107 minutes – Comedy/Drama
Release date: September 8, 1994
Canadian distributor: Alliance Atlantis
If you know anything about the history of pop music, it is impossible to watch Whale Music and its star, Maury Chaykin, without thinking of Beach Boy Brian Wilson. Chaykin, who won the Best Actor Genie for his work in this film, plays Desmond Howl, a former rock star who has lived in seclusion in a ramshackle seaside mansion since the death of his brother Danny (Paul Gross) in a car accident. Howl spends his time composing a symphonic masterpiece for the whales who congregate in the ocean near his property. His reason for this is revealed in the title of one of his songs, “Have You Seen My Brother?” — Danny died by losing control of his car and driving off a cliff into the ocean. One day, however, Howl awakens to find Claire (Cyndy Preston), a mysterious young woman, in his living room. Although Howl`s world is disrupted, Claire ends up inspiring him to complete the symphony, to write his first great pop song in years, and to begin seeking connections with people again.
Steven DeNure
Raymond Hart Massey
David Hauka
Robert Lantos
Eric Norlen
Richard Martin
George Blondheim
The Rheostatics
Rex Raglan
Charles Leitrants
Toni Burroughs-Rutter
Maury Chaykin
Cynthia Preston
Paul Gross
Jennifer Dale
Kenneth Welsh
Blu Mankuma
Alan Jordan
Tom Lavin
Jim Byrnes
Deborah Duchene
Paul Quarrington
Janne Mortil
Suzanne Ristic
Roman Podhora
Sherri Wong
Arlene Warren
Jacqueline A. Gauthier
Stephanie Blumer
Desmond Howl
Claire Lowe
Daniel Howl
Fay Ginzburg-Howl
Kenneth Sexstone
Mookie Saunders
Sal Goneau
Monty Mann
Dewey Moore
Bobby Sue
Pete the Bartender
Star
Monty`s Wife
Prison Guard
Groupie
Groupie
Waitress
Dancer
Northernstars.ca is published by the Canadian Independent Visual
and Digital Media Association – A nonprofit corporation.
Toronto, Ontario, M4X 1X7
First published as Northernstars.net February 1, 1998
ISSN 2563 4895