Closing the Ring (2007)

A young man searches for the proper owner of a ring that belonged to a U.S. World War II bomber gunner who crashed in Belfast, Northern Ireland on June 1, 1944.

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writer:

Peter Woodward

Stars:

Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer, Dylan Roberts

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shirley MacLaine	...	Ethel Ann
Christopher Plummer	...	Jack
Dylan Roberts	...	Wilbur
Gene Dinovi	...	Weeping Veteran
Neve Campbell	...	Marie
Allan Hawco	...	Peter Etty
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Quinlan
Martin McCann	...	Jimmy
Steve Franks	...	Bugler
Chris Benson	...	Local Sheriff
John Travers	...	Young Quinlan
George Shane	...	Maginty
Kirsty Stuart	...	Young Eleanor
Marie Jones	...	Mrs. Doyle
Karen Lewis-Attenborough	...	Mrs. Dean (as Karen Lewis)

Storyline

Three intertwined stories of lost and unspoken love and the resulting secrets are presented. In one, which begins in 1941 Branagan, Michigan, twenty-one year old Ethel Ann socializes primarily with three male friends, who are all in love with her. She only loves one, Teddy Gordon, their mutual love known within the group. Her parents would never approve of Teddy, the poor country boy, who is building a house for her eventually to be able to show her parents that he is worth something in his love for her. Their relationship is interrupted by the U.S. entry into the war, into which all three men are going into battle. Before their departure, the three men enter into a pact unbeknownst to Ethel Ann. In two, which also takes place in Branagan, but in 1991, World War II U.S. Army Air Forces veteran, septuagenarian Chuck Harris, after an illness, has just passed away. Those that knew him always considered him the reliable one. His death leaves a void in his family, as there has always been ...

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Plot Keywords:

sex | world war two | nudity | male female relationship | female nudity | 

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Taglines:

Discover the love of a lifetime

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief sexuality, nudity and violent images

Did You Know?

Trivia

The B-17 used in this movie is the "Yankee Lady", owned and operated by the Yankee Air Museum of Ypsilanti, Michigan. This aircraft also appeared in Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970). The B-17 named "Sally B" also made an appearance in this movie.

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Goofs

The B-17 being shown off in Michigan in 1941 is actually a B-17G, the final model, which did not have its first flight 'til 1943. the "chin gun" is the give-away.

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Quotes

Ethel Ann: What's happening, Jimmy?
Jack: You're grieving, girl...

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Connections

Featured in Richard Attenborough: A Life in Film (2014)

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Soundtracks

Pennsylvania 6-5000
Written by Carl Sigman & Jerry Gray
Performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

User Reviews

Christopher Plummer gives a touching performance

I don't usually like movies or books that go back and forth constantly between the past and the present. I'm usually frustrated, lamenting over the lost art of a linear storyline. I'm glad I stuck it out and watched Closing the Ring; it was very entertaining.

The film starts at Shirley MacLaine's husband's funeral. Christopher Plummer sits outside with her during the service. Then, a flash to the past, with a young Shirley MacLaine surrounded by three adoring servicemen about to be shipped off to WW2. Which one is young Christopher Plummer? Which one is her husband? As the film continues, more mysteries are introduced. Neve Campbell can't understand her mother's attitude after her father's death. And in Ireland, Pete Postlethwaite is digging in a dangerous area, finding pieces of a wrecked WW2 airplane. Each flashback to the 1940s gives just one more piece to the ever-growing puzzle, and it keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. I kept pressing pause when I rented this movie with my mom to talk about what I thought would be revealed. Sometimes I was right, sometimes I was wrong, and that made the plot even more entertaining.

Probably because one of the first movies I remember seeing Christopher Plummer in was The Lakehouse, I never found him to be a very likable guy. He was so convincingly cold, I had a hard time seeing him as anything else. However, in Closing the Ring, Christopher Plummer gives a very different performance. I'm going to have to rethink my impression of him. In one scene, he burst into tears so naturally, I wanted to reach through the screen and embrace him in a tight hug.

While the younger actors in the movie aren't going to be nominated for Oscars anytime soon, the older folks make up for it. Shirley MacLaine looks beautiful, so if you're one of her fans, don't miss this one! And if you like WW2 movies, or movies that flash back and forth with a little mystery, you'll love it.

Details

Official Sites:

Content Film Official site [Spain]

Country:

UK Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 December 2007 (UK)

Also Known As:

Closing the Ring

Filming Locations:

Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$23,500,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,449,091

Company Credits

Production Co:

CTR, Closing The Ring Ltd., Premiere Picture

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1