Cast
Zachary Bennett - Lukas Bienmann
Gema Zamprogna - Ursula von Knabig
Christian Kohlund - Karl Bienmann
Anja Kruse - Maria Beinmann
Dietmar Schonherr - Friedrich Brunneck
Hannes Jaenicke - Otto von Lebrecht
Jan Rubes - Hausierer Nathan
Dominique Sanda - Christina von Knabig
Gunther Maria Halmer - Heinrich von Knabig
Jan Rubs - Nathan
Damon Redfren - Dietrich von Brabent
Volker Lechtenbrink - Biener Jurgen
Andrew Bednarski - Helmut
Gavin Magrath - Mathias
Toby Proctor - Franz
Jiri Dolanski - Hans
Ondrej Rak - Jan
Jan Nemejovsky - Piet
Katarina Krizanova - Gerda
Katarina Krizanova - Charlotte von Brabent
Suzanna Jeserka - Johanna von Brabent
Miroslav Donutil - Albert
Vlado Durdik - Baron Lyczinsky
Vieslav Krystan - Sailor
Borek Dlouhy - Man #1
Jiri Hruska - Man #2
Peter Debnar - Magistrate
Vladimir Oktavec - Soldier #1
Vladimir Kudla - Soldier #2
Otta Hanus - Soldier #3
Chris Wiggins - Captain Harris
John Gilbert - Captain Hebert
Dennis Strong - Virgil Johnson
David Fox - Mr. Passlinger
John Borgeois - Tully
John Neville - Professor Billby
Dawn Greenhalgh - Miss Evangeline/p>
Devon Codrington - Tomorrow
Joseph Matheson - Officer #1
Stephen Hunter - Port Official
Bob Piedalue - Concierge
James Innes - Constable Marcel
Ralph Small - Tully's Man #1
Ron Payne - Soldier
Tantoo Cardinal - Franoise
Albert Millaire - Renauld
Michael Mahonen - Ben Davis
Carol Greyetes - Forest Beautiful
Richard Maracle - Caughnawaga Chief
Arnie General - Caghnawaga Rider
Trian Conductor - Robert McKenna
Michelle St. John - White Feather
R.H. Thomson - Priest
Eric Schweig - Black Thunder
Victor Ertmanis - Sam Bonner
American Trader - James Kidnie
Mardy Lucier-Porte - Sioux #1
Chick Roberts - Man #2
Frances Bay - Annie Pyle
Gordon Tootoosis - Cree Chief
Peter Wildman - Clayton Pyle
Wayne Robson - Cobble Slade
Vern Harper - Cree's Shaman #1
Denis Lacrois - Cree's Shaman #2
Michael Stevens - Trading Post Owner
Back of DVD
A classical adventure story in the genre of David Copperfield and Kidnapped, By Way of the Stars begins in the 19th century Prussia where youn Lukas (Zachary Bennett) is thrown into turmoil when his mother (Anja Kruse) dies in childbirth, and his grandfather (Dietmar Schonherr) returns to Canada in anger, blaming Lukas's father (Christian Kohlund) for the mother's death.
Lukas's problems escalate when he witnesses a murder by the nobleman count Otto von Lebrecht (Hannes Jaenicke); at the same time his father, Karl, is unjustly accused of a crime and imprisoned. His life shattered, Lukas is indentured as a servant in the castle of the Baron von Knabig (Gunther Maria Halmer), where he encounters Ursula (Gema Zamprogna), the haughty little Baroness; her kind and generous mother (Dominique Sanda); and her evil Uncle Otto, the man responsible for his father's imprisonment.
Lukas orchestrates his father's prison escape with the help of Nathan the Peddler (Jane Rubes), but circumstances prevent them from feeling together.
Events sweep our characters on a disastrous voyage across the ocean to the New World, where Lukas and Ursula survive an outbreak of smallpox; escape a kidnapping attempt by a pair of con artists; and elude Otto by bracing treacherous river rapids, only to find themselves lost in the Canadian wilderness.
Against the backdrop of post-Civil War, we inter-cut the father's adventures in America. His desire to reunite with his son leads Karl to help a young black boy flee north to Canada. The tragic end to this venture brings Karl to his father-in-law, willing to do anything the grandfather asks as long as Lukas is brought to the New World.
Spoilers Below!
Avonlea Vignettes Review
By Way of the Stars begins in Prussia, 1865. Lukas Biemann is the son of a painter, Karl, who is struggling to make ends meet. Lukas's maternal grandfather, who leaves near Niagara Falls, visits and intends to stay until after his daughter has her child. Friedrich, the grandfather, and Karl do not get along and during one of their arguments a worn-out Maria goes into early labor. Sadly, both Maria and the baby die.
Friedrich and Karl then begin to argue over Lukas. Grandfather wants to take Lukas back to The Canadas, but Karl will not agree. Tired of hearing the arguing Lukas runs to his mother's grave. While at the grave Lukas hears a horse and he sneaks into the woods to see what happening. Lukas witnesses Count Otto von Lebrecht attempt to give a nobleman earrings to pay off a debt. The nobleman refuses to take the earrings as he recognizes the earrings to be Countess von Knebig's. This angers Otto and Otto kills the man.
