Closing the Ring (2007)

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writer:

Peter Woodward (written by)

Release Date:

28 December 2007 (Ireland)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Discover the love of a lifetime

Plot:

A young man searches for the proper owner of a ring that belonged to a United States World War II bomber gunner who had crashed onto the Cave Hill just outside Belfast in Northern Ireland on 1st June 1944.

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Sex | World War Two | Female Rear Nudity | Bare Breasts

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Shirley MacLaine	...	Ethel Ann
Christopher Plummer	...	Jack
Dylan Roberts	...	Wilbur
Gene Dinovi	...	Weeping Veteran
Neve Campbell	...	Marie
Allan Hawco	...	Peter Etty
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Quinlan
Martin McCann	...	Jimmy
Steve Franks	...	Bugler
Chris Benson	...	Local Sheriff
John Travers	...	Young Quinlan
George Shane	...	Maginty
Kirsty Stuart	...	Young Eleanor
Marie Jones	...	Mrs. Doyle
Karen Lewis	...	Mrs. Dean
Anthony Finigan	...	Mr. Cobb
John Kavanagh	...	Reverend Smith
Martin Reid	...	Father Ignatius
Sidney Dodsworth	...	Shelterer from the Air Raid
Derek Halligan	...	Shelterer from the Air Raid
Maureen Dow	...	Shelterer from the Air Raid
Rosina Brown	...	Shelterer from the Air Raid (as Rosena Brown)
Michael Magee	...	Shelterer from the Air Raid
Claire Lamont	...	Shelterer from the Air Raid
Mathew McElhinney	...	Young Cathal
James Millard	...	Lt. Wilkins
Gregory Smith	...	Young Jack
Mischa Barton	...	Young Ethel Ann
Stephen Amell	...	Teddy Gordon
David Alpay	...	Chuck
Gerry Quigley	...	Bar man
Bill Lynn	...	Truck Driver
Ian McElhinney	...	Cathal Thomas
Ian Beattie	...	Seamus McCarty
Brenda Fricker	...	Eleanor
Olivia Nash	...	First Woman in Rain
Susie Kelly	...	Second Woman in Rain
B.J. Hogg	...	Maguigan
Alan McKee	...	Dougal
Tom Maguire	...	Billy
Sean McGinley	...	Campbell
Darryl Flatman	...	Pilot
Alec McClure	...	Co-Pilot
Paul Dunn	...	Radio Operator
Kieran Gallant	...	Navigator
Layke Anderson	...	Army Corporal
Alex Palmer	...	Lt. Jones
Paul Charlton	...	Army Private
Allan Gildea	...	First Policeman
Stephen Don	...	Second Policeman
Tom Collins	...	Fireman Fergus
Harry Dickson	...	Taxi Driver

Directed by
Richard Attenborough

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Peter Woodward		written by

Produced by
Jeff Abberley	....	executive producer
Richard Attenborough	....	producer
Graham Begg	....	executive producer
Julia Blackman	....	executive producer
Jamie Carmichael	....	executive producer
Terence A. Clegg	....	line producer (as Terence Clegg)
Christian Frohn	....	associate producer
Jo Gilbert	....	producer
Sara Giles	....	executive producer
Andrew Hildebrand	....	executive producer
Frank Hübner	....	associate producer
Martin Katz	....	co-producer
Patrice Theroux	....	executive producer
Peter Woodward	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Jeff Danna

Cinematography by
Roger Pratt

Film Editing by
Lesley Walker

Casting by
John Buchan
Maureen Duff
Mark Paladini

Production Design by
Tom McCullagh

Art Direction by
Gillian Devenney
Tom McCullagh
Brendan Rankin
Mike Stallion		(supervising art director)
Andrew M. Stearn

Set Decoration by
Barbara Herman-Skelding
Odetta Stoddard

Costume Design by
Hazel Webb-Crozier

Makeup Department
Christine Beveridge	....	hair designer
Christine Beveridge	....	makeup designer
Paul R.J. Elliot	....	hair stylist
Rita Pacitto	....	second assistant hair stylist
Lydia Pensa	....	head of hair department: Toronto

