Joshua Then and Now (1985)
January 1, 1985Release Date
Joshua Then and Now (1985)
January 1, 1985Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Cast & Crew.
James Woods
Joshua Shapiro
Gabrielle Lazure
Pauline Shapiro
Alan Arkin
Reuben Shapiro
Robert Joy
Colin
Michael Sarrazin
Kevin Hornby
Linda Sorensen
Esther Shapiro
Ted Kotcheff
Director
Alan Scarfe
Jack Trimble
Mordecai Richler
Writer
Alexander Knox
Sen. Hornby
Robert Lantos
Producer
Ken Campbell
Sidney Murdoch
Stephen J. Roth
Producer
Philippe Sarde
Composer
Kate Trotter
Jane Trimble
Chuck Shamata
Seymour Kaplan
Media.
Details.
Release DateJanuary 1, 1985
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 59m
Content RatingR
Filming LocationsMontreal, Canada
Genres
Wiki.
Joshua Then and Now is a 1985 Canadian film and a TV mini-series, adapted by Mordecai Richler from his semi-autobiographical novel Joshua Then and Now. James Woods starred as the adult Joshua, Gabrielle Lazure as his wife, and Alan Arkin as Joshua's father. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff who had previously directed Richler's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz.
The film depicts Joshua growing up in his Montreal neighborhood, and then his adventures as a modestly successful writer. He marries the "golden shiksa" of his dreams, but eventually everything around him crumbles and he must act quickly to recover it all. A comedic drama, the film moves quickly without lingering for long on any incident and tells a connected complete narrative. Alan Arkin is frequently noted in reviews for an outstanding performance.
The cast included Michael Sarrazin as Kevin Hornby (Pauline's brother), Robert Joy as Colin Fraser (Pauline's first husband), Linda Sorenson as Esther Shapiro (Joshua's mother), Alan Scarfe as Jack Trimble, Ken Campbell as Sidney Murdoch, Kate Trotter as Jane Trimble, Alexander Knox as Senator Hornby, and Eric Kimmel as young Joshua. Filmed on location in Montreal, London, Brockville, and Ottawa, Ontario. Rated R. It has been transcribed to VHS (1986) and DVD-R (2016).
In 2023, Telefilm Canada announced that the film was one of 23 titles that will be digitally restored under its new Canadian Cinema Reignited program to preserve classic Canadian films.