The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar

The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar
Directed by	Peter Pearson
Written by	Joan Finnigan
Produced by	John Kemeny
Starring	Chris Wiggins Kate Reid Margot Kidder
Cinematography	Tony Ianzelo
Edited by	Michael McKennirey
Distributed by	National Film Board of Canada
Release date	1968
Running time	49 minutes
Country	Canada
Language	English

The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar is a 1968 Canadian dramatic film directed by Peter Pearson and written by Joan Finnigan. The 49-minute drama stars Chris Wiggins and Kate Reid, along with Margot Kidder in her first feature role.

Set in a logging community in the Ottawa Valley, the film focuses on a man who chooses the free but uncertain life of a bush worker, even though it means hardships for his family. Produced by John Kemeny for the National Film Board of Canada, the film won eight awards at the Canadian Film Awards, including Film of the Year.

Produced for the NFB's Challenge for Change program, the film had initially been "pushed aside and ignored by CBC TV," according to Canadian film scholar Gerald Pratley, who called it: "A brilliant example of what our filmmakers could do if they had the opportunities and the material to replace the run-of-the-mill American films that dominate our theatres and television – the kind of inexpensive creativity private broadcasters continue to say they cannot afford."

Awards

Canadian Film Awards – Film of the Year, Non-Feature Direction, Non-Feature Screenplay, Non-Feature Actor (Chris Wiggins), Non-Feature Cinematography (b+w), Non-Feature Editing, Non-Feature Art Direction

Filming locations

• The farm locations, dance hall and river scenes were shot at Barryvale, Ontario.
• The downtown scenes were shot in Renfrew, Ontario.

External links

• Watch The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar at NFB.ca
• The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar at IMDb