24 Hour Party People (2002)

In 1976, Tony Wilson sets up Factory Records and brings Manchester's music to the world.

Director:

Michael Winterbottom

Writer:

Frank Cottrell Boyce (screenplay)

Stars:

Steve Coogan, John Thomson, Paul Popplewell

1 win & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Coogan	...	Tony Wilson
John Thomson	...	Charles
Paul Popplewell	...	Paul Ryder
Lennie James	...	Alan Erasmus
Shirley Henderson	...	Lindsay
Mark Windows	...	Johnny Rotten
Paddy Considine	...	Rob Gretton
Raymond Waring	...	Vini
Ron Cook	...	Derek Ryder
John Simm	...	Bernard Sumner
Danny Cunningham	...	Shaun Ryder
Dave Gorman	...	John the Postman
Ralf Little	...	Hooky (Peter Hook)
Andy Serkis	...	Martin Hannett
Nigel Pivaro	...	Actor at Granada

Storyline

Manchester 1976: Cambridge educated Tony Wilson, Granada TV presenter, is at a Sex Pistols gig. Totally inspired by this pivotal moment in music history, he and his friends set up a record label, Factory Records, signing first Joy Division (who go on to become New Order) then James and the Happy Mondays, who all become seminal artists of their time. What ensues is a tale of music, sex, drugs, larger-than-life characters, and the birth of one of the most famous dance clubs in the world, The Hacienda - a mecca for clubbers as famous as the likes of Studio 54. Graphically depicting the music and dance heritage of Manchester from the late 70's to the early 90's, this comedy documents the vibrancy that made Mad-chester the place in the world that you would most like to be.

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Plot Keywords:

manchester | factory records | sex | record label | drugs | 

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Taglines:

The unbelievably true story of one man, one movement, the music and madness that was Manchester.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language, drug use and sexuality

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

24 ores gemates rock

Filming Locations:

Chester, Cheshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$34,940 (USA) (9 August 2002)

Gross:

$1,130,379 (USA) (11 October 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Films, Baby Cow Productions, Film Consortium, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Following the film's release, Tony Wilson had to apologize to Mick Hucknall for the two comments made in the film about him.

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Goofs

At the Sex Pistols concert, Tony Wilson identifies one of the groups there as "Stiff Kittens, later Warsaw, later Joy Division, and finally New Order". The band never officially went by the name Stiff Kittens; they did allow it to be used on a poster for a show because they didn't have any other name they could use, but the first official name for that particular band was Warsaw.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tony Wilson: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the latest craze sweeping the Pennines, and I've got to be honest, I'd rather be sweeping the Pennines right now.

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Connections

References So It Goes (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Dream of a Child"
Written by Vincent Reilly
Published by Zomba Music Publishers Ltd
Performed by The Durutti Column (as Durutti Column)
Licensed courtesy of Factory Communications Ltd

User Reviews

great mocku-docu-rockumentary

This movie is quite hyperbolic about the Manchester scene which is portrayed with so much style, energy, humor, and gutty performances, that even if you weren't a fan of Joy Division & Happy Mondays, this particular musical revolution is extolled on a par with Memphis early 50's, the whole of UK 1963-65, San Francisco 1966-67, or Austin 1972-74. I wasn't a fan of those Manchester bands, but I really enjoyed all of the music in this film. And Steve Coogan's performance and the structure of his charismatic part are wonderful. And very funny.

Like "SLC Punk" and movies like "Rude Boy" and the Sex Pistols movies, "24 Hour Party People" captures the anger of the times and incredible energy of that socio-musical upheaval, and ultimately the sadness at the inevitable passing of a bright moment in popmusic history. When Coogan/Wilson brags about the birth of the rave culture in his club in his beloved city, taking credit for another major movement, I didn't feel his pride or excitement, only that sense of sadness at the techno-evolution of punk...