'Master Harold' ... And the Boys (2010)

Popularity:

Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Lonny Price

Writers:

Athol Fugard (based on the play by)
Nicky Rebelo (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This movie is of Hally, an adolescent white South African. He is stuck between his intolerant father's outlook of him and those of his caretaker...

Plot Keywords:

Punctuation In Title | Ellipsis In Title | Character Name In Title

Cast

Ving Rhames	...	Sam
Freddie Highmore	...	Hally Ballard
Patrick Mofokeng	...	Willie
Jennifer Steyn	...	Betty Ballard
Michael Maxwell	...	Harold Ballard
Redd-Valentino Debray	...	Young Hally
Zoliswa Kawe	...	Myriam
Bongo Mbutuma	...	Elias
Nceba Mpiliswana	...	Owigi
Vuyisile Pandle	...	Winston
Wiseman Sithole	...	Bus Driver
Tiny Skefile	...	Passenger
Deon Lotz	...	Policeman
Sean Goatleysoan	...	Langervidt
Justin Stein	...	Bully
Nicholas Andrews	...	Bully #2
Thomas Galvin	...	Bully #3
Nicky Rebelo	...	Headmaster
Danny Keogh	...	Mr. Prentice
Wayne Harrison	...	Jack Kempston
Thembani Luzipho	...	Master of Ceremonies
Caroline Mayola	...	Hilda
Robin Smith	...	Man in Bar / Radio news reader
Marion Baxter	...	Featured Dancer
Karabo Radpoole	...	Featured Dancer
Beata Cloete	...	Featured Dancer
Andre Cloete	...	Featured Dancer
Natalie Fredericks	...	Feratured Dancer
Angelo Moroka	...	Featured Dancer
Smantha Kok	...	Featured Dancer
Charlton Erasmus	...	Featured Dancer
Nomzamo Ganyaza	...	Featured Dancer
Khumbula Noibaza	...	Featured Dancer
Sheena Abrahams	...	Featured Dancer
Arthur Jacobs	...	Featured Dancer
Nomafuza Nongongo	...	Featured Dancer
Siyathemba Nojingka	...	Featured Dancer
Emmaureen Jaha	...	Featured Dancer
Jose Oerson	...	Featured Dancer
Jolene Letago	...	Featured Dancer
Jeremy Stanley	...	Featured Dancer
Amaya Mbiza	...	Featured Dancer
Lusanda Msopi	...	Featured Dancer
Mamela Nyamza	...	Featured Dabcer
Owen Manamela	...	Featured Dancer
Zintile Yimba	...	Featured Dancer
Petros Tshemese	...	Featured Dancer
Elijah Gladman Guzana and his Orchestral Jazzonians	...	Band
Marius B.G. Swartz	...	Trumpet Player
Alex Van Der Speck	...	Trumpet Player
Angus B. Petesen	...	Trombone Player
Ivan Mazuze	...	Saxophone Player
Phumlani Mtiti	...	Saxophone Player
Mervyn Africa	...	Piano Player
Wesley D. Rustin	...	Double Bass Player
Carl H. Van Rensburg	...	Drums Player

Directed by
Lonny Price

Writing credits
Athol Fugard		(based on the play by)
Nicky Rebelo		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michael Auret	....	producer
George Belshaw	....	executive producer
Raimund Berens	....	executive producer
Zaheer Bhyat	....	producer (as Zaheer Goodman-Bhyat)
Reuben Cannon	....	executive producer
Peter Dale	....	executive producer
John Hadity	....	executive producer
Malcolm Kohll	....	co-producer
William Mahoney	....	executive producer
Nelle Nugent	....	producer
Richard Paulson	....	executive producer
Jody Price	....	executive producer
David Pupkewitz	....	producer
Morris Ruskin	....	executive producer
Avy Stein	....	executive producer
Kenneth Teaton	....	executive producer
Platon Trakoshis	....	line producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Barry Donnelly

Cinematography by
Lance Gewer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ronelle Loots

