Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002)

Director:

Shane Meadows

Writers:

Paul Fraser (written by) and
Shane Meadows (written by)

Release Date:

6 September 2002 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A tinned spaghetti western

Plot:

After seeing his ex-girlfriend (Henderson) turn down a nationally televised marriage proposal, a small-time crook (Carlyle) returns to his hometown to try and win back her heart.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Marriage Proposal | Love | Money | Birthday Cake

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Robert Carlyle	...	Jimmy
Vanessa Feltz	...	Vanessa
Ricky Tomlinson	...	Charlie
Kathy Burke	...	Carol
Vicki Patterson	...	Audience Guest
Shirley Henderson	...	Shirley
Finn Atkins	...	Marlene
Kelly Thresher	...	Donna
Rhys Ifans	...	Dek
Andrew Shim	...	Donut
Ryan Bruce	...	Emerson
Eliot Otis Brown Walters	...	Lake
Anthony Strachan	...	Jumbo (as Antony Strachan)
David McKay	...	Dougy (as David Mckay)
James Cosmo	...	Billy
Vic Reeves	...	Plonko the Clown
Bob Mortimer	...	Kung-Fu Clown
Richard Garfoot	...	Wrestling Clown
Justin Brady	...	Eugene
Tony Nyland	...	Big Al
Anthony Clarke	...	YTS Dave
Ladene Hall	...	Bingo Woman
Shane Meadows	...	Bingo Caller
Paul Fraser	...	Bingo Checker

Directed by
Shane Meadows

Writing credits
Paul Fraser		(written by) and
Shane Meadows		(written by)

Produced by
Andrea Calderwood	....	producer
Claire Hunt	....	line producer
Hanno Huth	....	executive producer
Louise Knight	....	co-producer
Paul Trijbits	....	executive producer
Paul Webster	....	executive producer
James Wilson	....	co-producer

Original Music by
John Lunn

Cinematography by
Brian Tufano		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Beston
Trevor Waite

Casting by
Julia Duff

Production Design by
Crispian Sallis

Art Direction by
Anthea Nelson

Costume Design by
Robin Fraser-Paye		(as Robin Fraser Paye)

Makeup Department
Sharon Martin	....	hair stylist
Sharon Martin	....	makeup artist
Pebbles	....	chief hair stylist
Pebbles	....	chief makeup artist

Production Management
Peter McAleese	....	executive in charge of production: FilmFour (as Peter Mcaleese)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ed Evennett	....	third assistant director (as Edward Evennett)
Cherry Gould	....	first assistant director
Toni Staples	....	second assistant director
Olivia Lloyd	....	second assistant director: additional photography (uncredited)

Art Department
James Conway	....	carpenter
Paul Duff	....	stand-by carpenter
Michael J. Eley	....	construction manager
Andy Harris	....	property master
Shula Harris	....	art department assistant
Malcolm Keen	....	stand-by painter (as Malcolm Keane)
Brian Lofthouse	....	stand-by props
Mark McNeil	....	dressing props (as Mark Mcneil)
Neil McVey	....	dressing props (as Neil Mcvey)
Jeff Nolan	....	carpenter
Tony Rycyk	....	dressing props
Robert Smiley	....	painter
Lucinda Sturgis	....	production buyer
Nigel Turnbull	....	painter
Steve Westley	....	dressing props
Rhona Wilson	....	assistant production buyer

Sound Department
Bob Baker	....	foley mixer
Michael A. Carter	....	adr recordist (as Mike Carter)
Tony Cook	....	boom operator
Paul Crichton	....	adr recordist
Paul Hamblin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Haynes	....	adr recordist
Stuart Hilliker	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Catherine Hodgson	....	supervising sound editor
Dave Humphries	....	adr recordist
Gayle Learmonth	....	sound assistant
Colin Nicolson	....	sound recordist
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
Rowena Wilkinson	....	foley artist
Hilary Wyatt	....	dialogue editor
James Seddon	....	dolby consultant (uncredited)

Stunts
Ruth Jenkins	....	stunt double: Marlene
Vincent Keane	....	stunt coordinator
Derek Lea	....	stunt double: Dek
Tony Lucken	....	stunt double: Dek
Wayne Ridal	....	driving double

Camera and Electrical Department
Stuart Barell	....	second focus puller (as Stuart Barrell)
John Crawley	....	studio lighting supervisor
Adrian Daley	....	studio camera operator
Les Falla	....	studio vision engineer
Françoise Higson	....	clapper loader (as Francoise Higson)
Jo Irvine	....	assistant camera
Adrian McCarthy	....	camera grip (as Adrian Mccarthy)
Liam McGill	....	gaffer (as Liam Mcgill)
Brian Mcgivern	....	generator operator
Jem Morton	....	additional grip
Gary Nolan	....	electrician
Jennie Paddon	....	clapper loader: second camera
Clive Pittman	....	focus puller
Niki Roberton	....	camera trainee (as Nikki Robertson)
Dean Rogers	....	still photographer
Bob Shipsey	....	additional photographer
Bob Shipsey	....	second camera operator (as Robert Shipsey)
Ray Smithson	....	studio electrician
Steve Symes	....	studio camera operator
Martyn Welland	....	electrician
David Weller	....	stand-by rigger (as Dave Weller)
Iwan Williams	....	best boy

