Puckoon (2002)Spike Milligan's book about the divided Irish village of Puckoon comes to the big screen. Director:Terence Ryan |
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Puckoon (2002)Spike Milligan's book about the divided Irish village of Puckoon comes to the big screen. Director:Terence Ryan |
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Sean Hughes | ... |
Dan Madigan
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| Elliott Gould | ... |
Dr. Goldstein
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Daragh O'Malley | ... |
Father Rudden
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| John Lynch | ... |
O'Brien
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Griff Rhys Jones | ... |
Col. Stokes
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Nickolas Grace | ... |
Foggerty
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B.J. Hogg | ... |
Rafferty
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| David Kelly | ... |
O'Toole
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| Milo O'Shea | ... |
Sgt. McGillikuddie
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| Freddie Jones | ... |
Sir John Meredith
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Richard Rickings | ... |
Alex Walker
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| Richard Attenborough | ... |
Writer-Director
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| Marc Sinden | ... |
The surveyor
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Frankie McCafferty | ... |
Lenny
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Conor Mullen | ... |
Shamus
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Puckoon is a wee Irish village that gets caught up in an argument about where the border separating Northern Ireland from Ireland should be. Keen to get the matter sorted before the pubs close, a random borderline is wrestled on the map of the Emerald Isle and Puckoon gets divided as well - literally. As the barbed wire fences and Army checkpoints go up overnight, suddenly people cannot get to their outhouses or walk from one side of the street to the other. It has some advantages - everyone squeezes into the tiniest corner of the pub because it is in Northern Ireland territory where the beer is cheaper, but worst of all is the church and its graveyard. Now the newly deceased need a valid passport, renewable every year, if they want to be buried "across the border". A plan is hatched to return the newly dead back to Ireland. At the same time, a plan is hatched to smuggle explosives in coffins to Northern Ireland with, as they say, hilarious results. Written by <jbartlett2000@hotmail;com>
Saw the film at the closing gala of the Ealing Film Festival in West London(England). Enjoyed it immensely. Although the Crow & the Chinese Policeman don't appear, and Dan Milligan becomes Dan Madigan (played by Sean Hughes (I)). The interaction between Dan and the Author (Writer/Director) voiced/played by Lord Richard Attenborough, works very well.
The rumour is that Lord Attenborough and Elliott Gould (as Dr. Goldstein) appeared in the film for just a pint of beer.
Spike was shown the film, on video before he died and by all accounts enjoyed it immensely.