Lukas, who witnesses the murder, waits for Otto to leave and then rushes to the nobleman and cries for help. Otto hears Lukas and chases after Lukas. Lukas escapes but only to be later caught by Otto who threatens to kill Lukas and Karl if Lukas tells.
Things continue to go awry for Lukas. His father is unjustly accused of stealing the Countess's earrings and is thrown into jail. The Countess, who suspects that something is amiss allows Lukas to stay at her home and is allowed to take care of the horses.
Lukas proves himself a worthy horseman when he saves Otto's life from the frisky Archemile. Unfortunately, Otto is still out for Lukas's blood and after an unsuccessful attempt to murder Lukas Otto badly injures Archemile.
Upon Lukas's insistence the Baron decides to let the horse live. Lukas's restoring Archemile gains Lukas the trust and admiration of the Baron's daughter, Ursula.
In the meantime Lukas has also been working with an old peddler in trying to find a way to help his father escape the prison. Eventually Lukas and Nathan able to help Karl escape from prison and the two are supposed to go to Danzig to sail to The Canadas.
Due to Otto's greed and desire to do in Lukas, Otto inadvertently thwarts Lukas's escape and delays Lukas long enough so that he misses the boat his father takes.
While on the wharf Lukas is spotted by Ursula von Knobig, the Countess's daughter, and Otto begins to chase after Lukas. Lukas escapes by hiding in a box that is then loaded onto a ship. Lukas is quickly found and is dragged to see the captian, who is talking to the Countess.
The Countess realizes that something is amiss and takes Lukas into a cabin and is able to get Lukas to tell her what is troubling him. Lukas reveals what her brother has done and the Countess then goes and confronts Otto. Otto feigns innocence but his sister is no longer blinded and sees Otto for who he is.
While on the ship the steerage passengers begin to break out with smallpox. The Countess defies the quarantine and goes into steerage to help care for the ill. Unfortunately the Countess succumbs to the disease.
The ship reaches New York and Ursula is frightened as she overheard her mother talking to Otto and fears that once she and Lukas step onto shore that Otto will kill Lukas. Lukas and Ursula jump the ship, but Otto sees them and chases after them in a rowboat. The two escape and have various misadventures until they reach Friedrech's abode.
Lukas asks his grandfather if his father has arrived. Friedrich says yes, but lies and says that Karl has entrusted Lukas into his care. Lukas is heart-broken that his father doesn't want him and plans to run off during the night.
Ursula catches Lukas packing and attempts to talk him out of running away. She is unsuccessful, but as a friend is unwilling to let Lukas go by himself.
The two once again have many misadventures and after quite a bit of turmoil both Lukas and Ursula are once again reunited with their father's.
My Thoughts
The movie is enjoyable to watch, though at times the plot can be a rather ludicrous. It's fun seeing Road to Avonlea actors with some playing very different roles and others playing very similar roles. Because the dvd has been edited the movie seems to jump around quite a bit, sometimes with no explination as to how someone was able to get from point A to point B.
Note: By Way of the Stars has coughfinallycough been released as its original form!
It would be fun to edit this movie and insert something the actor said in Road to Avonlea. For example, after Ben kisses Ursula it would be amusing to insert his saying, "Better than kissin' my dog!" Also when Lukas is running away one could hear Ursula saying, "Felix, close your mouth and listen."
Transcript
The transcript is of entire movie, and not the chopped-up first release of the movie.Many thanks to HistoryMiner for going through and marking the edited scenese as well as helping me figure out some of the question marks.
Part One ~ Part Two ~ Part Three ~ Part Four ~ Part Five ~ Part Six
Other Places of Interest
Plot Summary: This link takes one to a plot summary that includes a thorough review that goes through the entire movie, including parts that were not included on the dvd.
Interview with Manfred Guthe: "MG By Way of the Stars was a German co-production, and I believe the version they showed on German television was eight hours and the version shown over here was cut down substantially. In the North American version a lot of the story threads were lost. Allan had directed a number of episodes of Avonlea, and By Way of the Stars came at the end of the third season of that show. Kevin [Sullivan] put the deal together with the Germans, and he used some of the actors from Avonlea in the miniseries [Zachary Bennett and Gema Zamprogna]. We shot a lot of it in Czechoslovakia, and if I remember correctly we spent three-and-a-half months there. And then we came back and shot another three-and-a-half months here. It's the story of two kids in the 1800s who come from Europe to Canada because they have relatives here, and have all sorts of adventures until they arrive safely. It was a family drama that takes you from the castles and old world of Europe, across the Atlantic to Canada, and then from the eastern cities of Canada through Indian territory, etc. It was a very difficult shoot. Translators were needed for everything. It wasn't easy in Czechoslovakia in those days, not like it is today with all the American films going there to shoot. "
3.26.12