Casting by
Janet Meintjies		(as Janet Meintjes)
Christa Schamberger

Production Design by
Tom Gubb

Costume Design by
Pierre Vienings

Makeup Department
Pat Adams	....	hair stylist assistant
Pat Adams	....	makeup artist assistant
Nicolette Basson	....	key hair stylist
Nicolette Basson	....	key makeup artist
Carla Fourie	....	hair stylist assistant
Carla Fourie	....	makeup artist assistant
Rozanna Howe	....	hair stylist assistant
Rozanna Howe	....	makeup artist assistant
Annalinde Kirsten	....	hair stylist assistant
Annalinde Kirsten	....	makeup artist assistant
Rene Rossouw	....	hair stylist assistant (as Renee Rossouw)
Rene Rossouw	....	makeup artist assistant (as Renee Rossouw)
Gayl Shelly	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Derek O'Connor	....	unit manager: locations
Barry Strick	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dale Butler	....	first assistant director
De Villiers Fourie	....	third assistant director
Eugenia Claudia Gualdi	....	second assistant director (as Eugenia Gualdi)
Kitt Lavoie	....	assistant director
Marcelleno Trout	....	second assistant director (as Marcellano Trout)
Christo van Schalkwyk	....	second assistant director: second unit
Trish Wylie	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Cyril Shu Anyanga	....	set dresser (as Cyril Anyanga)
Gail Behrmann	....	art department researcher
Jason Berndt	....	art department coordinator
Mike Fernandez	....	art department assistant
Gregory Gibson	....	props assistant
Jane Henderson	....	lead set decorator
Saadiqah Omar	....	art department assistant
Mark Risk	....	storyboard artist
Jako Suhrmuller	....	art department assistant
Amidou Fombe Tiku	....	set dresser (as Fombe Tiku)
Johan Van Eeden	....	stand-by on-set dresser
Jaco Van Heerden	....	stand-by on-set dresser
Kobus Van Heerden	....	art department assistant (as Jako Van Heerden)
Neil Williamson	....	property master
Lee-Ann Olwage	....	art department assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Armien Baradien	....	vt sound
Barry Donnelly	....	sound designer
Paul Herrington	....	sound facility manager
Conrad Kuhne	....	location sound recordist
Jacques Pienaar	....	boom operator
Bert Roets	....	location sound recordist
Mark Shehab	....	assistant sound editor
Geronimo Mercado	....	adr supervisor: Puerto Rico (uncredited)
Mark Shehab	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ricardo Cupido	....	special effects crew
Antonio Morelli	....	special effects crew
Gavin Pearson	....	special effects coordinator
Russel Shlummer	....	special effects crew (as Russel Schlimmer)
Cassandra Van Der Zanden	....	special effects crew
Raymond Vokes	....	special effects crew (as Raymond Volkes)
Donavin Waters	....	special effects crew

Visual Effects by
Faghrie Coenraad	....	3d artist: Condor Cape Town
Faghvie Coenraad	....	3d artist: Condor Cape Town
Devin Mitchell	....	3d artist: Condor Cape Town
Mzo Pitolo	....	compositing artist: Condor Cape Town
Andre Steyn	....	compositing artist: Condor Cape Town
Andre Van Der Merwe	....	visual effects producer: Condor Cape Town

Stunts
Paul Hampshire	....	stunt coordinator
Mick 'Stuntie' Milligan	....	stunts (as Mick Milligan)
Gabriel Williamson	....	stunt office coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Aenmey	....	camera operator (as Dave Aenmay)
Jarrett Barr	....	grip
Patrick Botha	....	best boy
Eduardo Da Veigo	....	vt operator
Stephen Daly	....	best boy
Hein de Vos	....	camera operator
Thozamile Ganzana	....	sparks (as Thozamile Ganjani)
Gijs Ten Haaft	....	grip
David Howe	....	gaffer
Zahir Karriem	....	key grip
Pam Laxen	....	focus puller (as Pamela Laxen)
Warrick Mcleod	....	digital loader: red one
Elvis Mhlauli	....	sparks
Nik Nocwabe	....	grip assistant
Gideon Pretorius	....	sparks
Bruno Shosha	....	generator operator (as Bruno Shosh)
Hilton Stiles	....	best boy grip (as Hilton Styles')
Ayanda Sunduza	....	clapper loader
Lean Van Den Berg	....	clapper loader
Adi Visser	....	steadicam operator
Coco Van Oppens	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jeanette Bingham	....	seamstress
Cathy Collard	....	costume tailor
Kim Coppen	....	stand-by wardrobe
Inge Hough	....	costume stand-by
Ayesha Khatieb	....	costume supervisor
Jocelyn Mackenzie	....	seamstress
Candice-Lee Robinson	....	wardrobe assistant
Natalie Schoeman	....	stand-by wardrobe
Jeanette Scott	....	seamstress
Oona Van Jaarsveld	....	wardrobe assistant
Oona Mari Van Jaarsveld	....	wardrobe assistant
Geraldine Verkul	....	costume cleaner

