Fever Pitch (1997)

Director:

David Evans

Writers:

Nick Hornby (book)
Nick Hornby (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 April 1997 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

Life gets complicated when you love one woman and worship eleven men

Plot:

A romantic comedy about a man, a woman and a football team. Based on Nick Hornby's best selling autobiographical novel...

Plot Keywords:

Arsenal | Teacher | Jogging | Pun In Title | England

Cast

Luke Aikman	...	Young Paul
Bea Guard	...	Paul's Sister
Neil Pearson	...	Paul's Dad
Ruth Gemmell	...	Sarah Hughes
Colin Firth	...	Paul Ashworth
Richard Claxton	...	Robert Parker
Ken Stott	...	Ted, the Headmaster
Holly Aird	...	Jo
Mark Strong	...	Steve
Lorraine Ashbourne	...	Paul's Mum
Peter Quince	...	Chip Shop: Frank
Charles Cork	...	Rex
Bob Curtiss	...	Stan
Philip Bond	...	Turnstile Operator
Scott Baker	...	Man Behind
Annette Ekblom	...	Robert's Mother
Jackie Hyffes	...	Pupil's Mom
Joe Reddington	...	Pupil's Dad
Graham Cull	...	Mr. Johnson
Mike Ingham	...	Radio Sports Commentator
Sam Dunbar Banks	...	Young Paul's Mate
Leigh Funnelle	...	Woman At Reading
David Hounslow	...	Man at Reading
Simon Bowen	...	Hillsborough Man
Silas Carson	...	Indian Waiter
Geoffrey Drew	...	House Owner
Stephen Rea	...	Ray, the Governor
Liam Stapleton	...	2nd Governor
Emily Conway	...	Sasha
Tony Longhurst	...	Taxi Driver
Shuli Morris-Evans	...	Party Baby
Supporters of Arsenal F.C.	...	Themselves
The Pupils of Fortismere School	...	Themselves
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mickey Ambrose	...	Referee (uncredited)
Gary Condes	...	Arsenal Fan (uncredited)
Nick Hornby	...	School Football Coach (uncredited)
Steve McMahon	...	Liverpool player, 1989 (archive footage) (uncredited)
Brian Moore	...	Football Commentator (uncredited)
David Pleat	...	Football Commentator (uncredited)
Ian Rush	...	Liverpool player, 1989 (archive footage) (uncredited)
David Speed	...	Paul's Mate on the Stands (uncredited)
Ian St. John	...	Himself - TV show host (archive footage) (uncredited)
Elton Welsby	...	Football Commentator (uncredited)

Directed by
David Evans

Writing credits
Nick Hornby		(book)
Nick Hornby		(screenplay)

Produced by
Nick O'Hagan	....	line producer
Amanda Posey	....	producer
Nik Powell	....	executive producer: Scala Productions
Stephen Woolley	....	executive producer: Scala Productions

Original Music by
Boo Hewerdine
Neil MacColl

Cinematography by
Chris Seager

Film Editing by
Scott Thomas

Casting by
Liora Reich

Production Design by
Michael Carlin

Art Direction by
Karen Wakefield

Costume Design by
Mary-Jane Reyner

Makeup Department
Charmaine Fuller	....	hair stylist
Charmaine Fuller	....	makeup artist
Penny Smith	....	hair stylist
Penny Smith	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Victoria Connell	....	third assistant director
Sara Desmond	....	second assistant director
Richard Walker	....	third assistant director
Mick Ward	....	second assistant director
Richard Whelan	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Emanuel Boumard	....	carpenter
Steve Carter	....	assistant art director
Noel Cowell	....	stand-by props
Jonni Fitzgerald	....	art department assistant
Jim Frankham	....	carpenter
Andrew Garnett	....	scenic artist
Simon Hutchinson	....	painter
Douglas Ingram	....	storyboard artist
Roger Kiff	....	carpenter
Mike Power	....	property master
Guy Rutter	....	painter
Hank Schumacher	....	construction manager
Tony Statham	....	sign painter
Linda Wilson	....	production buyer

