The Boy in Blue
The Boy in Blue
R | 17 January 1986 (USA)
The Boy in Blue Trailers

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.

Reviews
Ensofter Overrated and overhyped
YouHeart I gave it a 7.5 out of 10
Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews
Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
merklekranz Nicholas Cage plays Canadian rowing champion, Ned Hanlan, from his humble beginnings rowing illegal liquor across the border, to his championship race in England. The problem is, you've seen it all before. Pick any boxing, baseball, or football film, and you will be on very familiar ground with "The Boy in Blue". In addition, Cage's romance of Cynthia Dale comes across as really sappy and uninteresting. The movie plays like a series of Victorian postcards. Even usually reliable villain, Christopher Plummer, is no more ruthless than a puppy dog. This movie is way too predictable, toothless, and sugar coated, and does not live up to expectations. - MERK
stryder1 Unless you like movies about rowing, this movie is a little slow. The only thing this film has in common with Chariots of Fire is the fact that its a period piece. The film is predictable even if you never heard of Ned Hanlan. It's a little "sappy" at times. The acting is a bit over the top and wooden with little chemistry felt between Cage and Dale. SPOILER The training scene for the race on the Thames looked like it was stolen from one of the "Rocky" films but without the speed bag. If you like to be bored to tears or need a non-narcotic to fall asleep this would be a good film for you. ** out of *****
rainbow4142000 We saw it for the first time on AMC, which is FINALLY starting to show some different movies........it presents a sport that I believe most Americans are unfamiliar with.......Personal comment: I don't believe that people should stoop to cheat in ANY SPORT or to sabotage anther's chances of winning. FAIR IS FAIR! This movie came out a few years later than CHARIOTS of FIRE, and one cant help but feel the same emotions of being in a race whether on land or the water. Good sportsmanship should always be at the top of ones personal goals........and really enjoying competition. Ah, Nicolas did well in keeping in shape to do this movie!!!! AND the musical score is great too!!!.S.T. rainbowsmileyfish says hello :-)<>{
lib-4 Nick Cage was only 22 when he made this period piece. Chariots of Fire (1981) must have been in the back of his mind. Ned Hanlon was not a big enough name to interest the viewer, and he was a naive young man. But it was a nice, but not remarkable movie. He did build his pecs up for this-- he always gets into his character.