Kes (1969)

Director:

Ken Loach

Writers:

Barry Hines (book)
Barry Hines (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 June 1970 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

They beat him. They deprived him. They ridiculed him. They broke his heart. But they couldn't break his spirit.

Plot:

A young, English working-class boy spends his free time caring for and training his pet falcon.

Plot Keywords:

Boy | Falcon | Teacher | School | Miner

Awards:

Won 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

David Bradley	...	Billy
Freddie Fletcher	...	Jud
Lynne Perrie	...	Mrs. Casper
Colin Welland	...	Mr. Farthing
Brian Glover	...	Mr. Sugden
Bob Bowes	...	Mr. Gryce
Bernard Atha	...	Youth Employment Officer
Laurence Bould
Joey Kaye	...	Comedian at Pub
Ted Carroll
Robert Naylor	...	MacDowell
Agnes Drumgoon
George Speed	...	Billy's Friend
Desmond Guthrie
Zoe Sutherland	...	Librarian
The 4D Jones
Eric Bolderson	...	Farmer
Joe Miller	...	Reg, Mother's Friend
Beryl Carroll
Julie Shakespeare
Bill Dean	...	Fish and Chip Shop Man (as Billy Dean)
Geoffrey Banks	...	Mathematics Teacher
John Grayson
Duggie Brown	...	Milkman
Trevor Hesketh	...	Mr Crossley
Stephen Crossland	...	Billy's Friend
Harry Markham	...	Newsagent
David Glover	...	Tibbutt
Frank Norton	...	Billy's Friend
Martin Harley	...	Billy's Friend
Leslie Stringer

Directed by
Ken Loach		(as Kenneth Loach)

Writing credits
Barry Hines		(book "A Kestrel For A Knave")
Barry Hines		(adaptation) and
Ken Loach		(adaptation) (as Kenneth Loach) and
Tony Garnett		(adaptation)

Produced by
Tony Garnett	....	producer

Original Music by
John Cameron

Cinematography by
Chris Menges		(photography)

Film Editing by
Roy Watts

Art Direction by
William McCrow

Production Management
David Griffith	....	production supervisor (as David Griffiths)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Keith Evans	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound recordist (as Gerry Humphries)
Tony Jackson	....	sound recordist
Peter Pierce	....	dubbing editor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Daphne Dare	....	wardrobe

Music Department
John Cameron	....	conductor

Other crew
Peter Allchorne	....	filmmaker
Michael Barnett	....	filmmaker
Harry Bell	....	filmmaker
Dave Clarke	....	filmmaker (as David Clarke)
Harry Daly	....	filmmaker
Jim Duffy	....	filmmaker
Michael English	....	filmmaker
Arthur Evans	....	filmmaker
Penny Eyles	....	continuity
Jane Harris	....	filmmaker
Richard Hines	....	filmmaker
Paddy Holman	....	filmmaker
Sean Hudson	....	filmmaker
Terry Lewis	....	filmmaker
John Matthews	....	filmmaker
Robert Matthews	....	filmmaker
Mike McDuffie	....	filmmaker
Mick Messenger	....	filmmaker
Ray Orton	....	filmmaker
Bert Payne	....	filmmaker
Eddie Price	....	filmmaker
Edward Riley	....	filmmaker
Anne Robinson	....	filmmaker
Franco Rosso	....	filmmaker
Fred Ruff	....	filmmaker
Nicola Webber	....	filmmaker
Eric Wicks	....	filmmaker
John Williams	....	filmmaker
Tony Woodcock	....	filmmaker

Production Companies

• Kestrel Films Ltd.
• Woodfall Film Productions

Distributors

• BFI Films (1999) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• United Artists Corporation (1970) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1987) (UK) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Camera Effects (titles)

Other Companies

• Barnsley Eduction Authority  special thanks
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (as Lee Electrics)
• Twickenham Film Studios  sound recorded at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, nudity and some teen smoking

Runtime:

110 min | Netherlands:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:PG | Germany:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | UK:U (original rating) | USA:GP (original rating) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Athersley South, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Kestrel Films Ltd.

Trivia:

One of the Kestrels used in the film belonged to Robert Nairac, the Undercover soldier murdered by the IRA in 1977. Nairac was at College at the time when he allowed the film to 'borrow' his kestrel.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the football match, Jim is selected to play for Sugden's team but ends up protesting about the allowed goal his captain, Mr Sugden, scores.

Quotes:

Billy:[training his falcon] C'mon Kes!
[whistling]
Billy:C'mon Kes!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Camera Buff (1979)

Soundtrack:

The Marrow Song (Oh! What A Beauty)

Manchester United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2

The beauty of this film lies in the simplicity and purity of its message. If you want to get along, especially in a Northern English mining town in the 60's, do not ever hope for anything better. If you do, the world's gonna come and kick you in the teeth. Discuss.

Billy Casper has an empty life. In trouble with the police for theft, he shares a bed with his brother (a discontent miner willing to take out his frustrations on just about anyone nearby), goes to a school with some dispiriting and brutally repressive teachers, and has nothing to look forward to but the day when he to descends into Hades to work the coalface.

Until Kes comes along. Kes is a kestrel that Billy rears and trains. Kes soars where Billy can only dream. Kes is hope.

Ken Loach is the master of social commentary and I think this is probably his best film. This film embodies what it means to be working class in all the best traditional ways. You work, you do not have ambition, you are surrounded by people who have accepted their lot in life, you cannot hope for better, you won't be allowed to hope for better. If that sounds brutal, it is and so is this film. You aren't told right and wrong, you are told what is. It is thrust in your face for you to deal with.

The best thing about this film are all the characters that surround Billy. All have had all spirit hammered out of them at an early age and are damned if any one else is going to have any. The teachers casual and resigned brutality living what remains of their dreams by playing against the boys on the football field and imagining they are Bobby Charlton (and still losing) is perfectly displayed. The shop keeper's humouring of childish enthusiasm because he knows it ain't going to last. And most of all Billy's brother's spiteful depression. His spirit has been freshly crushed and it still rankles.

And amidst this gloom shines Billy and Kes. They soar above this nightmare like Andy Dufrense soars when he plays opera to the Shawshank inmates. Ken is telling us hope is a jewel to be treasured especially when it is surrounded by those wishing it crushed and buried.

You must see this film, especially if you've seen the Shawshank Redemption. Be warned though, there is no redemption here. Don't be afraid of the accents you non-Yorkshire folk. Just think of it as Wallace and Gromit without the cheese.