Production Management
Emanuele 'Manny' Danelon	....	production manager: Ontario (as Manny Danelon)
Mike McGeagh	....	production manager: Northern Ireland
Verity Wislocki	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Genevieve Anthony	....	assistant director
Patrick Clayton	....	first assistant director
Leon Coole	....	first assistant director: second unit
Leon Coole	....	third assistant director
Emanuele 'Manny' Danelon	....	second unit director (as Emanuel 'Manny' Danelon)
Francesca Palozzi	....	trainee assistant director
Samantha Ross	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
Deryck Blake	....	property master
Rob Bonney	....	head carpenter
Kevin Forstner	....	assistant head carpenter
Beth Gilinsky	....	art department coordinator
Paul Greenberg	....	graphic designer
James Halpenny	....	construction coordinator
Suzanne Hodson	....	set decoration buyer
Kevin Hughes	....	assistant head carpenter
Darren Lyttle	....	stand-by props
Frank Matthews	....	master plasterer
William Simpson	....	storyboard artist
Jeff Smith	....	second assistant art director
Travis Staley	....	on-set carpenter
Paul Stewart	....	props
John Ward	....	props
Toni Wong	....	assistant property master
Heather Greenlees	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jonathan Bates	....	supervising sound editor
Bruce Carwardine	....	sound mixer
Pat Cassin	....	second boom operator
Tim Cavagin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thomas Dodgson	....	consultant: Dolby film sound
Mark Lafbery	....	adr foley mixer
Michael McKnight	....	sound trainee
Nigel Mills	....	adr editor
Nigel Mills	....	dialogue editor
Steve Single	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alastair Sirkett	....	sound effects designer
Alastair Sirkett	....	sound effects editor
Jack Stew	....	foley artist
Derek Trigg	....	foley editor
Markus Wade	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Richard Conway	....	special effects
Sam Conway	....	special effects coordinator
Tony Kenny	....	special effects coordinator
Vincent Kivlehan	....	special effects technician
Ian Locke	....	special effects foreman
Donal Neill	....	special effects technician
Dean Stewart	....	administration coordinator
Mark White	....	floor supervisor

Visual Effects by
Richard Bain	....	digital compositor: BainVFX
Michael Becki	....	digital compositor
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects supervisor: Mr. X Inc.
Jim Bowers	....	matte artist
Dan Carnegie	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Erik Charlebois	....	visual effects artist: Mr. X
Cyril Frederick Chu	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Cyril Frederick Chu	....	matte painter: Mr. X Inc.
Alan Church	....	visual effects supervisor: pre-production
Rob Del Ciancio	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Max Dennison	....	matte artist
Jeremy Dineen	....	visual effects animator: Mr. X Inc.
Peter Dydo	....	animator
David Fix	....	senior systems administrator: Mr. X Inc
Nikos Gatos	....	digital artist: The Senate VFX
Simon Giles	....	visual effects supervisor
Rob Greb	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Robert Greb	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Luke Groves	....	visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc.
Mick Harper	....	digital artist: The Senate VFX
Sarah Hemsley	....	visual effects producer: The Senate VFX
Richard Higham	....	digital artist: The Senate VFX
Noel Hooper	....	digital compositor
Mai-Ling Lee	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Ian MacLeod	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Elliot Mallon	....	animator
Jim Maxwell	....	matte painter: Mr. X Inc.
Ian McLeod	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Sean Mills	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
John J. Miralles	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Daniel Mizuguchi	....	digital artist
Martin Mueller	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Mike Mulock	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Stacey O'Connor	....	visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc.
Darcy Reno	....	senior systems administrator (as Darcy Bangsund)
David Singer	....	digital producer: Mr. X Inc.
Mark Stepanek	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Hayley Easton Street	....	digital artist
Brendan Taylor	....	visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc.
Tim M. Townsend	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Fiona Campbell Westgate	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc.
Steven White	....	visual effects animator: The Senate VFX
Kyle Yoneda	....	digital artist: Mr. X Inc.
Kyle Yoneda	....	visual effects animator: Mr. X Inc.
Wojciech Zielinski	....	CG supervisor: Mr. X Inc.
Zachary J. Gans	....	visual effects production assistant: Mr. X Inc. (uncredited)
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects consultant (uncredited)

Stunts
George Cottle	....	stunt double
Jamie Edgell	....	stunts
Sarah Franzl	....	stunt double: Shirley MacLaine
Paul Heasman	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Rob Hunt	....	stunts
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator
John Stead	....	stunt coordinator
Bryan Thomas	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
John Cartwright	....	electrician
Andy Chmura	....	camera operator
Jean Courteau	....	chief lighting technician
Niall Crawford	....	electrician
Steve Cussell	....	electrician
Noah Davis	....	second assistant camera
Christopher Dean	....	key grip
Paul Edwards	....	Steadicam operator
Andy Gardner	....	first assistant "b" camera
James Gardner	....	director of photography: second unit
Ben Gervais	....	video operator: Canada
Robert Hamilton	....	video operator
Jim Holmes	....	best boy grip
Mark Hryma	....	aerial director of photography
Mark Hryma	....	camera operator
Sacha Jones	....	assistant camera
Will Kendal	....	electrician
Paul McGeachan	....	rigging gaffer/best boy
Tim Merkel	....	Steadicam operator
Tim Merkel	....	camera operator
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator

Casting Department
Abigail Barbier	....	adr voice casting
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Jason Knight	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carole Costello	....	wardrobe set supervisor
Kerry Gooding	....	assistant costume designer
Sandra MacDonald	....	background costume supervisor
Tara Van Zyl	....	costume supervisor
Rachael Webb-Crozier	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Paul Ensby	....	digital color timer
Dianne Gordon	....	digital intermediate data manager
Jeremy Hume	....	assistant editor
Paul Monaghan	....	assistant editor
Dominic Thomson	....	digital editor
Jay Warren	....	digital intermediate project manager

Music Department
Simon Changer	....	assistant music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Tony Lewis	....	music editor
Sam Okell	....	assistant scoring engineer
John Whynot	....	score mixer
Jonathan Williams	....	musician: cello

