Plunkett & Macleane (1999)

Director:

Jake Scott

Writers (WGA):

Selwyn Roberts (earlier screenplay)
Robert Wade (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 January 1999 (Denmark)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Adventure

Tagline:

Interrupted hanging

Plot:

Will Plunkett and Captain James Macleane, two men from different ends of the social spectrum in 18th-century England...

Plot Keywords:

Highwayman | 1700s | Bisexual | Robber | Revenge

Cast

Jonny Lee Miller	...	Macleane
Iain Robertson	...	Highwayman Rob
Robert Carlyle	...	Plunkett
Ken Stott	...	Chance
Tommy Flanagan	...	Eddie
Stephen Walters	...	Dennis
James Thornton	...	Catchpole
Terence Rigby	...	Harrison
Christian Camargo	...	Lord Pelham
Karel Polisenský	...	Newgate Priest
Neve McIntosh	...	Liz
Matt Lucas	...	Sir Oswald
David Walliams	...	Viscount Bilston
David Foxxe	...	Lord Ketch
Jake Gavin	...	Newgate Gent

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong violence, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Arts Council of England

Trivia:

The French title for this film is "Guns 1748".

Goofs:

Factual errors: While there was an Earl of Rochester extant in 1748, he would have been 76 years old, and was certainly not known as a bisexual profligate. The character seems to be based upon John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester who lived during the reign of Charles II and died in 1680.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Judge Beresteade: Captain James Macleane, for drunkenness, unruly behavior, causing an affray and disturbing the King's, I hereby sentence you to be placed in the Knightsbridge debtors' jail and to be held there until you are sober. Take him away.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Libertine (2004)

Soundtrack:

Whore

Plunkett and Macleane:History doesn't always matter

Far from being historically naive, Plunkett and Macleane is a very cheeky comedy which uses modern touches to bring humour and vibrance to the story. In one hilarious scene modern music is used to turn a ball into a kind of rave. This picture probably conveys more of the spirit of England at that time than any of the tightly corseted period dramas that we see on our small screens. In those days London would no doubt have been (not much different than today) a hive of grime, guts, violence and sex. The best thing to do is to sit back and enjoy the energy,comedy and damn fine performances in this great little britflick. It's not exactly accurate but then this is not what was intended. Give it a go!