Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster

Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster I have been so anxious to see this film. As a child (I hate to give away my age) I remember Edwin Boyd being chased by the police behind our family house on Davisville Ave. Earlier this year the film was picked as one of the 10 best Canadian films for the year. It also won the TIFF prize for the best first Canadian feature. It is written and directed by Nathan Morlando, who worked on the script for many years. He has done an amazing job. The acting is superb. I especially enjoyed some of the old news clippings and radio announcements. Does anyone remember announcer Lorne Greene? I even saw a street sign for Davisville Ave. The cars, houses and dress style were all so realistic of that time. I have to confess to a darker side of my character. I almost wanted Edwin Boyd to get away. Edwin Boyd was a notorious bank robber and the number one wanted man of the day. What a character. He was charming. He adored his wife and children. Even when he was robbing a bank he would smile and charm the tellers. His trade mark was to darken his eyes, pull his fedora hat down low and jump over the bank counter. Once he even did a dance on the top of the counter. How could you resent such a charming character? He was captured once and put in jail. In the Don Jail he met other ‘tough characters’ and 4 of them became known as The Boyd Gang. They escaped. (twice) The robberies continued until the inevitable happened and they were caught. It is a riveting story. It is well told. Unfortunately robbing banks is not an ideal way to live your life. His family paid a big price. The other members of the gang all had women who enjoyed the luxuries that the stolen money offered them. That rich lifestyle was short lived and they all paid a big price. Bravo to this excellent Canadian film that tells a story that would captivate anyone’s interest. It is all the more meaningful for anyone who grew up in Toronto.