Unfinished Song (2012)

Grumpy pensioner Arthur honors his recently deceased wife's passion for performing by joining the unconventional local choir to which she used to belong, a process that helps him build bridges with his estranged son, James.

Director:

Paul Andrew Williams

Writer:

Paul Andrew Williams

Stars:

Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton, Christopher Eccleston

3 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Terence Stamp	...	Arthur
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Marion
Gemma Arterton	...	Elizabeth
Barry Martin	...	Timothy
Taru Devani	...	Sujantha
Anne Reid	...	Brenda
Elizabeth Counsell	...	Cheryl
Ram John Holder	...	Charlie
Denise Rubens	...	Marge
Arthur Nightingale	...	Terry
Jumayn Hunter	...	Steven
Christopher Eccleston	...	James
Orla Hill	...	Jennifer
Bill Thomas	...	Bill
Willie Jonah	...	Robert

Storyline

"Song for Marion", a London-set comedic drama, is about shy, grumpy pensioner Arthur who is reluctantly inspired by his beloved wife Marion to join a highly unconventional local choir. At odds with his son James, it is left to charismatic choir director Elizabeth to try and persuade Arthur that he can learn to embrace life. Arthur must confront the undercurrents of his own grumbling persona as he embarks on a hilarious, life-affirming journey of musical self discovery.

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Plot Keywords:

choir | pensioner | elderly couple | curmudgeon | cancer | 

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Taglines:

Open your heart. Find your voice.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references and rude gestures

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Terry sticks up the wrong fingers trying to do his rock and roll impression had to be cut from the US trailer.

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Goofs

From the end credits: In at least two instances, the word "assistant" is misspelled a-s-s-i-t-a-n-t.

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Quotes

Cheryl: I play recorder.
Elizabeth: Recorder's not really rock and roll.
Cheryl: It is when I play it.

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Connections

Featured in Projector: Song for Marion (2013)

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Soundtracks

Unfinished Songs
Written by Diane Warren
Performed by Céline Dion
Published by Realsongs (ASCAP)
Produced by Kyle Townsend
Track and Background vocal engineered by Mario Lucy at Realsongs
Céline Dion's vocal engineered by Francois Lalonde and Mark Everton Gray at Studio at the Palms
Céline Dion's vocal recorded at Studio at the Palms
Background vocal by Jessi Collins at Realsongs
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.

User Reviews

Good Grief!

How did they pitch this? QUARTET meets CALENDAR GIRLS? Vanessa Redgrave plays a Senior Citizen (in the north of England) dying from cancer who somehow finds the strength to sing with a local choir of fellow OAPs. Her grumpy old git of a husband (Terence Stamp) wants her to stay home and greet the Grim Reaper while he (Arthur) tenderly cares for her, but - guess what? The sub-plot involving Arthur and his estranged son (Christopher Eccleston) is over-familiar but also touching - he even has a cute smarty-pants daughter cloned from Shirley Temple.

OK, this is a very predictable story which shamelessly milks tears from the audience, but there is some pleasing humour as well as the somewhat heavy-handed tragedy. The performances - what did you expect from Redgrave and Stamp? - are nothing less than stellar. I see nominations for BAFTAs and maybe even next year's Oscars. Stamp gives perfectly judged grief. Gemma Arterton is excellent as the choir-mistress with an unhappy love life and it's a joy to see Anne Reid in the chorus line. All the supporting cast of yesteryear character players are splendid, as they were in QUARTET. Pensioner power is beginning to have an impact at the box office - about time too!

This is lightweight entertainment pitched at the Grey Pound and it is outrageously mawkish, but it sets out to warm the stoniest of hearts and it certainly warmed mine.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 2013 (UK)

Also Known As:

Unfinished Song

Filming Locations:

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, County Durham, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,728, 23 June 2013

Gross USA:

$1,702,668

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,166,865

Company Credits

Production Co:

Steel Mill Pictures, Coolmore Productions, Egoli Tossell Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1