 "Oh, when the lads come-a-march-[cut off]" |
The Sinterklaas Fantasy: A Once Upon a Time Christmas Story is a 1989 Canadian-Dutch made for TV fantasy film starring Bill Vander Zalm,[1][2] in which he serves as a narrator.[3]
Synopsis[]
In this semi-autobiographical film, a Dutch boy immigrates to British Columbia, and grows up to do well in both business and politics, before deciding to visit home.
Subsequently Vander Zalm's character flies on a rainbow to Amsterdam via a magic tulip,[4] landing safely in a canal,[1] to meet Sinterklaas.[4]
The film was also meant to have scenes depicting the liberation of Amsterdam by Canadian soldiers in 1944 and a visit to the Queen's palace.[1]
Cast[]
- Bill Vander Zalm
- Lillian Vander Zalm[5]
- Juanita Vander Zalm[5]
Production[]
| “ | Basically, I'm simply following what Ronald Reagan did, but because I started earlier, I'm finishing the movie afterwards, but with the same results in the end. | ” |
–Bill Vander Zalm | ||
The film was produced between 1986 and 1987.[6]
The film was reported to have been completed on 2 November 1987.[7]
Reception[]
Contemporary[]
A reviewer for The Vancouver Sun stated, "This twilight zone of good cheer is, well, surreal."[8] Another reviewer from same newspaper mocked the film, stating "SCTV was never this good," while also disparaging the film's audio quality, stating that at one point that Juanita Vander Zalm's singing sounded more like it was coming from the dolls behind her.[5]
In popular culture[]
CBC Vancouver reporter Justin McElroy learned of the film's existence in March 2022,[9] and asked his followers to help him find it.[10] The Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason joked that the film wasn't worth seeing.[11] The PolitiCoast podcast expressed their interest in seeing it.[12][13]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Premier in fantasy movie - 8 October 1986 - The Prince George Citizen
- ↑ Premier shooting Dutch fantasy - Gary Mason - 2 February 1987 - The Vancouver Sun
- ↑ Vander Zalm combines politics, TV star image - Gary Kingston - 24 February 1987 - The Prince George Citizen
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Vander Zalm tv show features magic tulip - 10 December 1989 - The Winnipeg Free Press
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 ENTERTAINMENT - The Sinterklaas Fantasy - 22 December 1989 - The Vancouver Sun
- ↑ 1991 - 1992: Who's Who in Canadian Film and Television - Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television - 1991
- ↑ Vander Zalm’s bold plans - Jane O'Hara - 2 November 1987 - Maclean's
- ↑ Vander Zalms in new fantasy - 22 December 1989 - The Vancouver Sun
- ↑ i was this years old when i discovered a bc premier made a vanity christmas movie where he flies on a rainbow while he was premier - Justin McElroy @j_mcelroy - 22 March 2022 - Twitter - Retrieved 10 April 2022
- ↑ I say this without hyperbole: uncovering the long lost Vander Zalm vanity Christmas movie is the most important task in the world If you have any idea where I can find it, please get in touch - Justin McElroy @j_mcelroy - 22 March 2022 - Twitter - Retrieved 10 April 2022
- ↑ You didn’t miss much pal. The movie was not even nominated for an Oscar. Hard to believe - Gary Mason @garymasonglobe - 23 March 2022 - Twitter - Retrieved 9 May 2022
- ↑ Ep 282: No surprises - 25 March 2022 - PolitiCoast - Retrieved 10 April 2022
- ↑ Ep 282: No surprises - PolitiCoast - 25 March 2022 - Apple Podcasts - Retrieved 10 April 2022