A Close Shave (1995)

Wallace falls for Wendolene, a wool shop owner, while Gromit is framed for the sheep rustling.

Director:

Nick Park

Writers:

Bob Baker, Nick Park

Stars:

Peter Sallis, Anne Reid, Justin Fletcher

Won 1 Oscar. Another 18 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Sallis	...	Wallace (voice)
Anne Reid	...	Wendolene (voice)

Storyline

When Wallace and Gromit go over to wash windows, Wallace falls in love with a wool store owner named Wendolene. Meanwhile, Gromit is framed for killing sheep and is put in jail. So with help from the sheep and Wendolene, Wallace must get him out of prison.

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Plot Keywords:

sheep rustling | surrealism | innocence | animal that acts human | knitting | 

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Taglines:

From the Oscar-winning creator of A Grand Day Out and The Wrong Trousers.

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Comedy | Crime | Family | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Aardman Animations

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Läheltä piti

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aardman Animations, BBC Bristol, Wallace & Gromit

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo (as Dolby Stereo)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Released theatrically in the US alongside Pocahontas (1995).

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Goofs

When Gromit unwraps the jigsaw puzzle box, the label indicates it contains 5000 pieces. While he finishes laying the puzzle, the upright box now shows the number 500 on the label, and when he reads the puzzle's message, there are just 13 x 8 = 104 pieces on the table.

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Quotes

Sign on wall of wool shop: [there's a wool shortage] WOOL RATIONING TWO BALLS PER PERSON

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Crazy Credits

After the credits and the Aardman logo is shown, we hear sheep bleating.

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Connections

Featured in All About 'Thunderbirds' (2008)

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Soundtracks

Wallace and Gromit Theme
(uncredited)

User Reviews

Really good fun but stolen by the sheep

Wallace and Gromit are working as window cleaners when Wallace meets Wendolene – the owner of the local wool store and falls in love. Gromit stumbles across a plot to kidnap sheep to make them into food but is framed for a sheep murder before he can do anything. Can Wallace get Gromit out of jail in time to foil the sheep rustlers?

By this stage Christmas on the BBC was basically better known as the time when we get the new W&G film rather than for the birth of the son of God. This film was THE focus for Christmas day – ITV did everything but stop broadcasting at the same time as this was on – who would want to compete with this?! Happily it doesn't disappoint. The plot is silly but incredibly well thought out and very imaginative.

The comedy is as bright and breezy as ever – getting to kids without resorting to lazy clowning or stupid sight gags and also reaching adults without lacing the film with innuendo or hidden smut. Instead it is just a clever mix of wit and humour that really hits the mark. On Christmas Day it's easy to sit and doze through anything but this made me sit up and pay attention

The characters are as good as ever. As always Wallace is solid and wonderfully eccentric while Gromit is the real brains behind everything working. Gromit is my favourite character but here he is upstaged by the oh-so-cute Shaun the sheep (on his way to a merchandising boom!). Shaun is more for kids but Gromit still steals many scenes. Wendolene (gettit?) is not so good and the scenes with Wallace and her don't work as well as the rest.

Overall this is very funny despite just falling short of the mark set by `The Wrong Trousers'. Word is Park is currently writing a W&G movie – I can't wait!!!!