Watch Fire and Ice: The Rocket Richard Riot

Fire and Ice: The Rocket Richard Riot is a Canadian movie, released in the year 2000. The movie is a drama/mystery depicting the events surrounding the controversial suspension of Montreal Canadiens hockey star Maurice "Rocket" Richard during the 1950-51 season, which led to a massive riot that rocked the city of Montreal. The movie is directed by Louis Bélanger and stars Dennis O'Connor, Yvon Roy, and Paul Stewart.

The plot is set in the 1950s, when the world was yet to see the flashy and commercialized version of hockey that we see today. The original six teams of the National Hockey League (NHL) played with the passion that only a sport played for its own sake could inspire. The Canadiens were the star team of the league, and Rocket Richard was their shining star. He was the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a season, and his on-ice performances made him a hero to the Montreal fans.

However, the backdrop of the story is one of social upheaval. Montreal at the time was a city divided by language, with a significant English-speaking minority and a French-speaking majority. The Canadiens were not only the pride of the French-Canadians, but also a symbol of their resistance to English domination. The French-speaking fans saw Richard as the embodiment of their identity.

The movie revolves around the events leading up to the fateful game between the Canadiens and the Boston Bruins on March 13, 1955. The tension between the two teams was high, and the game saw several brawls breaking out. In one such incident, Richard was punched by Bruins player Hal Laycoe, which led to Richard hitting Laycoe with his stick. The resulting injuries to Laycoe led to Richard being given a game misconduct penalty by referee Cliff Thompson.

The penalty did not sit well with the Canadiens fans, who saw it as an English-speaking referee targeting their hero. The authorities compounded the situation by suspending Richard for the remaining games of the season and the playoffs. The suspension infuriated the Canadiens fans, who saw it as a grave injustice to their hero. Protests broke out across the city, and the police had to be called in to contain the crowds.

The movie probes deeper into the issues underlying the riot. It highlights the wide-ranging impact of the suspension on the people of Montreal. The French-Canadians saw it as a conspiracy by the English-speaking establishment to suppress their identity. The English-speaking minority, on the other hand, saw the riot as an expression of French-Canadian extremism. The movie juxtaposes the views of both sides and shows how people from both communities were affected.

The movie's story is seen through the eyes of fictional characters Tommy and Louise, played by Dennis O'Connor and Yvon Roy, respectively. Tommy is a young English-speaking man who is a die-hard Canadiens fan. Louise is a French-Canadian journalist who sees the suspension as a move to suppress the French language in Quebec. The two characters, who are in a romantic relationship, are caught up in the protests and find themselves dealing with the consequences of the riot.

Paul Stewart plays the role of NHL president Clarence Campbell, who is the target of the protesters for upholding Richard's suspension. The movie shows the immense pressure that Campbell was under as he tried to balance the interests of the league and the players while dealing with the political fallout of the incident.

The cinematography of the movie is impressive, as it captures the spirit of the 1950s. From the vintage cars to the period attire, the sets and costumes are spot-on. The hockey scenes are well choreographed, and the actors who play the players are believable on the ice.

The movie is a gripping drama that highlights a significant moment in the history of the NHL and Montreal. It delves into the political and social issues underlying the riots and shows how people from different backgrounds and perspectives were affected. The movie serves as a reminder of the power of sports to galvanize people and of the responsibility of sports bodies to promote fairness and impartiality. Fire and Ice: The Rocket Richard Riot is a movie that will appeal to sports fans and those interested in Canadian history.

Fire and Ice: The Rocket Richard Riot is a 2000 documentary with a runtime of 47 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.