CBC and Telefilm as partners, Filmline is doing Bethune as a four-hour mini-series as well as a feature film. The budget is between $10 million and $12 million. Subject to his availability, Canadian Ted Kotcheff (Joshua Then and Now) is slated to direct. In addition, this production has two very important factors working in its favor: One is a deal Filmline made with French co-producer Jacques Dorfman (Quest for Fire) and the other is a firm commitment from Donald Sutherland to play the title role.

In the last few weeks, the project has picked up momentum and Dorf-man's involvement has been key. He has proven his value by returning from his last trip to China, about JANUARY with THE GRADUATES CLUB OF MONTREAL INC. (A non profit organization tor discriminating singles) Wed. 4 Information meeting at I'Entre-temps Sheraton Center Sat. 11 Skating at Beaver Lake followed by supper Fri.

17 Dance at Sheraton Center Sun. 19 Brunch at Escapade Sit. 25 Crosscountry skiing followed by a buffet supper Fri. 31 Supper and dance at Le Boulevard Restaurant Maria-Paul 8arrazin Pmtdwit Inf 287-1017 Com in mut ill it L'EntrUfmp! SMri. tM Cfttr every Wrtnei-4iv evenint it P.M.

YOUR TABLE'S READY FOR THE MOST HILARIOUS NEW YEAR'S EVE YET! GALA EVENING $60 per person Price includes: Performance of Sleeping Arrangements Generous full gourmet meal a la Diligence Wine with dinner Champagne toast at midnight Party favours Dancing in our Lounge Complimentary parking (Tax gratuities extra) For information reserva tions call 731-9863 Decarie Jean Talon laion LULL 731-7771 atop Place Bonaventurc- 7 Beginning $35. per person includes: Festive Gourmet Menu Dancing to Live Entertainment Gazette News Services NEW YORK Tango Argentino, the Broadway hit co-produced by New Yorker Mel Howard and Montreal's Donald K. Donald Productions, may be taking to the road. Negotiations are under way for a rjiajor North American tour of the dance revue, which played in Montreal in early June. According to a representative, Tango officials are currently negotiating with theatres in Toronto, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Seattle for a tour that would start in late spring.

An original cast album of the revue, which features 30 of Argentina's leading tango dancers and musicians, is also slated for release in early 1986. The album is now being mixed and edited under the supervision of Atlantic Records chairman Ahmet Ertegun and producer Arif Mardin, who was at the helm of Chaka Khan's hit album, Feel For You. Tango Argentino was originally Tropical islands, ski slopes, biking trails whatever your destination, read all about it in The Gazette's Saturday Travel section. CFCf 60 DIVISION The Charon 4 Party Favours Champagne Cocktail at Midnight and lots of New Year's Fun! RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED 731-7771 FIRST SEATING: 7:00 P.M. REGULAR TABLE D'HOTE MENU AVAILABLE FROM $12.95 I fettwfaJi fbl iNiMtti liftlWiiKlllitoaiMWMil I mil ill 1 1 1 i ill mir IjQS mancls in mm a -m commissioned by the Festival d'Au-tomne in Paris in 1984.

After a run in Montreal June 12 to 15, the show opened at New York's City Centre theatre June 24 to 30, where it broke box office records. The production reopened at Broadway's Mark Hel-linger Theatre Oct. 9. So far, it has grossed close to $3 million, according to an official for Donald K. Donald Productions.

Tribune Media Services, Gazette Of Of CFCf INC Rand Show A CHRISTOPHER LESTER Set Designer JEAN-CLAUDE OLIVIER Lighting Design ROD HAYWARD bt I SHUHt Lanaoiens present The Niitcf ac MCIQBT Weekdays Montreal fob Theatre Company nmnvf 1 BONAVENTURE HILTON Choreography by Fernand FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES! 2:00 p.m., December 28, 1985 7:30 p.m., December 28, 1985 Tickets: S24.S16, S8 Children, students seniors: S12 Sponsors: December 19. Caror. Bciiinncr Ciarkson Gotaon: December 21, Kiliv.ono do Gasr.oniio December 28, our I (oicl II) i'i -Montreal's resort hotel Funk Soul by "Area Code 99 proudly presents r.n-PrnHurr IAN SAMIIFI Director-Choreographer RANDY DAVIES Musical Director BOB BACHELOR Costume Designer 111 SMWqL. m.m-4 4 ithf-i i Mr at Le Portage Appearing December 26 to January U. Tuesday through Thursdav: p.m.

and h.Wp.'m. S4.00 cover charge. I'riday and Saturday: 10:00 p.m. and midnight. Sn cover charge I'or information, call 878-2332.

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