Themes: Coping With Puberty, Sexual Awakening, First Love
Main Cast: Margaret Langrick, Richard Donat, Jane Mortifee, T.J. Scott
Release Year: 1985
Country: CA
Run Time: 94 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Set in the late '50s, the life of a young Canadian girl (Margaret Langrick) is plagued by boredom until her older California cousin Butch (John Wildman) visits her house. With a healthy dose of James Dean rebelliousness, Butch introduces her to rock & roll and chewing gum, among other things. The film won big at Canada's 1985 Genie Awards, carting off the Best Picture trophy, as well as Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
Camille Henderson - Shirley Darling; Babs Chula - Mr. Dolly Walker; Micki Maunsell - Granny Wilcox; John Stuart Wildman - Butch Walker; Gabriella Martinelli - Lulu; Terry Moore - Mrs. Walker; Tom Braidwood - Wally; Nicola Cavendish - Gladys Rutherford; John Wildman
Credit
Phillip Schmidt - Art Director, Stuart Aikins - Casting, Sid Kozak - Casting, Ross Clydesdale - Casting, Sandy Wilson - Co-producer, Philip Clarkson - Costume Designer, Sheila Bingham - Costume Designer, Edward Folger - First Assistant Director, Sandy Wilson - Director, Haida Paul - Editor, Richard Leiterman - Cinematographer, Tom Braidwood - Production Manager, Peter O'Brian - Producer, Joey Morgan - Set Designer, Garrell Clark - Sound/Sound Designer, Paul Sharpe - Sound/Sound Designer, Jacqueline Christianini - Sound Editor, Alison Clark - Sound Editor, Tony Currie - Sound Editor, Gordon Thompson - Sound Editor, Sandy Wilson - Screenwriter
My American Cousin is a Canadian drama film, released in 1985. Written and directed by Sandy Wilson based on her own childhood, the film stars Margaret Langrick as Sandy Wilcox, a pre-teen girl growing up on a ranch in rural Penticton British Columbia in the late 1950s. Sandy's longing to be treated as an adult is roused even further when her older American cousin Butch Walker (John Wildman) comes for a visit. The cast also includes Richard Donat, Jane Mortifee, Babz Chula and Camille Henderson.
A 2006 On Screen! documentary about the film featured interviews with director Sandy Wilson and leading actress Margaret Langrick.
Awards
My American Cousin won six awards at the 7th Genie Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Wilson), Best Original Screenplay (Wilson), Best Actor (Wildman), Best Actress (Langrick) and Best Film Editing (Haida Paul).
The film was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Donat), Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design, but did not win those awards.
