Mayerthorpe, also known as Menace or To Serve and Protect: Tragedy at Mayerthorpe, is a Canadian dramatic television film which was directed by Ken Girotti and broadcast by CTV in 2008.Dawn Walton, "Mayerthorpe movie heartbreaking for relatives". The Globe and Mail, February 6, 2008. The film is a dramatization of the Mayerthorpe tragedy of 2005, in which four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were shot and killed while executing a search warrant against an illegal marijuana growing operation on the Mayerthorpe, Alberta, farm of James Roszko.Ryan Cormier, "Mayerthorpe massacre comes to small screen". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, February 9, 2008.
The film stars Brian Markinson as Roszko, and Henry Czerny as Cpl. Alex Stanton, a fictional character who was inserted into the story to provide a narrative centre.Bill Harris, "'Huge sense of loss'". Ottawa Sun, February 10, 2008. Its dramatic focus laid the blame squarely on Canada's justice system for inadequacies in dealing with repeat criminal offenders due to Roszko's prior criminal record.Andrew Chung, "Taking aim at the courts; Tonight's CTV film about Mayerthorpe gives Mounties a pass". Toronto Star, February 10, 2008.
The cast also included Ben Cotton, Ty Olsson, Adam MacDonald and Gord Rand as the murdered officers Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol, Peter Schiemann and Anthony Gordon, Diane Ladd as Roszko's mother, and Waneta Storms, Landon Liboiron, Shaun Johnston, Peter MacNeill and Dan Petronijevic in supporting roles.
It was shot in Alberta, in and around the towns of Cochrane and Irricana. The families of the slain officers were given a private advance screening of the film.Alexandra Burroughs, "Emotions drove Mayerthorpe; Filmmakers, families shared tears". Calgary Herald, February 9, 2008.
The film was broadcast by CTV on February 10, 2008.
Awards
+AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNomineesResultReferenceGemini AwardsNovember 28, 2008 Best Television Movie Jordy Randall, Tom Cox, Jon Slan Alex Strachan, "Mayerthorpe among Calgary's TV winners". Calgary Herald, October 23, 2008. Best Actor in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries Henry Czerny Alex Strachan, "Mayerthorpe gets seven Gemini nods; CTV's retelling of RCMP tragedy up for best TV movie". Edmonton Journal, August 27, 2008. Brian Markinson Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Ken Girotti Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries Andrew Wreggitt Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Fiction Program or Series John Blackie Best Achievement in Casting Rhonda Fisekci, Susan Forrest Alberta Film and Television Awards 2008 Best Made-for-TV Movie or Miniseries Mayerthorpe Elizabeth Withey, "Mayerthorpe docudrama takes three Rosies at award show; Edmonton's NFB office wins four, including two for The Dogwalker". Edmonton Journal, April 27, 2008. Best Performance by an Alberta Actor Landon Liboiron Best Screenwriter, Drama Andrew Wreggitt Directors Guild of Canada 2008 Best Direction in a Television Movie or Miniseries Ken Girotti "Directors Guild honours Cronenberg". Victoria Times-Colonist, November 9, 2008. Best Picture Editing in a Television Movie or Mini-Series Michele Conroy Etan Vlessing, "Cronenberg, Podeswa lead DGC noms". Playback, August 18, 2008. Best Production Design in a Television Movie or Mini-Series John Blackie Writers Guild of Canada 2009 WGC Screenwriting Award Andrew Wreggitt "Screenwriters honoured at annual ceremony". Nanaimo Daily News, April 23, 2009.
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