Notes on a Scandal (2006)

Director:

Richard Eyre

Writers (WGA):

Patrick Marber (screenplay)
Zoe Heller (novel)

Release Date:

5 January 2007 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

One Woman's Mistake Is Another's Opportunity...

Plot:

A veteran high school teacher befriends a younger art teacher, who is having an affair with one of her 15-year-old students. However, her intentions with this new "friend" also go well beyond platonic friendship.

Plot Keywords:

Student | Teacher | School | Art Teacher | Friend

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 38 nominations

Cast

Judi Dench	...	Barbara Covett
Cate Blanchett	...	Sheba Hart
Tom Georgeson	...	Ted Mawson
Michael Maloney	...	Sandy Pabblem
Joanna Scanlan	...	Sue Hodge
Shaun Parkes	...	Bill Rumer
Emma Kennedy	...	Linda
Syreeta Kumar	...	Gita
Andrew Simpson	...	Steven Connolly
Philip Davis	...	Brian Bangs (as Phil Davis)
Wendy Nottingham	...	Elaine Clifford
Tameka Empson	...	Antonia Robinson
Leon Skinner	...	Davis
Bill Nighy	...	Richard Hart
Juno Temple	...	Polly Hart
Max Lewis	...	Ben Hart
Debra Gillett	...	Lorraine
Barry McCarthy	...	Dave
Julia McKenzie	...	Marjorie
Adrian Scarborough	...	Martin
Jill Baker	...	Sheba's Mother
Diana Berriman	...	Marcia
Alice Bird	...	Saskia
Benedict Taylor	...	Eddie
Miranda Pleasence	...	Eddie's Wife
Jonathan Speer	...	Vet
Stephen Kennedy	...	Mr. Connolly
Derbhle Crotty	...	Mrs. Connolly
Catherine Drew	...	Newsreader
Anne-Marie Duff	...	Annabel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alex Argenti	...	Christmas Shopper (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Eyre

Writing credits (WGA)
Patrick Marber		(screenplay)
Zoe Heller		(novel "What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal")

Produced by
Robert Fox	....	producer
Redmond Morris	....	executive producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer

Original Music by
Philip Glass

Cinematography by
Chris Menges		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Bloom
Antonia Van Drimmelen

Casting by
Shaheen Baig
Maggie Lunn

Production Design by
Tim Hatley

Art Direction by
Hannah Moseley
Mark Raggett		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Caroline Smith

Costume Design by
Tim Hatley

Makeup Department
Jayne Buxton	....	hair stylist
Jayne Buxton	....	makeup artist
Eammon Hughes	....	hairdresser: Ms. Blanchett (as Eamonn Hughes)
Helen Johnson	....	hair stylist
Helen Johnson	....	makeup artist
Rebecca Lafford	....	makeup artist: Ms. Blanchett
Maralyn Sherman	....	hair department head: additional photography
Maralyn Sherman	....	makeup department head: additional photography
Nadia Stacey	....	makeup daily
Lisa Westcott	....	chief hair stylist
Lisa Westcott	....	chief makeup artist

