A Merry War (1997)
Keep the Aspidistra Flying (original title)Reference View | Change View
- PG-13
- 1h 41min
- Comedy, Drama
- 28 Aug 1998 (USA)
- Movie
Gordon Comstock quits his job at an advertising agency in order to write poetry, only to find that poets, like everyone else, need money.
Director:
Writers:
Award:
- 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Richard E. Grant | ... |
Gordon Comstock
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| Helena Bonham Carter | ... |
Rosemary
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| Julian Wadham | ... |
Ravelston
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| Jim Carter | ... |
Erskine
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| Harriet Walter | ... |
Julia Comstock
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| Lesley Vickerage | ... |
Hermione
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| Barbara Leigh-Hunt | ... |
Mrs. Wisbeach
(as Barbara Leigh Hunt)
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| Liz Smith | ... |
Mrs. Meakin
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| John Clegg | ... |
McKechnie
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Bill Wallis | ... |
Mr. Cheeseman
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Lill Roughley | ... |
Mrs. Trilling
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Dorothea Alexander | ... |
Old Woman
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Peter Stockbridge | ... |
Old Man
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Grant Parsons | ... |
Beautiful Young Man
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| Malcolm Sinclair | ... |
Paul Doring
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| Derek Smee | ... |
Lecturer
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| Ben Miles | ... |
Ravenscroft Waiter
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| Richard Dixon | ... |
Head Waiter
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| Eve Ferret | ... |
Barmaid
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| Roger Morlidge | ... |
Policeman
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Roland Oliver | ... |
Magistrate Croom
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| Roger Frost | ... |
Orton the Undertaker
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| Dorothy Atkinson | ... |
Dora
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Harri Alexander | ... |
Barbara
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| Lucy Speed | ... |
Factory Girl
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| Joan Blackham | ... |
Librarian
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Roy Evans | ... |
Cabby
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| Maggie McCarthy | ... |
Customer
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Lone Madsen | ... |
Girl at Modigliani's
(as Lone Vidahl)
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Steven Crossley | ... |
Man at Club
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Mark Chapman | ... |
Court Room Journalist (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Robert Bierman | ||
Written by
| George Orwell | ... | (novel) |
| Alan Plater | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Robert Bierman | ... | executive producer |
| Sara Giles | ... | associate producer |
| Joyce Herlihy | ... | associate producer |
| Peter Shaw | ... | producer |
| John Wolstenholme | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Mike Batt | ||
Cinematography by
| Giles Nuttgens | ... | director of photography |
Film Editing by
| Bill Wright | ||
Editorial Department
| Adam Edsall | ... | second assistant editor |
| Kerry Kohler | ... | first assistant editor |
Casting By
| Michelle Guish | ||
Production Design by
| Sarah Greenwood | ||
Art Direction by
| Philip Robinson | ||
Costume Design by
| James Keast | ||
Makeup Department
| Diane Chenery-Wickens | ... | hair stylist (as Diane Wickens) / makeup artist (as Diane Wickens) |
| Sarah Grispo | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
| Marilyn MacDonald | ... | chief hair stylist (as Marilyn Macdonald) / key makeup artist (as Marilyn Macdonald) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Connie Boylan | ... | third assistant director |
| Richard Hewitt | ... | first assistant director |
| Toby Sherborne | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Dave Allen | ... | construction manager |
| Lindsay Brunnock | ... | assistant art director (as Lindsey Bronnock) |
| Perry Crosby | ... | painter |
| Paul Emerson | ... | property master |
| Gerry Graham | ... | stand-by painter |
| Rick Hamilton-Barret | ... | dressing propman (as Rick Hamilton-Barritt) |
| Matthew Lawrence | ... | art department trainee |
| Pete Lennox | ... | chargehand carpenter |
| Alan McLaughlin | ... | stand-by stagehand |
| Andy Mortimer | ... | dressing propman |
| Sara Partis | ... | art department assistant |
| Joe Sheehan | ... | stand-by carpenter |
| Lance Smith | ... | painter |
| Katie Spencer | ... | production buyer |
| Tony Statham | ... | signs and graphics (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Richard Coles | ... | boom operator |
| Paul Conway | ... | dubbing editor |
| Paul Hamblin | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Catherine Hodgson | ... | dubbing editor |
| Leslie Hodgson | ... | dubbing editor |
| Patrick Quirke | ... | sound recordist |
| Andre Schmidt | ... | dubbing editor |
| Joanna Tam | ... | sound trainee |
Stunts
| Terry Forrestal | ... | stunt arranger |
