Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War (2002)

After her husband's death and being forced into a nursing home, a woman starts looking for independence.

Director:

Ian Sharp

Writers:

Vernon Coleman (book), Malcolm Stone (adaptation)

Stars:

Pauline Collins, Peter Capaldi, Anna Wilson-Jones

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pauline Collins	...	Thelma Caldicot
Peter Capaldi	...	Derek
Anna Wilson-Jones	...	Veronica
Gwenllian Davies	...	Audrey
Sheila Reid	...	Joyce
Frank Mills	...	Leslie
Frank Middlemass	...	Bernard
John Alderton	...	Hawksmoor
Isla Blair	...	Matron
Paul Freeman	...	Jenkins
Martin Jarvis	...	JB
Tony Robinson	...	Nick Reid
Terence Rigby	...	Henry Caldicot
Wanda Ventham	...	Victoria
Angela Bruce	...	Gina

Storyline

Not so aged widow Thelma Caldicot is coerced into a rest home by her manipulative son and daughter-in-law after the death of her bullying husband. Apathy turns to anger and then action as the medication is discarded and Thelma discovers her mettle. She and her aged cohorts stage a rebellion but the result is something nobody envisaged.

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Plot Keywords:

walk out | widow | retirement home | mother son relationship | protest | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Goofs

In the scene where everyone is watching the TV interview from the hotel room, there is a reflection in the silver serving trays of the studio lighting rig. Something moves back and forward, possibly a boom mic.

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Quotes

[Thelma is being interviewed on national television about her "mass breakout" from the nursing home; Nick Reid, the interviewer, is trying to be provocative]
Thelma Caldicot: Mrs Caldicot, you're in the news because you led a walk out at the Twilight Years rest home. Now it's being said that you led the walk out because you couldn't stand cabbage. That's rather extreme, isn't it?
[audience sniggers]
Thelma Caldicot: Well, it's true that I didn't want to eat any more cabbage., but that's not why I left. I left because it was a ...
[...]

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Soundtracks

WE'LL GATHER LILACS
Written by Ivor Novello
© Chappell Music Limited
By kind permission of Warner/Chappell Music Limited

User Reviews

Mocumentary in vein of Yes Minister

Entertaining - as what might happen to us all in many ways. On the other hand the awful prospect of life in an institutional setting is horrible. There are many versions of State sanctioned deprivation of liberty - each designed to enhance community well-being that might be compromised by health, behaviour and stranger status. There many stories of abuse in each - to children, aged and ... The fact that she managed to lead an escape is entertaining and even encouraging as we approach 'that' age. But could we? Maybe we should do something before we get there. Just like Yes Minister. Government and public administration is occasionally hilarious. But shouldn't we do something about it? I loved it and have helped many friends work through it as entertainment and as a warning.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 2003 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Guerra do Repolho

Filming Locations:

Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$999,142

Company Credits

Production Co:

Evolution Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)