The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood
Encyclopedia
The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood is a surreal Canadian
comedy film, released in 1986. The film was directed by Andy Jones
and written by Andy and Mike Jones
, with the collaboration of a number of workshop participants. A common mistake seen is an added 's' to 'Adventure'.
Andy Jones stars as Faustus Bidgood, a clerk in the Newfoundland
provincial department of education who harbours secret dreams of becoming president of Newfoundland and leading the province to secede from Canada. The film contains several levels of what might be termed competing "realities, " oscilating between visions of mundane office work and sequences in which Bidgood accidentally leads a revolution, and containing a film within a film that narrates Faustus' real life and imaginary rise to power.
In the film within a film, we learn that Faustus' paternal grandfather has predicted that a great man will lead the people of Newfoundland to glory. His name is the Reverend Dempster Peebles, although his son (Faustus' father) is named Bruce Bidgood and Faustus full name is Faustus Peebles Bidgood.
The film also stars Jones' CODCO
colleagues Robert Joy
and Brian Downey
, respectively, as Bidgood's boss and a government official who plans to indoctrinate students in a cultish geometric
theory known as Total Education. Greg Malone
appears as a figment of Faustus' imagination, who acts as both his conscience
and as a revolutionary spokesman in Faustus' dream of taking over Newfoundland.
Faustus Bidgood, the first feature film ever produced entirely in Newfoundland with a Newfoundland cast, crew, and funding, was initiated in 1977 and took ten years to complete. It satirizes and comments on aspects of Newfoundland politics and culture, and sends up traditional religious and historical expectations that great men are the prime movers of cultural and social change.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
comedy film, released in 1986. The film was directed by Andy Jones
Andy Jones (comedian)
Andrew Jordan Jones is a Canadian comedian, and a former member of CODCO.Andy Jones was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador...
and written by Andy and Mike Jones
Mike Jones (writer)
Mike Jones is a Canadian screenwriter, whose credits include the films The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood and Secret Nation.He is the brother of comedic actors Andy Jones and Cathy Jones.-References:...
, with the collaboration of a number of workshop participants. A common mistake seen is an added 's' to 'Adventure'.
Andy Jones stars as Faustus Bidgood, a clerk in the Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
provincial department of education who harbours secret dreams of becoming president of Newfoundland and leading the province to secede from Canada. The film contains several levels of what might be termed competing "realities, " oscilating between visions of mundane office work and sequences in which Bidgood accidentally leads a revolution, and containing a film within a film that narrates Faustus' real life and imaginary rise to power.
In the film within a film, we learn that Faustus' paternal grandfather has predicted that a great man will lead the people of Newfoundland to glory. His name is the Reverend Dempster Peebles, although his son (Faustus' father) is named Bruce Bidgood and Faustus full name is Faustus Peebles Bidgood.
The film also stars Jones' CODCO
CODCO
CODCO was a Canadian comedy troupe from Newfoundland, best known for a sketch comedy series which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1992....
colleagues Robert Joy
Robert Joy
Robert Joy is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. Sid Hammerback in CSI: NY and playing Charlie in Land of the Dead.-Early life:...
and Brian Downey
Brian Downey (actor)
Brian Downey is a Canadian actor perhaps best-known for his portrayal of Stanley Tweedle, in the science-fiction television series Lexx....
, respectively, as Bidgood's boss and a government official who plans to indoctrinate students in a cultish geometric
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
theory known as Total Education. Greg Malone
Greg Malone (actor)
Greg Malone is a Canadian impressionist and actor.He is well known for the CODCO television series and his impersonations of Barbara Frum, Jean Chrétien, and Queen Elizabeth II....
appears as a figment of Faustus' imagination, who acts as both his conscience
Conscience
Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...
and as a revolutionary spokesman in Faustus' dream of taking over Newfoundland.
Faustus Bidgood, the first feature film ever produced entirely in Newfoundland with a Newfoundland cast, crew, and funding, was initiated in 1977 and took ten years to complete. It satirizes and comments on aspects of Newfoundland politics and culture, and sends up traditional religious and historical expectations that great men are the prime movers of cultural and social change.
Reception
1987 Genie Awards - (nominations) - Best Original Screenplay; Best Achievement - Film Editing; Best Original SongExternal links
- Heritage Newfoundland article on local feature films.
- The Newfoundland Independent Film Cooperative.
- The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood at The Internet Movie Database.
- Canadian Film Encyclopedia