| Vincent Keane | ... | stunts |
| Rocky Taylor | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Roy Elston | ... | rigger |
| Steve Foster | ... | gaffer |
| Ian Jackson | ... | camera operator |
| Ed Jones | ... | clapper loader |
| Pat Killeen | ... | stand-by rigger (as Pat Kileen) |
| Mark Milsome | ... | camera focus |
| Ken Owen | ... | best boy (as Kenny Owen) |
| Roberta Parkin | ... | still photographer |
| Colin Powton | ... | best boy |
| Danny Smith | ... | camera trainee |
| David Smith | ... | gaffer |
| Malcolm Smith | ... | camera grip |
| Laurence Edwards | ... | crane technician (uncredited) |
| Alan Grayley | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Stuart Howell | ... | steadicam operator (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Julia Gale | ... | casting assistant |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Sheila Cullen | ... | wardrobe mistress |
| Michael Johnson | ... | wardrobe master |
| Lucy Sampson | ... | wardrobe trainee |
Location Management
| Emma Pill | ... | assistant location manager |
| Colin Plenty | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Mike Batt | ... | conductor / music producer / music supervisor / orchestrator |
| John Zaradin | ... | music copyist |
Script and Continuity Department
| Elizabeth West | ... | script supervisor |
| Liz West | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Bryan Baverstock | ... | unit driver |
| Neil Birdsall | ... | facility/truck driver |
| Frank Brown | ... | unit driver |
| Keith Horsley | ... | unit driver |
| Dermot Leybourne | ... | facility/truck driver |
| Roy Osborn | ... | facility/truck driver |
| Bill Stevenson | ... | facility/truck driver |
| Andy Thomson | ... | driver: camera truck |
| John Tiny Topping | ... | facility/truck driver |
Additional Crew
| Laurence Brown | ... | legal services |
| Pete Daly | ... | unit publicist |
| Dennis Davidson | ... | public relations |
| Max De Nett | ... | stand-in propman |
| Lorraine Fennell | ... | production coordinator |
| Barry Howard-Clark | ... | stand-in propman (as Barry Howard-Clarke) |
| Diana Lander | ... | unit nurse |
| Steve Masters | ... | title designer |
| Peter Matthews | ... | laboratory liaison |
| Dennis Michael | ... | unit publicist |
| Ali Moshref | ... | assistant accountant |
| Richard Philipps | ... | legal services |
| Albert G. Ruben | ... | insurance consultant |
| John Sargent | ... | production accountant |
| Daniel Shepherd | ... | floor runner |
| Luke Stevenson | ... | production runner |
| Steve Dent | ... | horse supplier (uncredited) |
| Cyril Megret | ... | production financing (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Francesca Barra | ... | thanks |
| Jenne Casarotto | ... | thanks |
| Joan Elford | ... | thanks |
| Mark Hamilton | ... | thanks |
Production Companies
- Arts Council of England (in association with)
- BBC Films (presents)
- Bonaparte Films (in association with)
- Overseas FilmGroup (presents)
- Sentinel Films
- UBA
Distributors
- A-Pix Entertainment
- Alpha Media (2007) (China) (video) (VOD/IPTV)
- Ardustry Home Entertainment
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
- DVD International (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- First Independent Films (United Kingdom)
- First Look International (1998) (United States)
- Lions Gate Films
- New World Films Internacional S.A. (Spain)
- Primer Plano Film Group (Argentina)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- AON (insurance consultant)
- Abbey Road Studios (music recorded at)
- BBC Costume Store (costumes by)
- Boom (sound re-recorded at)
- Cosprop (costumes by)
- Coutts & CO (bank services)
- DDA Public Relations (public relations)
- Film Finances (completion guarantor)
- Freewheel (developed in association with)
- Kestrel Photographic Limited (stills processed by)
- Lee Lighting (lighting equipment provided by)
- MGM Cabs (action vehicles provided by)
- O & A Associates (construction facilities)
- Panavision (camera equipment provided by)
- Richards Butler International Law Firms (legal services)
- Sapex Scripts (post-production script services)
- Silent Movies (catering services)
- Steve Dent (horse-drawn vehicles provided by)
- Steve Dent (horses provided by)
- Studio 51 Opticals (opticals)
- Sylvia Wheeler Film Services (negative cutting)
- The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (music performed by)
- Warner / Chappell Music (music publishing)
- Warner Bros. De Lane Lea (editing facilities)
- Wavevend Limited (mobile telephones)
- Wavevend Limited (walkie talkies)
- Willie's Wheels (facility vehicles provided by)
- Willie's Wheels (transport vehicles provided by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency, and his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. Gordon believes he is a genius, a marvelous poet and quits the ad agency, trying to live on his poems, but poverty soon comes to him. Written by Anonymous |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Goofs | During a scene in the office, Rosemary is sitting at her desk talking to her boss. The light reflects off her glasses, giving off a green tinge, indicative of anti-reflective lenses - not invented during the time the movie takes place. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Why Do Fools Fall in Love/A Merry War/Your Friends and Neighbors/Dance with Me/Blade (1998). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Tiger in the Night See more » |
| Quotes |
Gordon Comstock:
When you're lying in the gutter, you've got nowhere to fall. See more » |