Fever Pitch (1997)

Director:

David Evans

Writers:

Nick Hornby (book)
Nick Hornby (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 April 1997 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | 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:
Gary Condes	...	Arsenal Fan (uncredited)
Nick Hornby	...	Arsenal fan, 15.4.89 scene (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)
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
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)
Laurie Sparham	....	still photographer
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
Nick Wall	....	still photographer

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

Other crew
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
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)
• 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
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

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:

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

Filming Locations:

Fortismere School, Muswell Hill, London, England, UK

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

Cameo: [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:

Paul Ashworth: May I smoke?
Sarah Hughes: No. You can stay the night, though, if you want.

Movie Connections:

Version of Fever Pitch (2005)

Soundtrack:

I Started Something I Couldn't Finish

Insights into obsession

This film explores the life, thoughts and relationships of an obsessive sports fan. It happens to be have been made in England about a particularly dramatic title win (Arsenal's 1989 victory was the stuff of legend), but applies to obsessives everywhere, who pin all of their happiness on some team over which they can exert no control. The writing is insightful, for example "I don't know whether life is s*** because Arsenal are s***, or the other way around" will be recognised by any fan of a sporting (or political) team, and the central character's long-term reaction to the long-sought victory is spot on. The acting and direction are also spot on. The mellifluous Colin Firth leads an excellent ensemble, from which Mark Strong (as Firth's buddy) stands out. Like the best British films (Brassed Off, for example), this one has real situations and real, recognisable characters you care about, spiced with gentle comedy. I recommend this one warmly.