Casting Department
Craig Stokes	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sophie Doncaster	....	wardrobe supervisor
Ruth Kirton	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Stephen Barker	....	post-production consultant
Martin Corbett	....	first assistant editor
Matthew Derry	....	video to film editorial: Computer Film Company
Julie Foster	....	first assistant editor
John Heath	....	color grader
Samantha Hollingdale	....	telecine colorist (as Sam Hollingdale)
Tamsin Jeffrey	....	conforming assistant editor
Katya Jezzard	....	conforming assistant editor
Julian May	....	second assistant editor
Gina Tornatore	....	third assistant editor

Music Department
John Barclay	....	musician: trumpet, London Metropolitan Orchestra
Mark Feltham	....	musician: harmonica, London Metropolitan Orchestra
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Paul Golding	....	music mixer
Gary Kettel	....	musician: percussion, London Metropolitan Orchestra
John Lunn	....	conductor: London Metropolitan Orchestra and London Chamber Choir
Frank Ricotti	....	musician: percussion, London Metropolitan Orchestra
Ian Thomas	....	musician: percussion, London Metropolitan Orchestra
Jim Williams	....	musician: guitars, London Metropolitan Orchestra

Transportation Department
Justin Clements	....	facility driver
Bob Gurney	....	facility driver
Phil Hunt	....	facility driver
Huw Jones	....	rushes driver
Gary Mabley	....	facility driver
Arthur Meadows	....	unit driver
John Oxborough	....	unit driver
Darren Saunders	....	stand-by construction driver
Mark Simpson	....	facility driver
Gary Sutch	....	driver: camera truck
Stuart Whittaker	....	unit driver
Derek McPhail	....	unit driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Asim Aziz	....	production runner
Kim Ballard	....	production finance: FilmFour
Claire Berrie	....	assistant: Robert Carlyle
Peter Carlton	....	head of production: EMMI
James Clayton	....	legal service: Olswang
Gillian Constable	....	chaperone
Matt Curtis	....	titles and captions design: AP
Luke Drummond	....	video to film compositor: Computer Film Company
Emma Fowler	....	production coordinator
Lola Gamester	....	assistant to producers: Slate Films
Tarn Harper	....	post-production accountant
Andrew Hildebrand	....	business affairs: FilmFour
Steve Joberns	....	auditor: AGN Shipleys
Rob Jones	....	location manager
Sarah Louise Kay	....	production accountant
Richard Knight	....	assistant location manager
Sarah MacFarlane	....	floor runner (as Sarah Macfarlane)
Peter Matthews	....	laboratory liaison
David Mellor	....	supervising accountant
Hugo Mellor	....	production cashier
Anna Melly	....	video to film transfer, Computer Film Company
Liz Miller	....	unit publicist: Mcdonald & Rutter
Charles Moore	....	legal service: Olswang
Joanna Nodwell	....	head of video to film: Computer Film Company
Mick O'Reilly	....	location assistant
John O'Sullivan	....	insurance: Media Insurance Brokers
Vicki Patterson	....	development executive: Slate Films
Andy Powell	....	health and safety advisor
John Ross	....	location assistant
Kate Rudge	....	production runner
Yvonne Shorten	....	tutor
Pamela Smart	....	tutor
Geraldine Swayne	....	video to film compositor: Computer Film Company
Steve Tizzard	....	video to film compositor: Computer Film Company
Helen Tulley	....	business affairs: FilmFour
Alex Usborne	....	production executive: Film Counsil's New Cinema Fund
Angela Wharton	....	script supervisor (as Angela Noakes Wharton)
Billy Wiz	....	assistant coordinator

Thanks
Allen Foster	....	special thanks: Gedling Garage
Rachel Iyer	....	special thanks
Susie Liggat	....	special thanks
Freda Nightingale	....	special thanks: Gedling Garage
Luke Randolph	....	special thanks
Duncan Reid	....	special thanks
Winifred Shore	....	special thanks: Gedling Garage
Ian Smith	....	special thanks: Carlton Junior Television Workshop
Steve Taylor	....	special thanks: Gedling Garage
Giuliano Volpe	....	special thanks: Gedling Garage