Editorial Department
Donovan Bush	....	supervising colorist
Petr Geertsema	....	assistant editor
Corne Gildenhuys	....	assistant editor
Tanja Hagen	....	assistant editor
Heino Henning	....	colorist
Heino Henning	....	on-line editor
Richard Lackey	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Mike Blake	....	musician: solo trumpet
Barbara Kennedy	....	musician: solo cello
Neo Mayanga	....	musician: opening music vocalist (as Neo Muyanga)
Grant Innes McLachlan	....	arranger: digital (as Grant McLachlan)

Transportation Department
Cyril Shu Anyanga	....	driver: set dressing (as Cyril Anyanga)
Derek Ayuk	....	driver: wardrobe truck
Wilfrid Cupido	....	driver: banger
Henry de Villiers	....	transportation captain
Clem Hennessy	....	unit captain: locations
Clement Magwaza	....	driver: wardrobe truck
James Mubawa	....	driver: catering
Anthony Muringani	....	driver: craft service (as Anthony Muregani)
Lieven Muzerwa	....	driver: hair and makeup truck
Bruce Nqamqele	....	driver: unit truck
Derek O'Connor	....	transportation manager

Other crew
Shiraz Adams	....	chaperone: cast
Razwana Akram	....	legal services: UK, Simons Murhead Burton
Matt Alesevich	....	development manager: Foxboro Company
Kelly Jo Bluen	....	tutor: French
Robyn Bouwer	....	production assistant
Neil Brown	....	on-set medic: Medics in Motion
Bourne Burski	....	location scout
Devin Richard Butterworth	....	loop group: Young Hally
Mark Cain	....	accountant
Hanlie Carstens	....	insurance broker: South Africa, COM
Carla Cloete	....	production assistant
Matt Cowart	....	assistant to director
Willemun De Best	....	collection agent: Fintage House
Byron De Carvalho	....	caterer
Kurt De Villers	....	chaperone: Mr. Price (as Kurt De Villiers)
Clinton De Villiers	....	chaperone: cast (as Clint De Villiers)
Aubrey Diko	....	unit assistant
Andrea Dondolo	....	loop group
Surita Douglas	....	accountant
Lusindiso Dubula	....	loop group (as Lusindiso 'Darky' Dubula)
David Friedlander	....	counsel: Foxboro Company
Joanne Goldstone	....	accounting consultant
Martin Goodman	....	chaperone: Mr. Highmore
Kerry Gregg	....	production coordinator
Atiya Henry	....	staff: Reuben Cannon Productions
Tiffany Heyns	....	production secretary
Mark Hoeben	....	choreographer
Kailyn Johnson	....	title designer and treatment (as Ryan Johnson)
Cigal Kaplan	....	assistant to producers: Focus Films
Mildred Kasirori	....	catering assistant
Vengaj Katsande	....	craft service leader
Kevin T. Katske	....	financial and legal services
Zoliswa Kawe	....	loop group
Gideon Kekande	....	catering assistant
Jonathan S. Kemp	....	assistant to producers: Focus Films (as Jonny Kemp)
Andile Kosi	....	loop group (as Andile 'Jumbo' Kosi)
Peter Krummeck	....	loop group
Jeff Lock	....	development manager: Foxboro Company
Rae Lockett	....	staff: Reuben Cannon Productions (as Reasheal Lockett)
Guy MacLeod	....	legal services: South Africa, Irish Inc.
Mvakalish 'Dobs' Madotyeni	....	loop group
Alice Mahoney	....	financial and legal services
Bill Mahoney	....	financial and legal services
Jim Mahoney	....	financial and legal services
Michelle Mahoney	....	financial and legal services
Peter Marshall	....	insurance broker: USA, De Witt Stern Group
Bongo Mbutuma	....	loop group
Jacques McDonald	....	technical advisor (as Jacques Macdonald)
Patrick Mediate	....	development director: Foxboro Company
Nick Miller	....	tutor: Mathematics
Kim Moir	....	travel services: Wide Horizons Direct
Nceba Mpiliswana	....	loop group
James Mubawa	....	catering team leader
Africa Munyama	....	set production assistant
Deborah Murray	....	location scout
Collins Ndlama	....	general office assistant
Stacie O'Beirne	....	insurance broker: USA, De Witt Stern Group
Lynette Ou Tim	....	production assistant
Yuyisile Pandle	....	loop group
Lars Plucker	....	collection agent: Fintage House
Selwyn Prins	....	unit assistant
Paul Raleigh	....	completion bond: Film Finances
Cristobel Salmeron	....	tutor: Spanish
Joy Sapieka	....	unit publicist
Carien Schutte	....	script supervisor
Sarah Scott	....	loop group
Mattew Sheel	....	chaperone: Mr. Rhames
James Shirras	....	completion bond: Film Finances
Robin Smith	....	loop group
Justine Solomon	....	production coordinator
Gok-Hui Tan	....	company accountant: Focus Films
Clara Tilve	....	tutor: Spanish
Susan Truckey	....	tutoring coordinator
Ryan Venter	....	catering coordinator
Joan Washington	....	dialect coach: Mr. Highmore
Ilana Wetzler	....	loop group
Jonathan P. Whitcomb	....	financial and legal services
Ina Wichterich	....	dance director
Michael Wilson	....	production assistant
Denise Woods	....	dialect coach: Mr. Rhames
David Zannoni	....	collection agent: Fintage House