Production Management
Polly Duval	....	post-production supervisor
Rachel Neale	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Heidi Gower	....	third assistant director
Martin Harrison	....	first assistant director
Beatrice Manning	....	assistant director: reshoots
Chris Stoaling	....	second assistant director
Charlie Waller	....	second second assistant director
Jeremy Angel	....	crowd assistant director (uncredited)
Caroline Chapman	....	daily third assistant director (uncredited)
James Chasey	....	third assistant director: re-shoots (uncredited)
Robert Grayson	....	first assistant director: re-shoots (uncredited)
Christian Rigg	....	daily third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jess Alexander	....	assistant buyer
Grant Armstrong	....	stand-by art director
Ian Bee	....	supervising carpenter
Les Benson	....	props storeman
Paul Bowring	....	carpenter
Catherine Byrne	....	art department assistant
Stephen Conway	....	stand-by props
John Davies	....	chargehand painter
Neil Dickson	....	stagehand
Lucy Eyre	....	assistant set decorator
Pip Fox	....	props
Jane Harwood	....	assistant art director
Pete Hodge	....	stand-by stagehand
Simon Hutchings	....	stand-by painter
Josh Jones	....	stand-by carpenter
Tony Kernan	....	stagehand
Steve Macdonald	....	chargehand stand-by props (as Stephen McDonald)
David Martin	....	carpenter
Maxie McDonald	....	property master
Neil Murrum	....	chargehand dressing props
Cian O'Clery	....	art department assistant
Harriet Orman	....	production buyer
Matthew Parsons	....	painter (as Matt Parsons)
Mary Pat Sheahan	....	painter
Robin Thistlewaite	....	construction manager
Amanda Waddington	....	painter
Peter Watson	....	dressing props
Jonathan Wells	....	chargehand carpenter
Kem White	....	graphics artist
Ben Wilkinson	....	dressing props
Robert J. Dugdale	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Jane Harwood	....	art director: reshoots (uncredited)
Howard Weaver	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Bennett	....	adr recordist
Jason Bennett	....	assistant sound
Peter Burgis	....	foley artist
Ed Colyer	....	foley recording engineer (as Edward Colyer)
Doug Cooper	....	sound re-recording mixer: London
Martin Czembor	....	sound re-recording mixer: New York
Andie Derrick	....	foley artist (as Andi Derrick)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer: New York
Jim Greenhorn	....	production sound mixer
Nigel Heath	....	foley recording engineer
Lionel Johnson	....	assistant sound editor
Lionel Johnson	....	assistant sound editor: London
James Mather	....	sound supervisor: London
Kate Morath	....	boom operator
Tim Owens	....	dialogue editor: London
Mike Prestwood Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jacob Ribicoff	....	supervising sound editor: New York
Diana Smith	....	assistant sound editor: London
Stuart Stanley	....	sound editor: New York
Nigel Stone	....	adr editor: London
Nigel Stone	....	dialogue premix
Joseph Stracey	....	sound effects editor: London (as Joseph Park Stracey)
Eric Strausser	....	sound assistant: New York
Andy Thompson	....	adr recording engineer
Derek Trigg	....	foley editor: London
Dave Wren	....	sound studio technician
Oliver Brierley	....	assistant foley mixer (uncredited)
Robert Edwards	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Glen Gathard	....	assistant foley mixer (uncredited)
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	special effects coordinator
Mark Haddenham	....	special effects
Nigel Wilkinson	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Lori C. Miller	....	title designer (uncredited)

Stunts
Nrinder Dhudwar	....	stunt coordinator
Rob Hunt	....	stunts
Tina Maskell	....	stunts
Peter Pedrero	....	stunts
John Street	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
David Agha-Rafei	....	daily camera trainee
Sam Barnes	....	clapper loader
Steve Blythe	....	electrician
Ashley Bond	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Paul Bond	....	camera operator: second unit
Paul Bond	....	lighting camera operator: second unit
Clive Coote	....	still photographer
Eammon Fitzgerald	....	electrician
Kevin Fitzpatrick	....	electrician
Simon Fogg	....	grip: second camera
Jimmy Harris	....	electrician
Peter Harris	....	electrician
Alex Hobbs	....	video operator
Alex Hobbs	....	video playback operator
Therese Hvattum	....	camera trainee
Gary Hymns	....	grip
Gary Hymns	....	key grip
Alison Lai	....	clapper loader: additional photography
Chris Menges	....	camera operator
Mark Milsome	....	second assistant camera
Emily Plant	....	electrician
Urszula Pontikos	....	clapper loader
Greg Press	....	stand-by rigger
Paul Sharp	....	best boy
Mark Thomas	....	electrician
Gavin Walters	....	rigging gaffer
Lee Walters	....	gaffer
Dennis Watson	....	electrical rigger
Ben Wilson	....	focus puller
Sam Barnes	....	focus puller: "b" camera (uncredited)
Giles Keyte	....	additional still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Howard Halsall	....	voice casting
Benjamin Till	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sally Cairney	....	costume assistant
Emma Heath	....	costume trainee
Vandra Howard	....	costume assistant
Jane Leonard	....	costume assistant
David Otzen	....	costume assistant
Kirsty Wilkinson	....	dresser: Ms. Dench
Allison Wyldeck	....	costume supervisor
Marco de Magalhães	....	costume daily (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Martin Corbett	....	assistant editor
Jo Dale	....	assistant editor
Hattie Dalton	....	change placement editor: WFTV/UIP
Martin Scoones	....	lab color timer
Matt Gauci	....	avid technical support (uncredited)
Mark Wright	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Dan Bora	....	music score mix engineer
John Bradbury	....	orchestra leader
Missy Cohen	....	music editor (as Missy Coen)
Joseph S. DeBeasi	....	supervising music editor
Chris Dibble	....	music score engineer
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Trevor Gureckis	....	score preparation
Jake Jackson	....	assistant music engineer
Sam Jones	....	assistant music engineer
Nico Muhly	....	assistant conductor
Nico Muhly	....	music preparation
Ichiho Nishiki	....	music score mix engineer
Michael Riesman	....	conductor
Michael Riesman	....	music score mixer
Christian Rutledge	....	production coordinator: music score
Derek Somaru	....	assistant music editor
Graham Sutton	....	music editor
Jonathan Williams	....	musician: cello

