Cowboys and Indians: The J.J. Harper Story (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Norma Bailey

Writers:

Andrew Rai Berzins (screenplay)
Gordon Sinclair Jr. (book)

Release Date:

5 October 2003 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

J.J. Harper, a First Nations chief, is gunned down by police constable Robert Cross on his way home one snowy night in downtown Winnipeg.

Plot Keywords:

Racism | Winnipeg Manitoba | Mistaken Identity | Accidental Shooting | Murder

Awards:

8 nominations

Cast

Sharon Bajer	...	Hodgins
Adam Beach	...	JJ Harper
Jack Blum	...	Harvey Pollock, QC
David Brown	...	Det. Spooner
Harlan Bruyere	...	Elijah Harper
Gary Chalk	...	Inspector Ken Dowson
Jonas Chernick	...	Constable Bill Issac
Paul Christie	...	Sergeant Osepchuk
Sarah Constible	...	Reporter #2
Rebecca Gibson	...	Stephen's Assistant
Currie Graham	...	Constable Robert Cross
Richard Hurst	...	Chief of Police Herb Stephen
Michael Lawrenchuk	...	Joe
Melissa LeClaire	...	Protester
Dan McLean	...	Tymchuck
Brent Neale	...	Mark
Chuck Robinson	...	Police Officer, stops rape
Eric Schweig	...	Harry Wood
Jan Skene	...	Mrs. Cross
Rick Skene	...	CKY Camerman
Jeff Skinner	...	Mcgregor
Gordon Tootoosis	...	James Harper
Warren Louis Wiltshire	...	Detective
Will Woytowich	...	Constable Buckman
Jon Ted Wynne	...	Reporter #1

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

Film Works, The

Quotes:

Harry Wood: This time, they shot the wrong Indian!

A serious miscarriage of justice similar to the Donald Marshall case

After watching this film, I saw that it had a lot of facts in it that related to the wrongful murder of JJ Harper. I relate this film to another Canadian made film called "Justice Denied" in which Donald Marshall was wrongly convicted of murder. It's quite similar how the injustices that were committed against Donald Marshall were also committed against JJ Harper and his family! Well, the way it turned out, Robert Cross (the police officer who shot Harper) died many years later so no one will ever really know who shot Harper. According to the real story, Cross was in pursuit of 2 young men who were driving a stolen vehicle. Although Cross did apprehend the 2 suspects he somehow ran into and started harassing Harper for no apparent reason. That was when Cross pulled out his revolver to shoot Harper.

Well.............. anyways............. I really liked the drama in this film so that's why I gave it a 6 out of 10.