A Bear Named Winnie is a 2004 made-for-television drama film directed by John Kent Harrison. It stars Michael Fassbender and David Suchet.[1][2] It concerns one of the real-life inspirations behind A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.[3]

A Bear Named Winnie
Written byJohn Kent Harrison
John Goldsmith
Story bySimon Vaughan
Directed byJohn Kent Harrison
Starring
Music byCharlie Mole
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersSimon Vaughan
Kim Todd
CinematographyJean Lépine
EditorRon Wisman
Running time90 minutes
Production companiesOriginal Pictures
PowerCorp
Original release
Release12 December 2004 (2004-12-12)

Plot

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At the outbreak of World War I, troops march through the Manitoban city of Winnipeg. Among them is Lieutenant Harry Colebourn (Fassbender), a veteran with a gift for animals. He soon meets a bear, Winnie, who provides comfort for the soldiers and by order of General Hallholland (David Suchet), becomes the regimental mascot.

Cast

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To avoid legal problems concerning the copyrights of both Disney and the Milne estate, Winnie the Pooh and anything related to the property is never referenced nor discussed throughout the film.[4][better source needed] [5]

Critical response

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John Ferguson of The Radio Times awarded it two stars and said, "This touching fact-based drama almost manages to carry off its combination of First World War setting and sentimental tale, but is unsure of its target audience."[6]

See also

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  • Goodbye Christopher Robin - a 2017 biographical drama film about Milne and his son, with Vaughan also acting as a writer and producer.

References

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  1. ^ Maloney 2012, p. 30.
  2. ^ A bear named Winnie. WorldCat. OCLC 865232108.
  3. ^ Mattick, Lindsay (24 November 2015). "The story of how Winnie the Pooh was inspired by a real bear – in pictures". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "A Bear Named Winnie (TV Movie 2004)". IMDb.
  5. ^ "Bear who's Bonkers plays our Winnie". The Globe and Mail.
  6. ^ "A Bear Named Winnie – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.

Bibliography

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