In the Bleak Midwinter (1995)

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writer:

Kenneth Branagh (written by)

Release Date:

16 February 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The drama. The passion. The intrigue... And the rehearsals haven't even started.

Plot:

Out of work actor Joe volunteers to help try and save his sister's local church for the community by putting on a Christmas production of Hamlet...

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Actor | Play | Homosexual | William Shakespeare

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Richard Briers	...	Henry Wakefield (Claudius, the Ghost, and the Player King)
Hetta Charnley	...	Molly
Joan Collins	...	Margaretta D'Arcy
Nicholas Farrell	...	Tom Newman (Laertes, Fortinbras, and messengers)
Mark Hadfield	...	Vernon Spatch (Polonius, Marcellus, and First Gravedigger)
Gerard Horan	...	Carnforth Greville (Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Horatio, and Barnardo)
Celia Imrie	...	Fadge
Michael Maloney	...	Joe Harper (Hamlet)
Jennifer Saunders	...	Nancy Crawford
Julia Sawalha	...	Nina Raymond (Ophelia)
John Sessions	...	Terry Du Bois (Queen Gertrude)
Ann Davies	...	Mrs. Branch
James D. White	...	Tim
Robert Hines	...	Mortimer
Allie Byrne	...	Tap Dancer

Also Known As:

A Midwinter's Tale (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for some language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Germany:12 | New Zealand:M | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

Kenneth Branagh wrote the screenplay with Michael Maloney in mind for the lead.

Quotes:

Nina Raymond: And you have me.
Joe Harper: Really?
Nina Raymond: If you like.
Henry Wakefield: Get his name on the dotted line, love. He's a shifty git.

Movie Connections:

Featured in To Be on Camera: A History with Hamlet (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

Heart of Glass

A Masterpiece...and it hits so close to home!

My wife and I saw this film a week after we completed a production of A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS.( I directed and she was Meg). We had experienced the disasters of Actors who couldn't remember lines,Tech problems, an Vain Egotist causing problems etc. What A joy it was to enter the theatre as see this Branagh gem. the script,acting and Direction were all flawless. ( for those who said the characters were cliche' youve obviously never delt with actors!) the high marks were scored by Richard Briers as the older no-nonsense character actor, John Sessions as the "queen" gertrude , and the Highly underated Michael Maloney in the lead. Maloney has long been a favorite supporting actor of mine and its good to see him as the protaganist for a change. I cannot speak high enough of this film...and to answer Noel Coward's question "why must the show go on?" because if it didn't we would be robbed of this films suberbly directed ending! BRAVO BRANAGH, BRAVO!!