Bye Bye Blues 1989 Review
A Canadian prairie woman struggles to maintain her sanity and then her fidelity to her husband, who is missing in action in Europe during World War II. She revives her life by launching a singing career with a C&W swing band that enjoys limited success. Whoops, there's that rugged American trombone player and he has his rebel soul set on winning her over!
The traumas of war seen from the home front: Veteran writer-director Anne Wheeler makes a career-defining triumph of a film.
It is a self-assured, beautifully crafted drama that respects its cast of characters and the tough-minded emotional themes that rumble up under that prairie sun like the stand-up bass line rumbles under the dynamic music.
Singer-actress Rebecca Jenkins turns in a sucessful, charming, full-bodied performance as the warbling heroine. There are top-notch support performances from a host of strong Canadians, including my favorite character actor Wayne Robson as the swinging base man. That bass is bigger than he is yet he can still give it a twirl!
This movie, born in the lore of Wheeler's own family experience, emerges with a classic, universal intelligence. Which gives it a true lasting power.
"Warm and Funny" Valerie Gregory, Edmonton, Sun
"A Stunnying Film" Peter Gzowski, CBC Radio
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A Canadian prairie woman struggles to maintain her sanity and then her fidelity to her husband, who is missing in action in Europe during World War II. She revives her life by launching a singing career with a C&W swing band that enjoys limited success. Whoops, there's that rugged American trombone player and he has his rebel soul set on winning her over!
The traumas of war seen from the home front: Veteran writer-director Anne Wheeler makes a career-defining triumph of a film.
It is a self-assured, beautifully crafted drama that respects its cast of characters and the tough-minded emotional themes that rumble up under that prairie sun like the stand-up bass line rumbles under the dynamic music.
Singer-actress Rebecca Jenkins turns in a sucessful, charming, full-bodied performance as the warbling heroine. There are top-notch support performances from a host of strong Canadians, including my favorite character actor Wayne Robson as the swinging base man. That bass is bigger than he is yet he can still give it a twirl!
This movie, born in the lore of Wheeler's own family experience, emerges with a classic, universal intelligence. Which gives it a true lasting power.
"Warm and Funny" Valerie Gregory, Edmonton, Sun
"A Stunnying Film" Peter Gzowski, CBC Radio
Back to articles