The Boys on the Bus (film)
| The Boys on the Bus | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Bob McKeown |
| Produced by | Bob McKeown |
| Narrated by | Kevin Lowe |
| Cinematography | Michael Boland |
| Music by | Terry McKeown |
Production company | McKeown-McGee Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
The Boys on the Bus is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Bob McKeown and released in 1987.[1] The film is a portrait of the Edmonton Oilers in their late 1980s NHL playoff runs, featuring both on-ice footage and a behind the scenes portrait of the team members.[2]
The film was originally shot during the 1985-86 NHL season; however, after the Oilers were eliminated from the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Calgary Flames in the division finals, McKeown opted to return during the 1986-87 NHL season to shoot additional material, culminating in the Oilers winning the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals.[2]
The film premiered theatrically in Edmonton on October 19, 1987,[1] and had a further theatrical run,[3] before being broadcast on CBC Television on May 17, 1988 at the outset of the team's return to the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals.[4]
Legacy
The Boys Are Back, a sequel film following the Oilers in the 1988-89 NHL season after star player Wayne Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, was released in 1989.[5]
The film has remained influential for its pioneering status as one of the first sports documentaries ever to provide a behind the scenes view of its subjects rather than focusing solely on in-game performance and interviews.[6] It was directly cited as an influence by the producers of the 2020 basketball documentary miniseries The Last Dance,[7] as well as being cited by former Oiler Mark Messier as one of the inspirations behind the creation of the 2024 sports documentary series Game Seven.[6]
The film was rebroadcast by the NHL Network in 2017.[8]
Awards
| Award | Date of Ceremony | Category | Nominees | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini Awards | 1988 | Best Sports Program or Series | Bob McKeown | Won | [9] |
| Best Direction in an Information or Documentary Program or Series | Won |
References
- ^ a b "Oilers' season captured in film Boys on the Bus". North Bay Nugget, October 20, 1987.
- ^ a b Mike Boone, "Film on Oilers an intimate look at hockey champions". Montreal Gazette, May 17, 1988.
- ^ Robert Tychkowski, "The Boys On The Bus premieres at Keyano College Theatre". Fort McMurray Today, December 8, 1987.
- ^ Bob Remington, "Program sees Oilers with fan's eyes". Edmonton Journal, May 17, 1988.
- ^ Grant Fuhr and Bruce Dowbiggin, Grant Fuhr: The Story of a Hockey Legend. Random House of Canada, 2015. ISBN 9780307362827. p. 71.
- ^ a b Simon Houpt, "An oral history of the iconic 1980s documentary that captured Edmonton Oilers at their peak". The Globe and Mail, May 23, 2025.
- ^ Mike Ganter, "The Last Dance inspired by Edmonton Oilers documentary". Toronto Sun, May 7, 2020.
- ^ Marcy Di Michele, "1986-87 Oilers: 'Boys on the Bus'". The Hockey Writers, March 14, 2017.
- ^ Bill Anderson, "Anne of Green Gables wins three". Nanaimo Daily News, December 2, 1988.