Fly Away Home (1996)

Director:

Carroll Ballard

Writers (WGA):

Bill Lishman (autobiography)
Robert Rodat (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family

Tagline:

A family of orphaned geese who lost their way. A 14 year old kid who will lead them home. To achieve the incredible, you have to attempt the impossible.

Plot:

A father and daughter decide to attempt to lead a flock of orphaned Canada Geese south by air.

Plot Keywords:

Geese | Canada | Death | New Zealand | Inventor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Jeff Daniels	...	Thomas "Tom" Alden
Anna Paquin	...	Amy Alden
Dana Delany	...	Susan Barnes
Terry Kinney	...	David Alden
Holter Graham	...	Barry Stickland
Jeremy Ratchford	...	DNR Officer
Deborah Verginella	...	Amy's Mother
Michael J. Reynolds	...	General Hadfield
David Hemblen	...	Dr. Killian
Ken James	...	Developer
Nora Ballard	...	Jackie
Sarena Paton	...	Laura
Carmen Lishman	...	Older Girl
Christi Hill	...	Older Girl
Judith Orban	...	Teacher
Jeff Braunstein	...	Chairman
John Friesen	...	Smalltown Businessman
Chris Benson	...	Farmer
Kevin Jubinville	...	M.P.
Philip Akin	...	Air Force Reporter
Gladys O'Connor	...	Farm Woman
Geoff McBride	...	Clerk
Dick Callahan	...	Customs Inspector
Cheryl MacInnis	...	Reporter
Mark Wilson	...	Reporter
J. Craig Sandy	...	Reporter
Wendy L. Walsh	...	TV Anchor (as Wendy Walsh)
Larry McCormick	...	TV Anchor
Richard Saxton	...	TV Anchor
Linden Chiles	...	TV Anchor
Timm Zemanek	...	Husband
Diane Douglass	...	Wife
Azura Bates	...	Bratty Sister
Jonathan Bates	...	Bratty Brother
Michael Vollans	...	Bratty Brother
Michael Copeman	...	Gunshop Owner
John Nelles	...	Tower Supervisor (as John E. Nelles)
Jeff Poulis	...	Tower Operator
Christopher Lorenz	...	Tower Operator
Melissa Tanti	...	Dune Woman

Directed by
Carroll Ballard

Writing credits (WGA)
Bill Lishman		(autobiography)
Robert Rodat		(screenplay) and
Vince McKewin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Carol Baum	....	producer
John M. Eckert	....	associate producer
Sandy Gallin	....	executive producer
Stephen Price	....	executive producer: Core Digital
John Veitch	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Caleb Deschanel

Film Editing by
Nicholas C. Smith

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen
Reuben Cannon

Production Design by
Seamus Flannery

Set Decoration by
Dan Conley

Costume Design by
Marie-Sylvie Deveau

Makeup Department
David R. Beecroft	....	hair stylist
Donald Mowat	....	makeup artist (as Donald J. Mowat)

Production Management
John M. Eckert	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christopher Ball	....	second assistant director
Gary Capo	....	second unit director
John Houston	....	first assistant director
David MacDonald	....	dgc trainee (as David McDonald)
Kayla Popp	....	third assistant director
Jill Campbell Samson	....	second assistant director: second unit
Lewin Webb	....	first assistant director: second unit (as C. Lewin Webb)
Laurie Mirsky	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Daniel R. Bradette	....	property master
Sean Flannery	....	set dresser
Bill Lishman	....	sculptor
Christina Luescher	....	additional art director
John Mackenzie	....	construction coordinator
Jeff Poulis	....	assistant property master (as Jeffrey W. Poulis)
Norma Rose	....	first assistant art director
Richard Vanheuvelen	....	sculptor
David Watts	....	scenic artist
Dan Wladyka	....	property master: second unit

Sound Department
Mark Berger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kim B. Christensen	....	sound effects editor (as Kim Christensen)
Patrick Dodd	....	supervising sound editor
Frank E. Eulner	....	sound effects editor (as Frank Eulner)
Malcolm Fife	....	foley editor
Douglas Ganton	....	production sound mixer
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stephen Krause	....	sound recording engineer (as Steve Krause)
Ann Kroeber	....	sound effects editor
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Douglas Murray	....	sound effects editor (as Doug Murray)
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Quinn	....	dialogue editor
Lisa Storer	....	assistant sound editor
Reynald Trudel	....	boom operator
Stephen Kearney	....	sound effects recordist (uncredited)
Jeremy Molod	....	apprentice sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bill Hansard	....	projectionist: special effects
Martin Malivoire	....	special effects coordinator
Troy Rundle	....	special effects technician
Warren Keillor	....	special effects and props (uncredited)
Kaz Kobielski	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)
Dean Stewart	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Dennis Berardi	....	digital film recording: Cine-Byte Imaging Inc.
Sara Fillmore	....	production coordinator: Core Digital
Alan Kapler	....	senior animator: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
John Mariella	....	digital visual effects supervisor: Core Digital
Kyle Menzies	....	goose modelling and textures: Core Digital
Shelly Morrow	....	digital artist
Bob Munroe	....	digital effects consultant: Core Digital
Ray McMillan	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)