Transportation Department
Ben Cekuta	....	transportation coordinator
Alan Crozier	....	transportation captain
Ian Lewis	....	driver: action vehicles
Roy McManus	....	driver: cast
Marco Sousa	....	transportation captain
Robert White	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Lex Batten	....	dailies timer
Justin Beck	....	production assistant
Joanne Brahos	....	photo double: Mischa Barton
Logan Bruce	....	equipment handler
Michelle Burns	....	production assistant
Lisa Byrne	....	assistant production coordinator
Lisa Drayne	....	production coordinator
Victoria Fodor	....	choreographer
Catherine Geary	....	location manager
Jo Gregory	....	financial controller
Esther Hegarty	....	assistant to director
Bill Hong	....	operator: camera car/insert car
Graham Hoselton	....	dailies film assistant
Joanna Johnson	....	legal and business affairs
Jason Krauskopf	....	production secretary
Lisa Lavorato	....	production accountant
Hayley Lyon	....	assistant accountant
Mark Mallorca	....	assistant: actress
Stephen McConnell	....	assistant extras coordinator
Damian McDonald	....	stand-in
Emma McNeill	....	location assistant
Andrea Mullan	....	co-production coordinator
Andrew Parkhill	....	equipment handler
Andrew Reid	....	head of production: NIFTC
Jo Rogers	....	head of creative affairs: Scion Films
Susan Rosset	....	assistant accountant
Jillian Sabean	....	assistant production coordinator
Aloma Taylor	....	payroll accountant
Dave Tommasini	....	aerial coordinator: Wescam aerial pilot
Aaron Unrau	....	assistant: Martin Katz
Cassidy Watkins	....	assistant: Shirley MacLaine
Diana Hawkins	....	script consultant (uncredited)
Chris Patterson	....	location scout (uncredited)

Production Companies

• CTR
• Closing The Ring Ltd.
• Prospero Pictures
• Scion Films
• Spinster

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (2007) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Gussi Films (2007) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Hopscotch Productions (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (2007) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Monolith (2007) (Poland) (theatrical)
• PCV (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Paradise (2007) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Paris Filmes (2007) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Shochiku Company (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Weinstein Company, The (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Works UK Distribution, The (2007) (Ireland) (theatrical)
• Works UK Distribution, The (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• DNC Entertainment (2011) (Italy) (all media)
• Feelgood Entertainment (2009) (Greece) (DVD)
• Genius Products
• MG Film (2007) (Croatia) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2008) (Romania) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Solar Entertainment (2007) (Philippines) (all media)
• Universal (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Weinstein Company, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Effects Group
• Mr. X (visual effects)
• Senate Visual Effects, The (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• G & H Film & Television Services  facilities vehicles
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Hand Prop  props supplied by
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Movietech  camera equipment provided by
• Movitech Camera Rentals  camera equipment provided by
• Pictorvision  aerial camera system
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Studio NI  filmed on location with the assistance of
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio

Also Known As:

"Richard Attenborough's Closing the Ring" - International (English title) (poster title)

MPAA:

Rated R for brief sexuality, nudity and violent images

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK | Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A | Ireland:15A | UK:12A | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-13 | Sweden:11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Company:

CTR

Trivia:

The B-17 used in the filming of this movie is the "Yankee Lady", owned and operated by the Yankee Air Museum of Ypsilanti, MI. This aircraft also appeared in the movie "Tora! Tora! Tora!" The B-17 named Sally B also made an appearance in this film.

Quotes:

Marie:Everybody needs to talk.
Jack:No, honey, everbody needs to cry. And your mother never did.

Movie Connections:

Features The Glenn Miller Story (1954)

Soundtrack:

Lost Without Your Love

Lord Attenborough does a chick flick

I must hand it to Lord Attenborough who is attempting a chick flick to keep up with the times. Can anyone else attract the level of talent in the film: Christopher Plummer, Shirley Maclaine, Neve Campbell, Mischa Barton? The story has great promise. It opens with the funeral of a young woman's beloved daughter who is delivering her eulogy to a church full of veterans who knew and loved her father. Her mother, on the other hand, is sitting out on the church porch, smoking and nursing a hangover.

What develops from this story shows us a time when this mother was young, lively, and optimistic. She is in love with a young farmer who must go off to war. They always go out with two friends who are the best buds a guy could have.

The movie is also interspersed with a story that takes place in Belfast. You know that at some point, the film will have to knit these two elements together. There are numerous light moments to offset the darker experiences of love and loss during war. Ethel Ann (Maclaine)has loved well and was always loved but she is too self-involved to understand that she has used her own tragedies to punctuate her relationship with her daughter (Campbell).

Some of the younger actors in this are Canadian talent. I hope that this film gives them the exposure that they need to continue making their way up the talent ladder. David Alpay from Slings and Arrows is terrific as is Allan Hawco. I wanted to see more of them and less of Mischa Barton whose acting is wooden at the best of times.

At the Toronto Film Festival screening yesterday, the projector had a hiccup during the sow. Stephen Amell who plays Teddy got onto the stage and had an impromptu Q&A to save the day. It was fascinating to hear how he was cast and what kind of experience an actor has when they work with Richard Attenborough.