Angela's Ashes (1999)

Based on the best-selling autobiography by Irish expatriate Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

Frank McCourt (book), Laura Jones (screenplay)

Stars:

Emily Watson, Robert Carlyle, Joe Breen

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emily Watson	...	Angela McCourt
Robert Carlyle	...	Malachy (Dad)
Joe Breen	...	Young Frank
Ciaran Owens	...	Middle Frank
Michael Legge	...	Older Frank
Ronnie Masterson	...	Grandma Sheehan
Pauline McLynn	...	Aunt Aggie
Liam Carney	...	Uncle Pa Keating
Eanna MacLiam	...	Uncle Pat
Andrew Bennett	...	Narrator (voice)
Shane Murray-Corcoran	...	Young Malachy (as Shane Murray Corcoran)
Devon Murray	...	Middle Malachy
Peter Halpin	...	Older Malachy
Aaron Geraghty	...	New Born Michael
Sean Carney Daly	...	Baby Michael

Storyline

Based on the best-selling autobiography by Irish expatriate Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty endemic in the slums of pre-war Limerick. The film opens with the family in Brooklyn, but following the death of one of Frankie's siblings, they return home, only to find the situation there even worse. Prejudice against Frankie's Northern Irish father makes his search for employment in the Republic difficult despite his having fought for the I.R.A., and when he does find money, he spends it on drink.

---

Plot Keywords:

irish | limerick | based on autobiography | 1930s | ireland | 

---

Taglines:

The Hopes of a Mother. The Dreams of a Father. The Fate of a Child.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and some language

Details

Country:

USA Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las cenizas de Ángela

Filming Locations:

Rainsford Street, Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$54,628, 26 December 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$13,038,660, 21 May 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

David Brown Productions, Dirty Hands Productions, Scott Rudin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

145 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Interior church scenes were shot in a Dublin studio. Because of its controversial content, the production was denied permission to shoot in any Limerick churches.

---

Goofs

Young Frank doesn't have a cleft chin. Teenage Frank does. In real life, Frank McCourt doesn't have a cleft chin.

---

Quotes

Older Frank: [confessing to Francis of Assisi as a priest listens] I hit my mother...

---

Connections

Features The Curse of the Swastika (1940)

---

Soundtracks

Agitato No.1
Music by Max Steiner

User Reviews

A Masterpiece

Angela's Ashes is a gentle movie about love, suffering, striving, and eventually, triumphing. There are no explosions, no aliens, no car crashes, no easy answers. The acting is uniformly excellent with Robert Carlyle's performance as Malachy McCourt especially outstanding. Beautifully photographed, funny and devastating by turns, Angela's Ashes is an experience to be treasured.