Production Companies

• FilmFour
• Film Council (in association with)
• Senator Film Produktion (as Senator Film)
• East Midlands Media Initiative (with the participation of) (as EMMI)
• Slate Films
• Big Arty Productions (in association with) (as Big Arty)
• EM Media (executive production)

Distributors

• Crest International (Japan) (theatrical)
• Film Four Distributors (200?) (worldwide) (theatrical) (as FilmFour)
• Film Four International (200?) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• BIM Distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• Channel Four Films
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (Argentina)
• Columbia TriStar (2004) (Brazil) (all media)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (VHS)
• Mongrel Media (Canada)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2002) (Finland) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Senator Film
• Sony Pictures Classics (2003) (USA)
• Sony Pictures Television International (200?) (USA) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2006) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (Finland) (TV) (TV1)

Other Companies

• Hyperactive Broadcast  editing equipment
• 4MC UK Ltd.  telecine services (as 4mc Ltd)
• AGN Shipleys  auditor
• ARRI Media  camera equipment supplied by
• Aimimage / Ice Film  camera equipment provided by
• Anglo American Filming Vehicles  action vehicles
• Boom  re-recorded at
• Channel 4 Television Corporation  special thanks (as Channel 4 Television)
• Computer Film Company, The (CFC)  video to film transfer
• East Midlands Screen Commission  special thanks
• Film & Television Transport Services (FATTS)  facility vehicles (as F.A.T.T.S.)
• Film Council Development Fund  made with the support of
• General Screen Enterprises  titles & opticals
• Ice Film Equipment  camera equipment supplied by
• International Film Guarantors  completion guaranty provided by
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Lansdown Recording Studios  music recorded at
• Lee Lighting  lighting services
• London Metropolitan Orchestra and Chamber Choir  orchestra and choir
• McDonald and Rutter  unit publicity
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance
• National Ice Arena, The  special thanks
• Olswang  legal services
• Professional Negative Cutting  negative cutters (as Professional Negative Cutting)
• Reel Food  caterer
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• The Regional Development Fund of the European Community  partially funded by (as The European Regional Development Fund)
• Visual Emergency Medical Services  unit nurses

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:A | Finland:K-7 | Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

FilmFour

Trivia:

When Dek (Rhys Ifans) finds out that Jimmy (Robert Carlyle), is back in town, he proclaims to Carol: "He's only your foster brother! He could have Hannibal Lecter's DNA for all we know! Rhys Ifans went on to portray Grutas, Hannibal Lecter's nemesis, in Hannibal Rising (2007).

Quotes:

Charlie:My wife and I had an argument over whether or not I should have a vasectomy so we said we'd let the kids decide. I lost 13 - 12.

Movie Connections:

References The Right Stuff (1983)

Soundtrack:

A Million Tears

Almost, but not quite as good as it should have been

When they appear on a daytime chat show, Dek surprises his girlfriend Shirley by proposing to her, only to have her say no. Shirley's ex and father of her daughter, Marlene, sees the show and leaves Glasgow with stolen money to try to reclaim her. His arrival in the one-horse town of Nottingham sparks a Western style stand off between Dek and Jimmy.

The third part in his trilogy is Meadow's most accessible film and his lightest in style. It is also likely to be FilmFour's swan-song now that it is packing up shop for good. The plot is basically a relationship drama but it is packed with enough nice touches to make it feel more than that. The mix of comedy and drama is good and the `tinned spaghetti western' feel to it manages to be clever and consistent without overpowering the film.

The story does dip in the final third however – the comedy dries up and the central drama between Jimmy, Dek and Shirley comes to the fore. The other characters vanish and the subplot (Jimmy being chased by his ex-gang) just seems to stop for 30 minutes. This dip is still OK but it did feel like it had nowhere to go and was just treading water to fill out the running time.

Apart from this dip the film has much to enjoy. The comedy is good and realistic for the setting. The many characters make for a family feel rather than a simple love triangle tale and the western music and spaghetti clichés are used well without being forced down your throat. The film does also rest on several really good performances.

Ifans is absolutely great – he manages to make Dek a cowardly clown but also very relateable and sympathetic. Add to this a good (if a little mousy) Henderson and a superb turn by Atkins and the main trio are brilliant. Carlyle doesn't work as well and his character is too obvious, changing when he has got his way etc, and doesn't grab attention in the way he can. Burke, Tomlinson and the various support cast are very funny but also very real. Cosmo is good and tough as always and gets plenty of surreal comedy (why do they keep stealing wholly inappropriate vehicles!?) and key a sharp eye out for a downright unusual cameo from comedy duo Vic Reeves and bob Mortimer.

Overall the parts don't all manage to come together but for the most part it is a great mix of comedy and drama carried off by some very good performances. However when the film focuses totally on the triangle at the centre it appears to run out of steam for a while and have little to do but wait for the final showdown.