Riel (film) facts for kids

Riel is a Canadian television movie that came out in 1979. This movie tells the true story of Louis Riel, a very important leader of the Métis people. The Métis are a group of people in Canada with both Indigenous and European backgrounds. The film shows Riel's efforts to protect his community and their way of life during a time of big changes in Canada.

What the Movie is About

The movie Riel focuses on the life and struggles of Louis Riel. He led two important movements to protect the rights of the Métis people. These were the Red River and North-West Rebellions.

• Louis Riel (played by Raymond Cloutier) stood up against the Canadian government. He wanted to make sure the Métis people kept their land and their rights.
• The movie shows the challenges Riel faced as the Canadian government expanded its control. It covers the conflicts and the difficult end of his story in 1885.

Meet the Cast

Many talented actors helped bring the story of Riel to life. Here are some of the main actors and the characters they played:

• Raymond Cloutier as Louis Riel
• Christopher Plummer as Prime Minister John A. Macdonald
• Roger Blay as Gabriel Dumont
• Maury Chaykin as Howard
• Barry Morse as MacTavish
• Leslie Nielsen as Major Crozier
• Dave Thomas as Militia Captain
• William Shatner as The Barker
• Don Harron as Donald Smith
• Chris Wiggins as General Middleton
• John Neville as General Wolseley
• Lloyd Bochner as Dr. Schultz
• James Bradford as Captain Bra
• Brenda Donohue as Mrs. Schultz
• Marcel Sabourin as Joseph-Noël Ritchot
• Gary Reineke as Thomas Scott
• Fern Henry as Maguerite Riel
• Tony Robinow as Lemieux

How the Movie Was Made

The movie Riel was filmed in a few different locations.

• A lot of the filming happened at Cinespace Film Studios in Kleinburg, Ontario. This is a place where many movies and TV shows are made.
• Some extra scenes were also filmed in Ottawa, Ontario, which is Canada's capital city.
• The people making the movie asked local community members to help out. They played extra roles in the background and even did some stunt riding. People like Jim Naish, who was good at shooting and riding, got to be part of the film!