Thanks
Tracy Ann Bryan	....	special thanks
David Dale	....	in memory of
Sue Latimer	....	the producers wish to thank
Phyllis Ruskin	....	in memory of

Production Companies

• Focus Films
• Light and Dark Films
• Spier Films

Distributors

• Focus Filmes (2012) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Phoenicia Pictures (2010) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Videorama (2011) (Greece) (all media)

Special Effects

• Big Bang (special effects)
• Condor Post Cape Town (visual effects) (as Condor Cape Town)

Other Companies

• COM  insurance brokers: South Africa
• Carole Dudley Associates  casting
• DeWitt Stern Group  insurance brokers: USA
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Fintage CAM  Collection Account Management
• Fintage CAM  collection agent
• Hollowpoint Security  set security
• Irish  legal services: South Africa
• Media Film Service Cape Town  camera: grips and lighting
• Medics in Motion  on-set medic
• Simons Muirhead & Burton  legal services: UK (as Simons Murhead Burton)
• Teach-Me-2 Tutoring  tutors: Mr. Highmore
• Waterfront Studios  post-production facilities
• Wide Horizons Direct  travel services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief sexuality and some language

Runtime:

USA:87 min

Country:

South Africa

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | USA:PG-13

Company:

Focus Films

Trivia:

The director, Lonny Price, played Hally opposite Danny Glover in the Broadway play in 1982, and then he directed a Broadway revival of the play, also starring Danny Glover, in 2003.

Movie Connections:

Version of 'Master Harold'... and the Boys (1985) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Ballroom Waltz

Ving Rhames and Freddie Highmore are Wonderful

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

My review may contain minor spoilers:

Yes, the casting decisions were right on! The wonderful Ving Rhames is Sam and Freddie Highmore is Hally (or "Master Harold") in what could have been a terrific movie. Unfortunately, the disjointed direction and script make this a somewhat confusing movie.

Hally is a sensitive young teenager who's bullied at school and abused at home by his alcoholic, racist father. They live in South Africa during Apartheid, so the viewpoints were pretty much normal. However, Hally has a friend in Sam. Sam is a Black worker in Hally's family restaurant. He's kind and patient. He has given Hally the only rare good childhood memories he's ever had.....like learning to fly a kite. There's a side plot that concerns Willie (Patrick Mofokeng), the other restaurant worker and friend of Sam. Willie is concerned with entering a Ballroom Dancing competition. Sam speaks to Willie about not beating his wife. So the movie deals with other forms of abuse.

When he learns that his father is going to be released from the hospital, Hally has a meltdown. He finally snaps and takes his anger out on Sam and Willie. What Hally does to Sam is ugly and demeaning. The last scenes between a dignified Sam and cold Hally are golden. The ending was predictable given the time and place.

I really wanted to love this movie. Both lead stars are terrific in carrying their roles. But the movie tends to meander too quickly in other directions and the filming is even messy. It could have been so much better!