Transportation Department
Gary Birmingham	....	transportation coordinator
Martin Birmingham	....	production driver
Karen Russell	....	driver: minibus
Lee Isgar	....	driver: Richard Eyre (uncredited)

Other crew
Nwachukwu 'Chucks' Aghanya	....	accounts trainee (as Nwachukwu Aghanya)
Colette Appleby	....	stand-in: Cate Blanchett (as Collette Appleby)
Philip Ball	....	utility stand-in
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer (as Randy Balsmeyer)
Keziah Barton-White	....	script supervisor: second camera
Jo Beckett	....	location scout
Sean Mik'ael Butler	....	development intern
Francesca Castellano	....	production coordinator
Hattie Dalton	....	change placement director: WFTV/UIP
Michael Diliberti	....	executive assistant: Scott Rudin
Diana Dill	....	script supervisor
Sara Dony	....	unit nurse
Thomas Elgood	....	location scout
Ian Ellis	....	location scout
John Ensby	....	laboratory liaison
Dan Erstad	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Polly Fletcher	....	assistant accountant
Vic Fraser	....	librarian
Linda Gamble	....	unit publicist: McDonald & Rutter
Emily Graham	....	runner
Ruth Halliday	....	research consultant
Tarn Harper	....	post-production accountant
Richard Hill	....	assistant location manager
Dan Hillsdon	....	assistant accountant
Jemma Kearney	....	assistant: Cate Blanchett
Nathan Kelly	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Russell Lodge	....	location scout
Barney Miller	....	production runner
Vanraaj Padhaal	....	production secretary (as Padhaal Vanraaj)
Tanya Phegan	....	development executive
Tanya Phegan	....	for DNA Films
Holly Pullinger	....	assistant coordinator
James P. Queen	....	executive assistant: Scott Rudin
Sarah Richardson	....	assistant: Robert Fox
Lee Robertson	....	assistant location manager
Danny Roman	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Penny Ryder	....	stand-in: Judi Dench
Marie Sayej	....	accounts trainee
Shruti Shah	....	production accountant
Mira Shin	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Amanda Stevens	....	location manager
Helen Walker	....	accounting assistant
Joan Washington	....	voice coach
Jay Weeks	....	accounts trainee
Jeremy Angel	....	daily runner (uncredited)
Justin Begnaud	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (uncredited)
J. John Corbett	....	title designer (uncredited)
Andrew Dalmahoy	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Penny Frost	....	floor runner: dailies (uncredited)
Matt Gauci	....	avid technical support (uncredited)
Natalie Kavanagh	....	runner: dailies (uncredited)
Esther Kelly	....	head trainer: cat (uncredited)
Beatrice Manning	....	set runner: reshoots (uncredited)
Darren O'Connell	....	floor runner (uncredited)
Laura Pearson-Smith	....	work experience (uncredited)
Kevin Proctor	....	daily production runner (uncredited)
Alexander Zweig	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (uncredited)

