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:

Love Is In The 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

While the male audience members are lined up taking discs for the Men's Freestyle, it is first shown that the real model for Raymond's Hair Studio is number two in line right behind Hair Montage's volunteer. The camera cuts away from the line and we hear seven more models being called (including Raymond's "plant" who goes to the Style Warriors) before this man is called and directed to Raymond's Hair Studio.

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Quotes

Phil Allen: Nobody gets to cut my hair.
Shelley Allen: I used to.
Phil Allen: Yeah, but I learnt my lesson, didn't I?

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Connections

References Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

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Soundtracks

"I Just Can't Help Believing"
Written by Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil
Published by Screen Gems-EMI Music Ltd
Performed by Elvis Presley
Courtesy of RCA / BMG Entertainment

User Reviews

a story and a social document

I thought this film was wonderful, a slushy feel good film with classic Shakespearian sub-plots. What is most poignant is that it depicts a town that is disappearing in England. Films like this are social documents. If people don't act like this, then this is how we would like to have historians of the future remember us.

It's nice to have films about people and places that are not normally considered glamorous.

It's funny, thoughtful and a gentle story. No violence, no car chases, no sex. A bit of swearing, but that's part of normal language nowadays.

I loved the compère moving from his mayoral robes to night club glitter jacket through the competition. I loved the young ones falling in love. I loved the closure on the separation.

I'm sure some cinematographer could have done more with the visuals of the hair cutting but this was a narrative film. It had a story, and I will add it to my collection of British movies.