Heart: The Marilyn Bell Story

The story

This made-for-TV bio-pic is about Marilyn Bell, a Canadian teenager who, in 1954, was the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. She won the Toronto Canadian National Exhibition prize after Florence Chadwick, a then-famous American swimmer who was widely expected to win, dropped out in the middle of the race. Half of this heart-warming movie is devoted to the 21 hour swim in which the 16-year old Bell is exhorted by her pushy coach Gus Ryder not to give up.

Cast & crew

Caroline DhavernasMarilyn Bell

Amy SloanJoan

Graeme SomervilleGeorge Bryant

Vlasta VranaGeorge McBlair

Kent McQuaidMyron Peters

Lisa Bronwyn MoorePatsy MacKinnon

Ron WhiteGus Ryder

Claudia BessoFlorence Chadwick

Chip ChuipkaSyd Bell

Jennifer MorehouseGrace Bell

Natasha Tofflemire

Natasha TofflemireKaren Bell

Susan GloverPhyllis Ryder