Comfort and Joy (1984)

Radio host Alan Bird witnesses how an ice cream van is attacked and destroyed by an angry competitor. This leads him into the struggle between two Italian families, the Bernardis and the ... See full summary »

Director:

Bill Forsyth

Writer:

Bill Forsyth

Stars:

Bill Paterson, Eleanor David, Clare Grogan

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Paterson	...	Alan
Eleanor David	...	Maddy
Clare Grogan	...	Charlotte (as C. P. Grogan)
Alex Norton	...	Trevor
Patrick Malahide	...	Colin
Rikki Fulton	...	Hilary
Roberto Bernardi	...	Mr. McCool
George Rossi	...	Bruno
Peter Rossi	...	Paolo
Billy McElhaney	...	Renato
Gilly Gilchrist	...	Rufus
Caroline Guthrie	...	Gloria
Ona McCracken	...	Nancy
Elizabeth Sinclair	...	Fiona
Katy Black	...	Sarah

Storyline

Radio host Alan Bird witnesses how an ice cream van is attacked and destroyed by an angry competitor. This leads him into the struggle between two Italian families, the Bernardis and the Rossis, over whose ice cream vans can sell where in Glasgow.

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Plot Keywords:

van | radio | radio dj | ice cream | ice cream man | 

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Taglines:

Have you ever had one of those weeks...

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

10 October 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Conforto E Prazer

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kings Road Entertainment, Lake (Comfort and Joy) Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mark Knopfler, lead singer of Dire Straits, wrote the soundtrack for this film. Lyrics from a previous Dire Straits album "Love Over Gold" are used as dialogue in the film: "I hear the terrible twins came to call on you" is similar to: "I hear the seven deadly sins came to call on you", and "The bigger they are, baby, the harder they fall on you" are both lyrics from the song "It Never Rains". Alan Bird says the words "dire straits" in one of the radio studio scenes shortly after Maddy has left him.

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits, Alan 'Dickie' Bird (Bill Paterson) is heard taping and screwing up a radio commercial.

User Reviews

Not Forsyth's best, but still a charmer

This film's main plot ingredient is ice cream...but until it gets there (10

• 20 minutes in), it's surprisingly bland for a Bill Forsyth movie.

Nevertheless, if you can make it through that beginning, you're in for a treat...maybe not on the order of a pint of Ben and Jerry's, but at least a fudgsicle from the corner mini-mart. It's also an unsung Christmas movie, good to check out if you're tired of seeing It's a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story over and over. Cheerio, folks!