Blow Dry (2001)

In 2000, a small town hosts The British Hairdressing Championship, where a former 2-time winner, his son, his run-away wife and his runaway wife's lady lover reside (not all on speaking terms).

Director:

Paddy Breathnach

Writer:

Simon Beaufoy

Stars:

Alan Rickman, Natasha Richardson, Rachel Griffiths

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Rickman	...	Phil Allen
Natasha Richardson	...	Shelley Allen
Rachel Griffiths	...	Sandra
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Christina Robertson
Josh Hartnett	...	Brian Allen
Bill Nighy	...	Ray (Raymond) Robertson
Warren Clarke	...	Tony
Rosemary Harris	...	Daisy
Hugh Bonneville	...	Louis
Heidi Klum	...	Jasmine
Peter McDonald	...	Vincent
Michael McElhatton	...	Robert
David Bradley	...	Noah
Ben Crompton	...	Saul
Ann Rye	...	Margaret, Farmer's Wife (as Anne Rye)

Storyline

The annual British Hairdressing Championship comes to Keighley, a town where Phil and son Brian run a barbershop, and where Phil's ex-wife Shelly and her lover Sandra run a beauty salon, yet Phil and Shelly haven't talked in the ten years since she bolted. Shelley's just found out her cancer is terminal, and Ray Roberts, the reigning underhanded hairdressing champion, blows into town taunting Phil for retreating from competitive styling into barbering. Roberts also brings his daughter, Christina, who remembers Brian from when she was a little kid (as does he her). Everything's set: Brian decides to enter the competition with his mom and Sandra. Will Phil join in? Ray wants to win at any costs. Will Christina go along?

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Plot Keywords:

bride and groom figurine | hair clippers | barber shop | hair salon | bed and breakfast | 

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Taglines:

Love Is In The Hair

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and brief nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

Josh Hartnett was attracted to the project because it was the chance to do something he'd never tackled before. He found the Yorkshire accent particularly challenging.

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Goofs

When Tony is first being shown the flip board (bought from Leeds Train Station) that lists all of the salons, The Cut Above is listed among the other salons, even though they had not even registered to compete at that point.

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Quotes

Phil Allen: Nobody gets to cut my hair.
Shelley Allen: I used to.
Phil Allen: Yeah, but I learnt out lesson, didn't I?

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Crazy Credits

Tony lip-syncs to the Elvis Presley song "I Just Can't Help Believing" through the end credits, dressed like Elvis.

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Couples Retreat/Bronson/An Education (2009)

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Soundtracks

Spiceworm
Written by Jim Dyke
Published by Wild Pink Music/Jaimz Music
Courtesy of BOK Music

User Reviews

a story and a social document

I thought this film was wonderful, a slushy feel good film with classic Shakespearian sub-plots. What is most poignant is that it depicts a town that is disappearing in England. Films like this are social documents. If people don't act like this, then this is how we would like to have historians of the future remember us.

It's nice to have films about people and places that are not normally considered glamorous.

It's funny, thoughtful and a gentle story. No violence, no car chases, no sex. A bit of swearing, but that's part of normal language nowadays.

I loved the compère moving from his mayoral robes to night club glitter jacket through the competition. I loved the young ones falling in love. I loved the closure on the separation.

I'm sure some cinematographer could have done more with the visuals of the hair cutting but this was a narrative film. It had a story, and I will add it to my collection of British movies.

Details

Country:

USA UK Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (UK)

Also Known As:

Blow Dry

Filming Locations:

Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$240,166, 11 March 2001

Gross USA:

$637,769

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$830,286

Company Credits

Production Co:

IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co. Produktions KG, Intermedia Films, Mirage Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1