Blow Dry (2001)

The annual British Hairdressing Championship comes to Keighley, a town where Phil and son Brian run a barbershop and Phil's ex-wife Shelly and her lover Sandra run a beauty salon. Phil and ... See full summary »

Director:

Paddy Breathnach

Writer:

Simon Beaufoy

Stars:

Alan Rickman, Natasha Richardson, Rachel Griffiths

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Rickman	...	Phil Allen
Natasha Richardson	...	Shelley Allen
Rachel Griffiths	...	Sandra
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Christina Robertson
Josh Hartnett	...	Brian Allen
Bill Nighy	...	Ray (Raymond) Robertson
Warren Clarke	...	Tony
Rosemary Harris	...	Daisy
Hugh Bonneville	...	Louis
Heidi Klum	...	Jasmine
Peter McDonald	...	Vincent
Michael McElhatton	...	Robert
David Bradley	...	Noah
Ben Crompton	...	Saul
Ann Rye	...	Margaret, Farmer's Wife

Storyline

The annual British Hairdressing Championship comes to Keighley, a town where Phil and son Brian run a barbershop and Phil's ex-wife Shelly and her lover Sandra run a beauty salon. Phil and Shelly haven't talked in ten years, since she bolted; she's just found out her cancer is terminal; and, Ray Roberts, the reigning hairdressing champion, blows into town taunting Phil for retreating from competitive styling into barbering. Roberts also brings his daughter, Christina, who remembers Brian from when she was a little kid. Everything's set: Brian decides to enter the competition with his mom and Sandra; will Phil join in? Ray wants to win at any cost; will Christina go along?

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Plot Keywords:

cancer | champion | competition | championship | barber shop | 

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Taglines:

An outrageous new comedy for anyone who's ever had hair.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and brief nudity

Details

Country:

USA UK Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (UK)

Also Known As:

Coup de peigne

Filming Locations:

Batley, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$240,166 (USA) (9 March 2001)

Gross:

$637,769 (USA) (6 April 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co. Produktions KG, Intermedia Films, Mirage Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At one point in the movie, Ray tells Christina that she isn't in Minneapolis anymore. Rachael Leigh Cook, who plays Christina, is a native of Minneapolis.

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Goofs

Brian says that hair keeps on growing after you die. This is an urban legend that is not true, of which a cadaver barber ought to be well aware.

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Quotes

Sandra: [singing, as Marilyn Monroe] A kiss on the lips could be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl's best -
Phil Allen: What the hell happened to you?
Sandra: The total look - Marilyn Monroe.
Phil Allen: Well, I didn't think you were the milkman.

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Connections

References Viva Las Vegas (1964)

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Soundtracks

"Step On High"
Written by Brendan Tallon
Published by copyright control
Performed by Revelino
Courtesy of Dirt Records

User Reviews

You'll laugh and cry

My wife had me convinced for a long time that I had seen this movie, but last night after I had searched for over 40 min for something to rent I took the risk and rented this movie. And of course I was right – I hadn't seen it! This is not a film one will forget having seen. As so often before the British are the strongest in character building, with every role filled with good actors and every detail and dialog driven to perfection. You might say that the story line is predictable, not to mention if you see "the making of" beforehand, which more or less tells you every detail of the story! Blow dry is one of these beautiful films that make you laugh and cry at the same time. You disappear into the film, becoming one with the characters and their lives. It has similarities to Brassed Off, both in scenery and storyline, but manages to stay original and unique. I loved it 9/10