The Boy in Blue (1986): cast, story & where to watch
1986 · Film · ★ 4.7
Released in 1986, The Boy in Blue is a drama film directed by Charles Jarrott, running about 100 minutes. “Every era has it's own kind of hero.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Ned Hanlan was Canada's most successful sculling champion at the turn of the 20th century. This dramatization of his life begins in his youth, when the wild young man is informally adopted by a gambler who promotes Ned on the sculling circuit, betting on the boy's rowing skills solely to make money off him. Later, a ruthless businessman named Knox takes over Ned's career, but when Ned realizes how dishonest Knox is, he finds another manager. Walter is an inventor and the first honest man Ned has dealt with in his career and, under Walter's guidance, Ned rises to great success in the sculling world.
Who’s in it. The Boy in Blue stars Nicolas Cage as Ned Hanlan, Cynthia Dale as Margaret, Christopher Plummer as Knox and David Naughton as Bill, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.7/10, The Boy in Blue has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Boy in Blue page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Boy in Blue tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Boy in Blue (1986)?
- In GB, The Boy in Blue is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Boy in Blue worth watching?
- The Boy in Blue holds an audience score of 4.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Boy in Blue?
- The Boy in Blue stars Nicolas Cage, Cynthia Dale, Christopher Plummer, David Naughton and Sean Sullivan.
- When was The Boy in Blue released?
- The Boy in Blue was released in 1986, with a runtime of about 100 minutes.