Thanks
Scott Aversano	....	thanks
John Barlow	....	thanks
Rachel Dickenson	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• DNA Films (presents)
• UK Film Council (in association with)
• BBC Films (in association with)
• Scott Rudin Productions
• Ingenious Film Partners (as Ingenious Film Partners 2 LLP)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2006-) (worldwide) (all media)
• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2007) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (UK) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (2006) (Canada) (all media)
• Gativideo (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL8)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Cine Image Film Opticals (digital visual effects) (opticals) (as Cineimage)

Other Companies

• AFM Lighting  lighting equipment
• Air Studios  music score recorded at (as Air Studios, London)
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies/mobiles (uncredited)
• Big Film Design  title design
• Casting Collective  extras casting (uncredited)
• Cine Image Film Opticals  opticals (as Cineimage)
• Cine Image Film Opticals  titles (as Cineimage)
• Compuhire  computer and video playback (uncredited)
• Cutting Edge  negative cutting
• De Lane Lea  sound re-recorded at
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints
• Elstree Film & Television Studios  movie studio
• Goldcrest Post Production London  editing equipment (as Goldcrest Post Production)
• Goldcrest Post Production London  sound post-production
• Hothouse Music  music supervisor
• Joe Dunton & Company  cameras and lenses (as Joe Dunton Cameras)
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Looking Glass Studios  music score mixed at (as The Looking Glass Studios, New York City)
• McDonald and Rutter  unit publicist (as McDonald & Rutter)
• Movie Lot, The  security
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Richmond Film Services  sound equipment
• Right Lobe Design Group  titles (uncredited)
• Rounder Records  soundtrack (uncredited)
• Set Meals  catering
• Sound One  sound re-recorded at (as Soundone, New York)
• TLO Film Services  action vehicles
• Technicolor Film Services  telecine rushes facilities
• Technicolor  release printing

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some aberrant sexual content

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #42795) | Singapore:M18 | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Australia:MA | Netherlands:12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | South Korea:18 | Malaysia:18PL (DVD) | Japan:R-15 | New Zealand:M | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

2 Wembury Road, Highgate, London, England, UK

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench and Anne-Marie Duff have all played Queen Elizabeth I. Cate in Elizabeth (1998) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), Judi in Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Anne-Marie in "The Virgin Queen" (2005).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Sheba is rampaging through Barbara's house in search of her journal, you can see a crew member in the mirror behind her as she goes to sit.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Barbara Covett:[voiceover of Barbara writing in her diary] People trust me with their secrets. But who do I trust with mine? You, only you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The New Adventures of Old Christine: Notes on a 7th Grade Scandal (#4.13)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Funky Kingston

Brill, Dark, Witty....and "Marvelously Judi Dench/Cate Blanchett"

NOTES ON A SCANDAL is a Judi Dench "triumph" of brilliant wit, pain and a satanic passion for a woman out of reach in Cate Blanchett. Her "Judas" to her supposed friend and fellow teacher is an acting performance which will land Ms. Dench right back in "Oscar country". Too bad it is in the same year as Helen Mirren's magnificent "Queen" as Dench gives a show here in NOTES ON A SCANDAL that leaves you quite breathless to the last and final scene and fade out.

Patrick Marber delivers a deliciously wicked, witty and crisply written script in NOTES, and it only enhances his reputation for giving an audience a story well developed and with characters that you can't take your eyes off on the screen. His writing in CLOSER was so brilliant and clever, but in NOTES ON A SCANDAL he hands Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett words that are zingers and with a strong blend of anger, pain and humor. Please, Patrick, gives us another film quickly! The "teacher/student" romance was well developed and the chemistry between the two actors was believable and very sexual, and one could understand the youthful passion delivered by a young man with a strong mind and body. I did at times have to listen carefully to the young actor's lines, but he delivered them like a pro.

In the weeks ahead, I anticipate a "roar from the crowd" for this very dark and witty Judi Dench performance and who knows, she may upset "The Crown" in the end come Oscar time.