Stanley Hooper Is Alive And Well North Of The Border (1972 Film)

Stanley Hopper Is Alive And Well North of the Border is an American film from 1972. It was written by Max Beckwit who was a 21 year-old Math major at Columbia University at the time. It was the final film to be directed by Norman Mortimer before his death in 1977.

Plot
Stanley Hopper is a college football star who, upset by both the Viet Nam War and the turmoil of campus protests, decides to drop out of society and live life as a hermit in the wilderness of Canada. The first third of the film deals with his escape from the U.S. into Cananda.

The second third follows Stanley as he sets up his new life in the Canadian wilderness. In the process of this, he meets and befriends a stoic American Indian, a jive-talking black revolutionary, a draft dodger and the dodger's "old lady," and several female hippies.

In the final third of the film, Stanley's obsessive nemesis from the states (called only "The Man" in the film's credits) shows up and things quickly turn violent and bloody. By the film's end, all of Stanley's friends have been murdered by The Man. Stanley challenges the Man to a duel. In the next scene, the Man and Stanley stand with their backs-to-each other. Each holds a dueling pistol. Standing in between them is a mysterious figure identified as "The Observer" who has popped up at irregular intervals throughout the film. As the Observer counts off, Stanley and the Man move forward 20 paces. However, just before the 20th pace has been called, the Man spins around and shoots Stanley in the back. Mortally wounded, Stanley manages to shoot the Man in the face before collapsing to the ground and dying.

Main Cast
Stanley Hopper -- Alan Farrell

The Man -- Elmore Page

The Observer -- Francois Muriet

The Native Son -- Johnny Trailfeather

The Soul Brother -- Lincoln Tarkington IV

The Deserter -- Robert Stewart

The Deserter's Old Lady -- Kathy Sommers

The First Chick -- Nancy Carlyle

The Second Chick -- Denise Taylor

The Third Chick -- Linda Avins

The Fourth Chick -- Faye Dubler

The Fifth Chick -- Linda Macett

The Fuzz -- Doug Kirkley

The Coach -- Ernie Urbella

The Cheerleader -- Regina Houseman

The Professor -- Stillman Cleveland

The Soldier -- Barry Reeves

The Protestor -- Ricky Newton

The Padre -- Richard C. Dyer

The Center -- Bobby Caraway

The Tight End -- Ted Sheffield

The Running Back -- Antony DeMarr

Dad Hopper -- Franklin Hughes

Mom Hopper -- Ingrid LeClair

Little Sister -- Kathy Malone

Reception
The film opened to legendarily bad reviews and was considered to be a failure at the box office. Writer Max Beckwit later wrote an article that appeared in The Village's Other Voice in which he criticized the final film and argued that director Norman Mortirmer, at age 77, could not relate to the film's message.

DVD and Video
While the film has never been released on DVD, it can be found on VHS.