This is the only movie I have ever purchased. There are so many awesome things about this movie. The plot is unusual. The characters are originals. The music by the Chieftains is rich and adds so much to the movie itself. The photography of the Canadian countryside is outstanding. Be sure to notice the little boy who wants an orange. You will see him again. I love the Canadian small town settings. Best of all is just watching Richard Farnsworth. His character is so appealing. Mr Farnsworth is so natural that he doesn't appear to be acting at all. I just love this movie. It is my all time favorite. The combination of the unusual characters, the time and place, the appealing Mr. Farnsworth, along with music by the Chieftains creates a very special movie.

When Richard Farnsworth died a few years ago, among the films cited were his Oscar-nominated roles in Comes a Horseman and The Straight Story, and his supporting roles in hits like The Natural and Misery. The Grey Fox rarely got a mention which is a shame because it's one of Mr. Farnsworth's most compelling as we follow his portrayal of the real-life stagecoach robber Bill Miner after being freed from jail and his attempts in living a straight life with his sister and her husband. But times have changed the last 33 years and so in the early 20th century, Miner goes back to his old habits and robs trains (he got the inspiration watching The Great Train Robbery),then poses as George Edwards in a British Columbia town with his cohorts in tow. He also later falls for a feminist who takes pictures...I'll stop there and say while Miner does bad things, he gets some admiration for the gentlemanly way he does them, hence his "gentleman bandit" moniker. If you're interested in western rarities and are a fan of Farnsworth, I highly recommend The Grey Fox.

Bill Miner (Richard Farnsworth) is a 19th century stagecoach robber known as The Gentleman Bandit. After 33 years in San Quentin, he is released in 1901 into the modern world. He tries to go straight but can't escape his own nature. After watching 'The Great Train Robbery', he starts robbing trains and ends up in Canada where he falls in love with photographer Kate Flynn (Jackie Burroughs).

It's a slow leisurely crime spree noted for Farnsworth's congenial nature. The story is a little disjointed. I'd like a smoother flow but the movie is more interested in its easy tone. It ends in a rather fun enjoyable third act. It could have been improved with a better sidekick. A bit of fictionalization could give him an admiring young fan as his companion in crime. That would be a better gang than his actual gang. At last, the movie insists on using the real characters.