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Tristram Shandy

Original title: A Cock and Bull Story
  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
13K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
Theatrical Trailer from Picturehouse Entertainment
Play trailer2:03
1 Video
31 Photos
  • Comedy

Director Michael Winterbottom (Northam) attempts to shoot the adaptation of Laurence Sterne's essentially unfilmable novel, "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman."Director Michael Winterbottom (Northam) attempts to shoot the adaptation of Laurence Sterne's essentially unfilmable novel, "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman."Director Michael Winterbottom (Northam) attempts to shoot the adaptation of Laurence Sterne's essentially unfilmable novel, "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman."

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
13K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Winterbottom
  • Writers
    • Laurence Sterne(novel "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy")
    • Frank Cottrell Boyce(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Steve Coogan
    • Jeremy Northam
    • Rob Brydon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Winterbottom
  • Writers
    • Laurence Sterne(novel "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy")
    • Frank Cottrell Boyce(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Steve Coogan
    • Jeremy Northam
    • Rob Brydon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 128User reviews
    • 120Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 2 wins & 14 nominations total

    Videos1

    Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
    Trailer 2:03
    Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

    Photos31

    Steve Coogan in A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan in A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan in A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Gillian Anderson and Rob Brydon in A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Steve Coogan in A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan in A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Michael Winterbottom at an event for A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Michael Winterbottom at an event for A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Rob Brydon at an event for A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan at an event for A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Steve Coogan at an event for A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
    Rob Brydon, Steve Coogan, and Michael Winterbottom at an event for A Cock and Bull Story (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Steve Coogan
    Steve Coogan
    • Tristram Shandyas Tristram Shandy…
    Jeremy Northam
    Jeremy Northam
    • Markas Mark
    Rob Brydon
    Rob Brydon
    • Capt. Toby Shandyas Capt. Toby Shandy…
    Keeley Hawes
    Keeley Hawes
    • Elizabethas Elizabeth…
    Shirley Henderson
    Shirley Henderson
    • Susannahas Susannah
    Raymond Waring
    Raymond Waring
    • Trimas Trim
    Conal Murphy
    • Young Tristram Shandy - Age 6as Young Tristram Shandy - Age 6
    Joe Williams
    • Young Tristram Shandy - Age 9as Young Tristram Shandy - Age 9
    Paul Kynman
    Paul Kynman
    • Obadiahas Obadiah
    Mark Tandy
    Mark Tandy
    • London Doctoras London Doctor
    Mary Healey
    Mary Healey
    • Midwifeas Midwife
    Dylan Moran
    Dylan Moran
    • Dr. Slopas Dr. Slop
    Jack Shepherd
    Jack Shepherd
    • Surgeonas Surgeon
    David Walliams
    David Walliams
    • Parsonas Parson
    Benedict Wong
    Benedict Wong
    • Edas Ed
    Naomie Harris
    Naomie Harris
    • Jennieas Jennie
    Claire Keelan
    Claire Keelan
    • Make-up Assistantas Make-up Assistant
    Kelly Macdonald
    Kelly Macdonald
    • Jennyas Jenny
    • Director
      • Michael Winterbottom
    • Writers
      • Laurence Sterne(novel "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy")
      • Frank Cottrell Boyce(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Two actors, as their make up is applied, talk about the size of their parts. Then into the film: Laurence Sterne's unfilmable novel, Tristram Shandy, a fictive autobiography wherein the narrator, interrupted constantly, takes the entire story to be born. The film tracks between "Shandy" and behind the scenes. Size matters: parts, egos, shoes, noses. The lead's girlfriend, with their infant son, is up from London for the night, wanting sex; interruptions are constant. Scenes are shot, re-shot, and discarded. The purpose of the project is elusive. Fathers and sons; men and women; cocks and bulls. Life is amorphous, too full and too rich to be captured in one narrative. —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    • size
    • infant son
    • ego
    • behind the scenes
    • interruption
    • 44 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Because everyone loves an accurate period piece.
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language and sexual content
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The credited writer Martin Hardy is actually a pseudonym for the writer Frank Cottrell Boyce, who had his name taken off the film after a falling-out with longtime collaborator Michael Winterbottom.
    • Quotes

      Rob Brydon: The thing is, I can't act...

      Steve Coogan: I know that.

      Rob Brydon: ...with Gillian Anderson. I have a sexual thing for Gillian Anderson.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits have (intentional) spacing issues, and mismatched fonts.
    • Alternate versions
      Just as with "In This World," the British DVD features a 1.78:1 transfer of the film. Although the film was shot for release in theaters at 2.35:1, because it was made on DV, the total space of the filmed image was 1.78. The film was masked for theatrical release, as the director intended. However, for DVD release, the film was transferred open matte. Again, like "In This World," only the American DVD respects the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1.
    • Connections
      Featured in The South Bank Show: Michael Winterbottom (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds
      from The Draughtman's Contract Music

      Composed by Michael Nyman

      Published by Chester Music Limited

      Performed by the Michael Nyman Band

    User reviews128

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Film version of a possibly unfilmable--some might say unreadable--novel
    Just saw this at the New York Film Festival, where it was met with the wild enthusiasm and raucous laughter it so fully deserves.

    I intentionally avoided reading any reviews before I went, as I was so curious to see how Winterbottom (whose "24-Hour Party People" I had loved) would approach this bear of a book.

    The film begins with the two stars getting made-up and chatting about the size of their roles and the color of their teeth (the actors, who appeared with Winterbottom in the post-screening Q&A at the festival, assured the audience that this opening scene, as well as their conversation over the end credits, was completely improvised). The scene shifts to Tristram Shandy beginning the narration of his life with an anecdote about Groucho Marx--and proceeds to go wild from there.

    The cast is made up of some of the finest actors in British television--apart from the two leads, Dylan Moran of "Black Books" and David Walliams of "Little Britain" appear, as well as Stephen Fry, Shirley Henderson, and a host of others, including a splendid turn by Keeley Hawes in a role that consists of little more than labor pains and screaming--and one American: Gillian Anderson in a couple of wonderful scenes, one as herself and the other as the Widow Wadman.

    As one of the actors observes in the film, Laurence Sterne had written "a post-modern novel before modernism had even been invented," and Winterbottom honors that admirably.
    helpful•75
    25
    • klg19
    • Oct 8, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 2006 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
    • Filming locations
      • Blickling Hall, Blickling, Norfolk, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • BBC Films
      • Baby Cow Productions
      • EM Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £2,800,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,253,413
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $60,886
      • Jan 29, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,931,982
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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