The Debt Collector (1999)

Mean, gritty, dirty, and low - and that's just Policeman Gary Keltie (Ken Stott) out for retribution for the horrendous crimes against the helpless people of Edinburgh, Scotland during the ... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Neilson

Writer:

Anthony Neilson

Stars:

Billy Connolly, Ken Stott, Francesca Annis

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Connolly	...	Nickie Dryden
Ken Stott	...	Gary Keltie
Francesca Annis	...	Val Dryden
Iain Robertson	...	Flipper
Annette Crosbie	...	Lana
Alastair Galbraith	...	Colquhoun
Shauna Macdonald	...	Catriona (as Shauna MacDonald)
Sandy Neilson	...	Duncan
Julie Wilson Nimmo	...	Young Girl (as Julie Wilson-Nimmo)
Alan Francis	...	Young man
James Thomson	...	Jobbie
Stephen Duguid	...	Kev (as Steven Duguid)
Matt Costello	...	Policeman (as Matt Costelloe)
Stuart Sinclair Blyth	...	Policeman (as Stuart Blyth)
Gordon Orr	...	Scott

Storyline

Mean, gritty, dirty, and low - and that's just Policeman Gary Keltie (Ken Stott) out for retribution for the horrendous crimes against the helpless people of Edinburgh, Scotland during the 1970s by notorious, torturous, and killer debt collector Nickie Dryden (Sir Billy Connolly). This is as hard as they come; giants of their professions, one with a trade that needs to be kept secret, and the other holding a grudge. Shot around the City of Edinburgh, with its coarse language and criminal underclass, we see the wrath of spite, hate, jealousy, and violent vengeance all in the final showdown of justice, and with it, its uncompromising final debt to society.

---

Plot Keywords:

police officer kicked | police officer | police officer killed | writing in blood | stabbing | 

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

As a condition of funding from the Glasgow Film Fund, Glasgow locations stand in for most of the Edinburgh settings.

---

Quotes

Colquhoun: You're a grumpy old cunt. I almost got used to having you around.
Gary Keltie: You're a grumpy old cunt, sir!

---

Connections

References Braveheart (1995)

---

Soundtracks

Maire's Wedding
Arranged by Bobby Harvey
Performed by The Bobby Harvey Band

User Reviews

Why everyone should watch Scotland's hidden gem.

The Debt Collector is a brilliant study of one man's attempt to escape his past without fully paying for his sins and one man's obsession which eventually takes over his life. Nicky Dryden (Billy Connelly) is the man with the past, a vicious debt collector. Keltie (Ken Stott) is the cop who ensnares him and puts him away. When Dryden is released he starts to make a name for himself as an artist and marries a beautiful reporter. Keltie cannot bear to see a man like Dryden living a lifestyle like that after all the horror he created. Dryden of course is a reformed man but is haunted by his past. His wife Val (Francesca Annis) seems to be the only one who understands. All Keltie had is his mother (Annette Crosbie) who is starting to suffer from dementia. When Keltie seeks revenge on Dryden on behalf of all his victims it becomes an obsession. Then Flipper (Iain Robertson) a young thug who hero-worships Dryden, becomes the catalyst for tragic events to unfold and nobodies life is untouched. You will never see a more intense study of obsession. The closest film comparison would be TAXI DRIVER, but that is the story of a loner. The men in Debt Collector both have responsibilities toward family and that is the source of the tragedy in the film. The performances are brilliant, Connelly, Stott, Robertson and Annis are perfect, with Stott deserving a special mention for creating one of the most complicated characters in Scottish Screen History. The Direction is tight, Neilson never once showing his TV roots. This is a film well worth seeking out.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 June 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

Alamaailman velkoja

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Dragon Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1