Rogue Trader (1999)

The story of Nick Leeson, an ambitious investment broker who singlehandedly bankrupted one of the oldest and most important banks in Britain.

Director:

James Dearden

Writers:

James Dearden, Nick Leeson (autobiography)

Stars:

Ewan McGregor, Anna Friel, Yves Beneyton

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ewan McGregor	...	Nick Leeson
Anna Friel	...	Lisa Leeson
Yves Beneyton	...	Pierre Beaumarchais
Betsy Brantley	...	Brenda Granger
Caroline Langrishe	...	Ash Lewis
Nigel Lindsay	...	Ron Baker
Tim McInnerny	...	Tony Hawes
Irene Ng	...	Bonnie Lee
Lee Ross	...	Danny Argyropoulos
Simon Shepherd	...	Peter Norris
John Standing	...	Peter Baring
Pip Torrens	...	Simon Jones
Tom Wu	...	George Seow
Daniel York	...	Henry Tan
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danny Argyropoulos	...	Trader #1

Storyline

Ambitious, wide-eyed boy Nick Leeson is determined to rise in the world and be more than a simple bank clerk. When his employers, Barings Bank, offer him the opportunity to go to Jakarta to sort out a problem that nobody else wants, he seizes the opportunity with both hands. In Jakarta he meets and marries Lisa and together they go to Singapore when the bank offers him the job of setting up their future options trading operation. To save money the bank allows Nick to operate both the floor trading and the back office facilities and force him to employ cheap, unskilled staff. His first year of trading is a big success and he makes large profits for the bank even though he has illegally broken trading rules and secretly covered up losses. Given more freedom, even more money and continuing unchecked, Nick starts to make losses and again attempts to trade out of them but this time he comes unstuck as his illegal trading generates even bigger losses. After the death of his unborn child ...

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Plot Keywords:

hare krishna | bank | money | barings bank | singapore | 

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Taglines:

He'll risk everything to beat the system!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 June 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

Vild satsning

Filming Locations:

Fleet Street, Holborn, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$12,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£269,871 (United Kingdom), 27 June 1999, Limited Release

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Film Productions, Newmarket Capital Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of eight (8) films available on the 2012, 2-DVD set, "British Cinema Collections: 8 Acclaimed Films". The films are:

Disc 1: "Love Among the Ruins" (1975), "The Inheritance" (1997), Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" (1948), and Robert Louis Stevenson's "St. Ives" (1998).

Disc 2: "School for Seduction" (2004), "Dirty Pretty Things"" (2002), "ROGUE TRADER" (1999), and "Rowing with the Wind" (1988).

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Goofs

When they are driving the Porsche at speed there are a couple of shots which show the famous Irish Pub, Molly Malone's. The scene was set in 1994, and whilst Molly Malone's is the oldest Irish Pub in Singapore it was only established in 1995.

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Quotes

Tony Hawes: You're down for 450, aren't you? Your bonus? Only a week to go.
Nick Leeson: Sorry?
Tony Hawes: Have you thought about what you're going to do with it? Only a week to go.
Nick Leeson: [taps his glass and rises] Excuse me, I have an announcement to make. I know that some of you are worried about our exposure in the market and you're probably wondering about the identity of our mystery customer X. Well, the fact is he doesn't exist. We are the customer, Barings. And if you look properly at the five eights account, which is not a ...
[...]

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Connections

Features Dad's Army: No Spring for Frazer (1969)

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Soundtracks

Money (That's What I Want)
Written by Berry Gordy (as Berry Gordy Jr), Janie Bradford
Performed by Barrett Strong

User Reviews

You think your job is stressful?

When I saw the ratings and the comments listed for this movie, I wasn't sure that this was the movie I saw last night! If you're looking for a history lesson on the fall of Synex, read a book. If you're looking for an edge of your seat thriller, with no violence at all, and hilarious breaks in the tension, this is your flic. First, Ewan McGregor is becoming one of my top actors. His portrayal of a cool-as-a-cucumber trader, even under incredible stress is delightful. You can't help but be nervous as Nick Leeson dodges bosses, controllers, and his wife. The level of the stress is clearly portrayed, and his fantasy scenes are great. The other actors are shallow, but hilarious. Enjoy this flic. I did.