Writing

Mordecai Richler

Born January 27, 1931 · Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Died July 3, 2001 · aged 70

Mordecai Richler, CC (January 27, 1931 – July 3, 2001) was a Canadian author, screenwriter and essayist who shaped literature for nearly 50 years. A leading critic called him "the great shining star of his Canadian literary generation" and a pivotal figure in the country's history. His notable works include "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz," "St. Urbain’s Horseman," "Solomon Gursky Was Here," …

Known For

Fun with Dick and JaneFun with Dick and Jane · 1977
Fun with Dick and Jane
6.61977
MovieComedyCrime
When an upwardly mobile couple find themselves unemployed and in debt, they turn to armed robbery in desperation.
Barney's VersionBarney's Version · 2010
Barney's Version
7.02010
MovieComedyDrama
The picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.
Room at the TopRoom at the Top · 1958
Room at the Top
6.91958
MovieDramaRomance
An ambitious young accountant schemes to wed a wealthy factory owner's daughter, despite falling in love with a married older woman.
Tiara TahitiTiara Tahiti · 1962
Tiara Tahiti
6.21962
MovieComedyDrama
James Mason and John Mills star in this comedy-drama about a tough colonel and a refined captain who clashed during the war, and continue their personal battle in peace-time Tahiti.
No Love for JohnnieNo Love for Johnnie · 1961
No Love for Johnnie
6.71961
MovieDrama
Johnnie Byrne is a member of the British Parliament. In his 40s, he's feeling frustrated with his life and his personal as well as professional problems tower up over him. His desires to win the next election are endangered by his constant looking for love and he is faced with the choice of giving up a career in politics or giving up the woman he loves.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy KravitzThe Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz · 1974
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
6.01974
MovieDramaComedy
The younger son of a working-class Jewish family in Montreal, Duddy Kravitz yearns to make a name for himself in society. This film chronicles his short and dubious rise to power, as well as his changing relationships with family and friends. Along the way the film explores the themes of anti-semitism and the responsibilities which come with adulthood.
St. Urbain's HorsemanSt. Urbain's Horseman · 2007
St. Urbain's Horseman
2007
MovieDrama
Based on the novel by Mordechai Richler - Winner of the 1971 Governor General's Award - this is the story of Jake, a film director of modest success and a man in disgrace. His alter ego, his cousin Joey - Nazi-hunter, adventurer, hero of the Spanish Civil War - is the avenging horseman of Jake's impotent dreams.
Life at the TopLife at the Top · 1965
Life at the Top
5.91965
MovieDrama
Successful businessman Joe Lampton is married to the wealthy Susan, has two children, and lives in the mill town of Warley in northern England. But his career seems to have plateaued, leaving him disillusioned. This feeling is only exacerbated when he discovers his wife's infidelity with local man Mark. So he takes up with attractive TV host Norah and moves with her to London, aiming to reignite the fire that drove him to the top.

