Brassed Off (1996)

The coal mine in a northern English village may be closing, which would also mean the end of the miners' brass band.

Director:

Mark Herman

Writer:

Mark Herman

Stars:

Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Ewan McGregor

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 10 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Danny
Tara Fitzgerald	...	Gloria
Ewan McGregor	...	Andy
Stephen Tompkinson	...	Phil
Jim Carter	...	Harry
Philip Jackson	...	Jim
Peter Martin	...	Ernie
Sue Johnston	...	Vera
Mary Healey	...	Ida
Melanie Hill	...	Sandra
Lill Roughley	...	Rita
Peter Gunn	...	Simmo
Stephen Moore	...	McKenzie
Kenneth Colley	...	Greasley (as Ken Colley)
Olga Grahame	...	Mrs. Foggan

Storyline

In existence for a hundred years, Grimley Colliery Brass band is as old as the mine. But the miners are now deciding whether to fight to keep the pit open, and the future for town and band looks bleak. Although the arrival of flugelhorn player Gloria injects some life into the players, and bandleader Danny continues to exhort them to continue in the national competition, frictions and pressures are all too evident. And who's side is Gloria actually on?

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Plot Keywords:

yorkshire | bare chested male | nudity | male nudity | male rear nudity | 

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Taglines:

Fed up with the system. Ticked off at the establishment. And mad about... each other.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 May 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brassed Off!

Filming Locations:

British Waterways Wharf, Friars Gate, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£1,674,359 (United Kingdom), 15 November 1996

Opening Weekend USA:

$52,534, 26 May 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,560,471, 10 August 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films,Miramax,Prominent Features

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the ballot scene, it is very briefly shown that Andy votes for the pit to go to the review procedure and does not vote for redundancy. As the ballot paper is upside down, the film needs to be paused for this to be clearly visible.

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Quotes

Simmo: Andy, I don't want a falling out, mate. You're my main source of income.
Andy: Don't worry, Simmo. I've lost more this week than a bloody trumpet.

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Crazy Credits

The beginning of the closing credits is headed by the silouhette of a trumpet.

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Alternate Versions

The British release does not have the dictionary definitions at the start or end of the film. These were added to the American release to introduce the US audience to British slang. The end of the film has the same information, but just as normal text.

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Connections

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert: Conspiracy Theory/Kiss Me, Guido/The Full Monty/Career Girls/Love Serenade/Free Willy 3: The Rescue (1997)

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Soundtracks

Jerusalem
Written by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (as Parry)
Lyrics by William Blake (as Blake)
Arr. Herbert
Published by Boosey and Co Limited

User Reviews

Wonderfully warm and human film

This film has everything: Humour. Poignancy. A message. Human characters. Warmth. A great cast and good story. Interesting locales. Creative techniques. (Watch for the clown scenes and especially the one in the playground.) "Brassed Off" was (and is) a powerful editorial indictment of the Thatcher government of the time. Yet it does not preach other than in the opening and closing credits which are pithy and innovative. Anytime you see something with the Channel Four label on it, you know it will be interesting, provocative and a little different. They outdid themselves on this.