Both stars played their unsympathetic roles against type - it was Lancaster""s first villainous role as J.The disco-dance blockbuster film, costing about $3 million, made almost $237 million for Paramount Studios.[Note: The protracted series of sequences from here on all occurred on the same day - somewhat improbable:Marie""s Boat Trip to the Village with BonifaceThe Visit to the Storekeeper""s Shop, Where She Was Robbed by Boniface, and Suffered Fearful HallucinationsMarie""s Visit to the Saloon To Audition For WorkMeeting the Mountie and Being Interviewed in His OfficeTheir Canoe Trip to the "Totem Tom Tom" Festival CeremonyTheir Return to the VillageFurther Serenades Outside Her Hotel RoomMarie""s Departure From the Village""s Wharf With Boniface]At a village general store at the remote outpost where she was buying warmer clothes from the storekeeper (Lucien Littlefield) - for a 10-day trip further north on horseback for fishing - the dishonest Boniface absconded with her small purse when she became distracted.Thinking that he can hustle alone at a local bar and pool hall, he is immediately recognized as Eddie Felson - an expert: "Oh man, you""re way out of our league.It became one of the "must-see" films of the Thanksgiving holiday season (and often aired immediately following he Macy""s parade), by touching upon uplifting themes and elements, such as redemption, charity or fellowship among people, and evoking he Christmas spirit of faith, generosity and hope rather than commercialism and competition.