Pirate Radio (2009)
"The Boat That Rocked" (original title)

A period comedy about an illegal radio station in the North Sea in the 1960s.

Director:

Richard Curtis

Writer:

Richard Curtis

Stars:

Michael Hadley, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Hadley	...	Mr. Roberts
Charlie Rowe	...	James
Lucy Fleming	...	Mrs. Roberts
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	The Count
Tom Sturridge	...	Carl
Ian Mercer	...	Transfer Boatman
Bill Nighy	...	Quentin
Will Adamsdale	...	News John
Tom Brooke	...	Thick Kevin
Rhys Darby	...	Angus
Nick Frost	...	Dave
Katherine Parkinson	...	Felicity
Chris O'Dowd	...	Simon
Ike Hamilton	...	Harold
Stephen Moore	...	Prime Minister

Storyline

"The Boat That Rocked" is an ensemble comedy in which the romance takes place between the young people of the '60s and pop music. It's about a band of rogue DJs that captivated Britain, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that wanted classical music, and nothing else, on the airwaves. The Count, a big, brash, American god of the airwaves; Quentin, the boss of Radio Rock -- a pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea that's populated by an eclectic crew of rock and roll DJs; Gavin, the greatest DJ in Britain who has just returned from his drug tour of America to reclaim his rightful position; Dave, an ironic, intelligent and cruelly funny co-broadcaster; and a fearsome British government official out for blood against the drug takers and lawbreakers of a once-great nation.

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Plot Keywords:

1960s | pop music | north sea | pirate radio | lesbian | 

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Taglines:

1 Boat. 8 DJs. No Morals.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, and some sexual content including brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [fr]

Country:

UK Germany France

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pirate Radio

Filming Locations:

Gambardella's Cafe, Blackheath Standard, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$2,904,380 (USA) (13 November 2009)

Gross:

$7,994,115 (USA) (1 January 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS (as dts)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although purely fictional, the film does reference many of the actual events surrounding pirate radio. Namely, like the pirate radio ship, the Ross Revenge', the movie's ship is red with the station's name in white paint on the deck. Radio Caroline's ship, the Mi Amigo sank, complete with fleeing DJs unable to save the ship's vast record collection and as in the film's finale, its extremely high mast rose out of the sea where it stayed for many months. Also a DJ did marry on a pirate radio ship as Simon does in the film. Additionally the DJs are seemingly composites of popular radio personalities of the time such as Tony Blackburn (also unlucky in love in his early days ala Simon Swafford, when his rocky marriage become apparent in his radio show) and the wacky Kenny Everett has traits similar to Angus Nutsford. Dave Lee Travis, Whispering Bob Harris, American DJ Emperor Rosko and Johnnie Walker also are seemingly portrayed in the film.

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Goofs

The Boat is sinking at a position given as 53 degrees 17 minutes North and 2 degrees 15 minutes East - which is a position 70 km Northeast of Bacton in Norfolk, (the nearest town on land) - however Gavin is requesting anybody with a boat in Suffolk to help with the rescue. Suffolk is a long way to the South and he would do better to ask for help from anyone in Norfolk.

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Quotes

Harold: [the crew has decided to stay on the ship and keep broadcasting having nowhere else to go, Harold is the last one left] I *do* have somewhere else to go
[pause as crew looks at him. Quentin gives an "alright" shrug]
Harold: But it's Peckham so I'm staying
[all start backslapping and saluting]

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Crazy Credits

There is an additional scene after the credits have ended.

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Connections

References Dr. No (1962)

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Soundtracks

"I'm Alive"
(1965)
Written by Clint Ballard Jr. (as Clint Ballard)
Performed by The Hollies
Courtesy of EMI Records Ltd

User Reviews

Great Movie! One of the best in years

This is the Film of the year! No specials effects and CG and just a nice vibe to it. I found this film to be profoundly good. MUCH, MUCH better than I ever expected. Hoffman always delivers and with great UK talent. I was truly dumbfounded. Writing is good, plot is solid, Acting is fantastic, story line is great and the best movie score/soundtrack I have heard in recent history. It is fairly long but goes well with a cold one on a weekend. I hope it gets huge distribution in the US! It's a fun,uplifting, feel-good, strange and yet inspiring film. To be based on a true story and deliver this is impressive. I will tell everybody about this one. Watch it.