Canadian Amazon Original Documentary Celebrates Iconic Children’s Entertainer Ernie Coombs and His Enduring Legacy
Prime Video’s Canadian Amazon Original documentary, “Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe,” has unveiled its trailer, key art, and the official launch date of October 10. This highly anticipated release will first be showcased at prestigious film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, Calgary International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Atlantic International Film Festival, and Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, before becoming exclusively available on Prime Video.
The documentary delves into the life and career of the beloved Canadian children’s entertainer, Ernie Coombs, fondly recognized as Mr. Dressup by millions of fans. Through interviews with prominent Canadians whose lives were touched by Mr. Dressup’s kindness and creativity, such as Eric McCormack, Graham Greene, the Barenaked Ladies, Jonathan Torrens, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Andrew Phung, Bruce McCulloch, Scott Thompson, Bif Naked, Peter Mansbridge, Yannick Bisson, and Michael J. Fox, “Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe” uncovers the untold stories and unique history behind this treasured Canadian legacy.
This feature-length documentary narrates the origins and evolution of Canada’s beloved children’s show, “Mr. Dressup,” which left an enduring legacy of kindness, patience, inclusiveness, and creativity through 4,000 episodes spanning 29 years on CBC. With never-before-seen footage and interviews, the film sheds light on Ernie Coombs’ dual passions: captivating others with childlike wonder and kindness, and his unwavering love for his family, who provided the essential support and were his biggest fans. From his early collaboration with Fred Rogers to his remarkable creative partnership with puppeteer Judith Lawrence (the voice and creator of Casey and Finnegan), the struggles to secure funding for the iconic series, and his second act of touring college campuses, the documentary explores the highs and lows of the creative force that played a pivotal role in nurturing Canadian children for more than four decades.
The production of the documentary is a collaboration between marblemedia, Hawkeye Pictures, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), with financial support from the Shaw Rocket Fund, the Ontario Creates Film Fund, and the Rogers Documentary Fund. It is produced by Mark Bishop, Matt Hornburg, and Aeschylus Poulos, with direction by Rob McCallum (known for “Power of Grayskull: The Definitive History of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” and “Missing Mom”) and written by McCallum and Jordan Christopher Morris. International sales are handled by Distribution360 (D360).
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This addition to the Prime membership further enriches the entertainment offerings for Prime members in Canada, who can enjoy a wide range of benefits for just $9.99/month or the best value of $99.99/year, including savings, convenience, and a plethora of content.