Movies

Fun with Dick and JaneFun with Dick and Jane · 1977
Fun with Dick and Jane
6.61977
MovieComedyCrime
When an upwardly mobile couple find themselves unemployed and in debt, they turn to armed robbery in desperation.
Barney's VersionBarney's Version · 2010
Barney's Version
7.02010
MovieComedyDrama
The picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.
Room at the TopRoom at the Top · 1958
Room at the Top
6.91958
MovieDramaRomance
An ambitious young accountant schemes to wed a wealthy factory owner's daughter, despite falling in love with a married older woman.
Tiara TahitiTiara Tahiti · 1962
Tiara Tahiti
6.21962
MovieComedyDrama
James Mason and John Mills star in this comedy-drama about a tough colonel and a refined captain who clashed during the war, and continue their personal battle in peace-time Tahiti.
No Love for JohnnieNo Love for Johnnie · 1961
No Love for Johnnie
6.71961
MovieDrama
Johnnie Byrne is a member of the British Parliament. In his 40s, he's feeling frustrated with his life and his personal as well as professional problems tower up over him. His desires to win the next election are endangered by his constant looking for love and he is faced with the choice of giving up a career in politics or giving up the woman he loves.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy KravitzThe Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz · 1974
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
6.01974
MovieDramaComedy
The younger son of a working-class Jewish family in Montreal, Duddy Kravitz yearns to make a name for himself in society. This film chronicles his short and dubious rise to power, as well as his changing relationships with family and friends. Along the way the film explores the themes of anti-semitism and the responsibilities which come with adulthood.
St. Urbain's HorsemanSt. Urbain's Horseman · 2007
St. Urbain's Horseman
2007
MovieDrama
Based on the novel by Mordechai Richler - Winner of the 1971 Governor General's Award - this is the story of Jake, a film director of modest success and a man in disgrace. His alter ego, his cousin Joey - Nazi-hunter, adventurer, hero of the Spanish Civil War - is the avenging horseman of Jake's impotent dreams.
Life at the TopLife at the Top · 1965
Life at the Top
5.91965
MovieDrama
Successful businessman Joe Lampton is married to the wealthy Susan, has two children, and lives in the mill town of Warley in northern England. But his career seems to have plateaued, leaving him disillusioned. This feeling is only exacerbated when he discovers his wife's infidelity with local man Mark. So he takes up with attractive TV host Norah and moves with her to London, aiming to reignite the fire that drove him to the top.
Joshua Then and NowJoshua Then and Now · 1985
Joshua Then and Now
5.41985
MovieDramaTV Movie
Based on a novel by Mordecai Richler, allegedly his autobiography, it tells the story of a Jewish writer, from his life as a young boy in Montreal to his more complicated grown-up life.
Dearth of a SalesmanDearth of a Salesman · 1957
Dearth of a Salesman
1957
MovieComedy
Comedy short starring Peter Sellers. Previously thought lost, but discovered in a skip outside Park Lane Films.
The Wild and the WillingThe Wild and the Willing · 1962
The Wild and the Willing
6.01962
MovieRomanceDrama
Harry Brown is a somewhat rough and wild university student, who has the ability to win friends, especially the underdogs like Phil who doesn't play 'rugger' and can't sink a whole pint of beer, and African student Reggie. He also has a way with the girls....
Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded FangJacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang · 1999
Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang
4.11999
MovieFamilyFantasy
Jacob Two Two Meets The Hooded Fang is about a young boy who strives to be heard. He is nicknamed "Two-Two" for having to say things twice to be heard. One day, he decided to buy the groceries for his parents. There is a misunderstanding by the clerk, so Jacob finds himself in court. He is sentenced Two Years, Two months, two weeks, two minutes and five seconds in the Children's Prison hundreds of miles away from civilization. It is a dark, dirty dungeon-like place where the children work and are kept in cells. There are the three head characters, Master Fish, a fish/human, Mistress Fowl, a bird like woman and the Hooded Fang himself. They also have green henchmen who spray "slime resistors" at the children to prevent them escaping. Two child agents try to help him out, as the children also come up with a plan for escape.
The StreetThe Street · 1977
The Street
5.91977
MovieComedyAnimation
This film deals with a Jewish family in Montreal, Canada as they care for a dying grandmother and the young boy who is impatient to get the room he was promised as soon as she kicks the bucket.
Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded FangJacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang · 1978
Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang
8.01978
MovieFantasyFamily
Nobody ever listens to Jacob, so he always has to repeat himself. A trip to the grocery store leads to a misunderstanding and Jacob falls asleep hiding in a park. When he wakes up, he discovers that he is in trouble for insulting the store clerk. He is sent to a prison for children that is located on Slimer's Island and is run by the Hooded Fang, an ex-wrestler who outwardly hates children. Meanwhile, Child Power representatives the Intrepid Shapiro and Fearless O'Toole try to find the prison's hidden location to help free the children.
The WordsmithThe Wordsmith · 1979
The Wordsmith
9.01979
MovieDrama
Penned by Mordecai Richler and set in wartime Montreal, this touching telefilm stars Saul Rubinek as Mervyn Kaplansky, a young writer from Toronto who boards with a family on St. Urbain Street only to find his aspirations undermined by the colourful yet desperate characters that surround him. Rubinek delivers a very touching performance as the boyish idealistic writer, and he is backed by a strong supporting cast that includes Harvey Atkin, Janet Ward and Peter Boretski.

TV Shows

Jacob Two-TwoJacob Two-Two · 2003
Jacob Two-Two
7.32003
SeriesAnimationComedy
Jacob Two-Two is a Canadian animated TV series based on a trilogy of books written by Mordecai Richler that first aired on Canadian children's channel YTV and aired on the French Canadian VRAK.TV as Jacob Jacob, in Spanish on Telemundo as Jacobo Dos Dos and in Portuguese on Canal Panda from Portugal as Jacob Dois Dois It also aired on ZigZap in the Poland and on Canal Futura from Brazil as 'Jacó Dois Dois'. It was produced by Nelvana; before being put on hiatus in 2005, it has 61 episodes. In the United States, the show aired on qubo, a 24 hour children's television channel in 2006. It also aired on Jetix UK from April 14, 2007 and on CITV in the UK from Spring 2006. The series is set in the Canadian city of Montreal and follows Jacob Two-Two and his friends on their wild adventures, most of which are one-shots that are resolved in a single episode.
Armchair TheatreArmchair Theatre · 1956
Armchair Theatre
6.01956
SeriesDrama
Armchair Theatre is a British television drama anthology series of single plays that ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by Associated British Corporation, and later by Thames Television from mid-1968.