Stunts
Allan Angus	....	stunt driver
Shane Cardwell	....	stunt double: car crash
Michael Robertson	....	stunt double: glider
Jack Sanderson	....	bi-wing stunt double
Branko Racki	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert Racki	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Scotty Allan	....	chief lighting technician
Hans Bjerno	....	camera operator: Wescam, second unit
Larry Blanford	....	camera operator: Wescam, second unit
Russel Bowie	....	second assistant camera: second unit (as Russell Bowie)
Carlo Campana	....	key grip: second unit
Angelo Colavecchia	....	camera operator: second unit
Yvonne Collins	....	second assistant camera
Ciaran Copelin	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Michael Hall	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jacqueline Hampton	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Mark Hryma	....	camera technician: Wescam, second unit
Mark Manchester	....	key grip
Malcolm Nefsky	....	second grip
Derek Parkes	....	best boy grip: second unit
John Platt	....	first assistant camera
Ian D. Scott	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Ian Scott)
Takashi Seida	....	still photographer
Tracy Shaw	....	dolly grip
Sam Bojin	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Gary Capo	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Ivan Sutton	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Petty	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Bob Allen	....	assistant film editor
Charlene Olson	....	first assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Ron Wisman Jr.	....	assistant film editor
Bill Holley	....	colorist (uncredited)
Kim Roseborough	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Kevin D. Ross	....	assistant editor: lightworks (uncredited)

Music Department
Ken Kugler	....	conductor
Ken Kugler	....	orchestrator
Craig Pettigrew	....	music editor
Joe E. Rand	....	music editor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Frank Eldridge	....	head driver: second unit
Bill Hagan	....	driver captain: second unit
Fred Ionson	....	transportation captain
Bruce Raymer	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Stephen Bélanger	....	set production assistant: second unit (as Steve Belanger)
Wayne Bezner-Kerr	....	goose wrangler
Maribeth Board	....	craft service
William H. Carrick	....	wildlife consultant
Joseph Duff	....	pilot double: Ms. Paquin
Kirk Goolsby	....	biologist: USA
Lori Greenberg	....	production coordinator
Will Hoddinott	....	assistant location manager
Keith Large	....	location manager
Bill Lishman	....	pilot double: Mr. Daniels
Geordie Lishman	....	goose wrangler
Florence MacGregor	....	goose wrangler
Deborah Marks	....	production secretary
Alice Mazelet	....	tutor: Ms. Paquin
Blanche McDermaid	....	script supervisor
Michael McKinnell	....	script supervisor: second unit (as Michael J. McKinnell)
Lee Anne Muldoon	....	unit publicist
John Nelles	....	dialect coach
Sean Parker	....	office assistant
Michael Robertson	....	hang glider pilot
Howard Rothschild	....	location manager: second unit
Jack Sanderson	....	pilot double: Ms. Paquin
Elizabeth Senyi	....	assistant production coordinator: second unit
Gavin Shire	....	biologist: USA
William Sladen	....	wildlife consultant (as Dr. William Sladen)
Dave Tommasini	....	pilot: Wescam helicopter, second unit
Elizabeth Tompkins	....	production accountant
Greg Wells	....	goose wrangler
Kelly Whitlock	....	wildlife consultant
Laurance Wiese	....	location assistant
David Woodhouse	....	pilot double: Mr. Daniels
Simon Wookey	....	office assistant
G. Michael Currie	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Steve Holt	....	on-set medic (uncredited)
Randy Kennedy	....	location scout (uncredited)
Joan Lucas-Turgeon	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Byron A. Martin	....	location scout (uncredited)
David Porter	....	craft service (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Sandollar Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1997) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1999) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (199?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1997) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (collector's edition)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Egmont Film (1997) (Sweden) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Nordisk Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (1998) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• Precision Film Cutting  negative cutting
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  re-recording facilities
• Studio Catering  catering

Also Known As:

Father Goose
Flying Wild

MPAA:

Rated PG for an opening accident scene and some mild language.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate no. 34000) | Iceland:L | Australia:PG | South Korea:All | Philippines:G | Argentina:Atp | Belgium:KT | Canada:G | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. (bw) | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:G | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

According to the credits, the military aircraft were from New York. The F-16s belonged to the 174th Fighter Wing of the New York Air National Guard, and the C-130Hs belonged to the 914th Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserve. They were not, however, located on the same base. The F-16s come from Syracuse, NY, and the transports were located at the time at Niagara Falls, NY.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Amy is flying through the Baltimore Skyline, the Buildings are too tall to be any of the Baltimore skyscrapers (it's Toronto).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Thomas Alden: Amy? It's your dad.
Amy Alden: Dad?
Thomas Alden: I came down from Canada. I've come to take you home.
Amy Alden: Where's Mom?
Thomas Alden: Um...
Amy Alden: Mum died, didn't she?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Duck (2005)

Soundtrack:

Yakety Axe

Extraordinarily beautiful!

This is poetic, emotional, breathtaking film-making blessed with a truly inspiring Mark Isham score. The theme song, "10,000 Miles", is achingly beautiful and is first used with intuitive irony over the film's opening credit sequence.

Anna Paquin is the little girl who, with her father, Jeff Daniels, "imprints" with a flock of young geese and leads them, via homemade aircraft, to a new home thousands of miles away.

The flight sequences, which combine real flying with computer-assisted imagery over rivers, pastures and cityscapes, are flawless. They capture the awe and staggering thrill of flight without ever resorting to unnecessary, contrived stuntwork.

Daniels, not a regular face on the silver screen these days, is natural and likable as Paquin's eccentric father while Paquin once again demonstrates what a brilliant talent she is.

The narrative builds to an exciting conclusion as the film's environmental theme is amplified.

Director Ballard, who also made the striking BLACK STALLION and the stark NEVER CRY WOLF, brings acute visual economy to every scene and never allows the film's underlying theme to become preachy.

Caleb Deschanel, the film's cinematographer, gives us flawless images that frequently drop the jaw.

A major achievement in a minor key.