Marvellous (2014)

The life of Neil Baldwin, a man who has shrugged off his perceived limitations to live an incredible life.

Director:

Julian Farino

Writer:

Peter Bowker

Stars:

Toby Jones, Gemma Jones, Tony Curran

10 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Toby Jones	...	Neil Baldwin
Gemma Jones	...	Mary
Tony Curran	...	Lou Macari
Nicholas Gleaves	...	Rev Mark
Greg McHugh	...	Malcolm
Paul Hunter	...	Ringmaster
Steven Cree	...	Rev. McCoist
Mona Goodwin	...	Elaine
Jacqueline Redgewell	...	Doris
Paul Bell	...	Lorry driver
Ben Abell	...	Security guard
Jordan Murphy	...	Laino
Oliver Ashworth	...	Bomber
Toby DeCann	...	Paddy
Michael Fox	...	Registrar

Storyline

Neil Baldwin, born just after World War II, is considered to have learning difficulties but he has an appetite for life and, encouraged by his mother Mary, leaves his butchery job to join the circus as Nello the Clown, being undaunted when the circus moves on without him. He moves to Keele University, where Mary has a cleaning job, appointing himself the unofficial greeter to new students, a role rewarded by an honorary degree in 2013. He also gets to manage its unofficial football team, named after him, and in 1992 talks his way into becoming the kit man and mascot of his beloved football team Stoke City. For Neil there are no boundaries - his interest in religion leads to his becoming a lay preacher whilst he presents himself at the House of Commons for tea with MP Tony Benn and at Cambridge University, where he strikes up a friendship with Prince Andrew, which results in his being on the queen's Christmas card list. With his indomitable attitude overcoming early set-backs and the ...

---

Plot Keywords:

university | circus | mascot | friendship | clown | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official BBC page

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 2014 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fifty Fathoms Productions,Tiger Aspect Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

The incident with the chicken suit was an away game at Cambridge Utd. It was such a hot day that some supporters passed out and bottles of water given out to fans by stewards but Neil Baldwin wore the chicken outfit whilst sat in the dug out.

---

Quotes

Lou Macari: Just out of interest, what did you tell that girl who wanted to kill herself?
Neil Baldwin: I said "we've all got to go sometime, love. But why do you have to go now".

---

Connections

Features Trapeze (1956)

User Reviews

My heart is warm

As others have said the title of this film sums it up perfectly. Neil or Nello is a little different, but manages through his own innocence, love of life and the fear switch turn firmly to off to have a more interesting life than most of us. The film does not gloss over his difficulties or the fact that he is not always treated kindly. It does however show that he expects things to work out and for others to be as nice as he is. Mostly his faith in human nature is justified. The relationship with his mother is so touching. She wants to protect and look after him but her advancing age makes her realise that the only way she can do this is to make him more independent. He struggles with everyday tasks much more than he does with the less than ordinary places which make up his daily life, Keele University, Stoke City FC and even the House of Commons. This film made me laugh and cry. I was a student at Keele in the 1980s, I knew Nello quite well. Seeing him appear as his older self in the film was great. This story is true, if anything it slightly underplays just how marvellous Nello is.