Midnight Movie (TV 1994)

American producer James Boyce and his airhead wife Amber rent an English country mansion where the British horror flick "Smoke Rings" was filmed twenty years previous. Amber's mother was ... See full summary »

Director:

Renny Rye

Writers:

Rosalind Ashe (novel), Dennis Potter (screenplay)

Stars:

Jim Carter, Louise Germaine, Brian Dennehy

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jim Carter	...	Henry Harris
Louise Germaine	...	Amber Boyce / Mandy Mason
Brian Dennehy	...	James Boyce
Colin Salmon	...	Bob Maclean
Steven Mackintosh	...	Bertie
Anna Cropper	...	Mrs. Mofrey
David Curtiz	...	Vic
Lucinda Clare	...	Ann Maclean (as Lucinda Galloway)
Gerard Horan	...	Policeman
Anthony Pedley	...	Inspector
Michael Gardiner	...	Sergeant
Michael Poole	...	Doctor
Robert Putt	...	Cabbie
Georgine Anderson	...	Old Lady
John Cater	...	Old Man

Storyline

American producer James Boyce and his airhead wife Amber rent an English country mansion where the British horror flick "Smoke Rings" was filmed twenty years previous. Amber's mother was model-actress Mandy Mason, who died mysteriously after her appearance in "Smoke Rings." The property rental to Boyce was arranged by middle-aged lawyer Henry Harris, who continues to live with his lovesick memories of the late actress. Boyce invites Harris to dinner, and "Smoke Rings" airs on TV that same evening. During the following days, Harris observes Amber's schizophrenic behavior veering parallel to events once experienced by her mother and also to the movie's plotline.

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Plot Keywords:

england | husband wife relationship | female nudity | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 1994 (UK)

Also Known As:

Anéis de Fumo

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Whistling Gypsy Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Underwhelming

One of Dennis Potter's final pieces, this is sadly a mediocre entry in his writing CV. Lots of his hallmarks are here, a blurring of fantasy and reality, a story about the way people can be imprisoned by their past and boiling desires held in check by English restraint until they grow poisonous. But ultimately the film has little more to say than that middle aged single men are often sexually frustrated. A good cast and glossy direction lend the film more weight than it really deserves. Strangely the film feels more like another writer trying to 'do a Potter' than a work by the man himself.