The Boy in Blue

Nicolas Cage stars as real-life competitive rower Ned Hanlan, who at the turn of the century was Canada's foremost sculling champ. A wild, uncontrollable youth, Hanlan is "adopted" by a gambler named Bill (David Naughton), who promotes the boy on the sculling circuit for his own monetary gain. Ruthless businessman Knox (Christopher Plummer) assumes control of Hanlan's career, but when Ned discovers just how brutal Knox can be, he casts his lot with the first honest man he's met, inventor-speculator Walter (Sean Sullivan). Hanlan's professional success is capped by marriage to Margaret (Cynthia Dale), Knox's niece.