Sound Department
Michael Corden	....	sound editor
Simon Firsht	....	boom operator
Jim Greenhorn	....	sound mixer
Zane Hayward	....	foley artist
Stewart Henderson	....	dialogue editor
Steve Mayer	....	boom operator
Chris Nuttall	....	sound
Aad Wirtz	....	sound
Garry Fiferman	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Graham Hills	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Tim Baxter	....	optical effects
Paddy Eason	....	digital effects designer
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: CFC
Mark Nelmes	....	digital effects designer
Alison O'Brien	....	visual effects producer: CFC
Stuart Pitcher	....	rostrum cameraman
Tim Wellspring	....	visual effects coordinator
Dennis Michelson	....	visual effects: CFC (uncredited)
Kevin Phelan	....	scanning and recording producer: CFC (uncredited)

Stunts
Gary Powell	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Cole	....	electrician
Mark Funnell	....	rigging electrician
Dave Mason	....	gaffer
Dave Owen	....	best boy (1996)
Gary Parnham	....	rigging electrician
Laurie Sparham	....	still photographer
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
Nick Wall	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Steve Mercer	....	editor trainee
Kim Norris	....	negative cutter

Other crew
Mickey Ambrose	....	football choreographer
Bill Barringer	....	location manager
Jonathan Berger	....	production lawyer
Benjamin Greenacre	....	location manager
Dominic Guard	....	chaperone
Anna Hall	....	assistant production coordinator
Patrick Isherwood	....	production accountant
John McKain	....	assistant accountant
Emma Pill	....	runner
Amanda Street	....	international sales: FilmFour
Angela Wharton	....	script supervisor (as Angela Noakes)

Production Companies

• Channel Four Films
• Scala Productions
• Wildgaze Films

Distributors

• Phaedra Cinema (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Film Distribution (1997) (France) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Sogepaq Distribución (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• PolyGram Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Senator Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Trimark Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Vidmark Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (digital compositing)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  light equipment
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Germany:6 | Norway:7 | Spain:7 | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Fortismere School, Muswell Hill, London, England, UK

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

Cameo: [author Nick Hornby]coach of the rival football team.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When, as a child, Paul Ashworth goes to see the Reading FC game, the Reading FC Club Badge on the rosette of the supporters is the one which did not come into being until around the 1987-1988 season. The badge that should have been worn in the 1970s, when the match took place, was the old style 'Elm Trees' badge.

Quotes:

Ted, the Headmaster:I wanted to talk to you about a vacancy. Rosie Hunter's handed in her notice I wonder whether you'd be interested in applying.
Paul Ashworth:Head of year? Erm, well...
Ted, the Headmaster:It's obviously not the most attractive offer you've ever had.
Paul Ashworth:*Come on Ben, get back with him!* Sorry Ted.
Ted, the Headmaster:I haven't fired you with enthusiasm.
Paul Ashworth:Well there's a lot of work, isn't it? What do I want to do more work for?
Ted, the Headmaster:More money?
Paul Ashworth:Well I've got enough to pay my rent, I got enough for my season ticket and a couple of records a month. Got no family.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Boy A (2007)

Soundtrack:

I Started Something I Couldn't Finish

A Winner for Nick Hornby and Colin Firth

Nick Hornby strikes again! I watched this movie for Colin Firth, and enjoyed it as a fan and as a discriminating viewer. The script is excellent, particularly the dialogue (particularly in one delightful restaurant scene). I found the acting and craftsmanship satisfactory - be warned that dialogue can be quiet, so listen hard through the accents. The film is delightfully British, so I highly recommend it for Anglophiles, and as Nick Hornby knows how to do, it is a nice mix of the ludicrous and the thoughtful. The relationship the movie centers around is really interesting to follow. We wonder what makes it tick, but Colin Firth and Ruth Gemmell seem comfortable together, so it isn't unbelievable at all. I wasn't expecting "Fever Pitch" to be so good, but I find that I recommend it highly.