True Blue (1996)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Ferdinand Fairfax

Writers:

Rupert Walters (screenplay)
Daniel Topolski (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 November 1996 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

To be second is to be last.

Plot:

The story of the year the Oxford and Cambridge boat race changed from a gentleman's race to one where winning was everything. |

Plot Keywords:

Oxford | Boat | Boat Race | University | Rival

Cast

Johan Leysen	...	Daniel Topolski
Dominic West	...	Donald MacDonald
Dylan Baker	...	Michael Suarez, S.J.
Geraldine Somerville	...	Ruth MacDonald
Josh Lucas	...	Dan Warren
Brian McGovern	...	Rick Ross
Noah Huntley	...	Nick Bonham
Edward Atterton	...	Freddy Prideaux-Jones
Ryan Bollman	...	Morrison Black
Andrew Clover	...	Rob Atkins
Jonathan Cake	...	Patrick Conner
Tom Hollander	...	Sam Peterson
Nicholas Rowe	...	David Ball
Patrick Malone	...	Mike Johnson
Alexis Denisof	...	Ed Fox
Andrew Tees	...	John Smythson
Robert Bogue	...	Jeff Chambers
Clive Merrison	...	Jack Garnet
Danny Webb	...	Alan Palmer
Bill Nighy	...	Jeremy Saville
Timothy Bateson	...	Porter
Helena Michell	...	Receptionist
Darcey Bussell	...	Annabel
David Quilter	...	Cambridge Coach
Andy Girling	...	Cambridge President
Daniel Topolski	...	Umpire
Dave Bushnell	...	Rowing Squad
Edward Clegg	...	Rowing Squad
Rob Dauncey	...	Rowing Squad
Alex Duncan	...	Rowing Squad
Susie Ellis	...	Rowing Squad
Jim Goodwin	...	Rowing Squad
Mark Hussey	...	Rowing Squad
John Kawaja	...	Rowing Squad
Rob Perry	...	Rowing Squad
Justin Waller	...	Rowing Squad
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Fielder	...	Reporter on boat (uncredited)
Dawn McDaniel	...	Sloane (uncredited)

Directed by
Ferdinand Fairfax

Writing credits
Rupert Walters		(screenplay)
Daniel Topolski		(book) and
Patrick Robinson		(book)

Produced by
Davina Belling	....	producer
Al Burgess	....	line producer
Clive Parsons	....	producer
Allan Scott	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Stanislas Syrewicz

Cinematography by
Brian Tufano

Film Editing by
Les Healey

Casting by
Celestia Fox
Linda Lowy

Production Design by
Alison Riva

Art Direction by
Jane Tomblin

Set Decoration by
Barbara Herman-Skelding

Costume Design by
Delphine Roche-Gordon

Makeup Department
Marilyn MacDonald	....	hair styles supervisor
Marilyn MacDonald	....	makeup designer
Marilyn MacDonald	....	makeup supervisor
Catherine Wilkins	....	hair stylist
Catherine Wilkins	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Simon Emanuel	....	third assistant director
Gerry Gavigan	....	first assistant director
John Locke	....	co-third assistant director
Paul Taylor	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Alan Bailey	....	property master
Leanda Bowden-Smith	....	property buyer
Tom Burton	....	stand-by art director
Jim Cleary	....	stand-by painter
Stan Cook	....	dressing props
William Edwards	....	stand-by props
Danny Evans	....	dressing props
Dave Fisher	....	stand-by props
Ron Higgins	....	property storeman
Emma King	....	art department runner
John Lansbury	....	stand-by rigger
Matt Noble	....	stand-by stagehand
Simon Reeves	....	stand-by carpenter
Dominic Roberts	....	art department assistant

Sound Department
Mike Bleach	....	sound assistant
Michael A. Carter	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Michael Carter)
Anthony Cleal	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Tony Cleal)
Pat Gilbert	....	assistant sound editor
Chris Munro	....	sound mixer
Rocky Phelan	....	sound effects editor
Jim Shields	....	sound editor
Otto Snel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Colin Wood	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Jonathan Bullock	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Giles Christopher	....	focus puller: second camera
Liam Daniel	....	still photographer
Deborah Henley	....	camera trainee
Peter Howard	....	clapper loader
Ian Jackson	....	additional photographer
Malcolm Mace	....	camera operator: boat waterman
Adrian McCarthy	....	grip
Liam McGill	....	gaffer
Neil Robertson	....	clapper loader
Ronnie Savory	....	generator operator (as Ron Savory)
Bob Shipsey	....	focus puller
John Turner	....	electrician
Ivan Williams	....	best boy

Casting Department
John Brace	....	casting associate: USA
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Sophie Lane Fox	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gordon Harmer	....	wardrobe assistant
Katherine Hyland	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Hermione Byrt	....	first assistant editor
Giles Gardner	....	second assistant editor
Lalit Goyal	....	trainee: FT2

Music Department
Toby Alington	....	music mixer
Toby Alington	....	music recordist
Krzesimir Debski	....	conductor (as Krzesimir Dembski)
Nic Raine	....	orchestrator
Andy Richards	....	rhythm and music programmer
Roger Watson	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Mark Allen	....	driver
Terry Catlin	....	driver
Tony Curtin	....	driver
Ron Digweed	....	driver
Micky Grover	....	driver
Peter Hodge	....	driver
Frank Hughes	....	driver
Paul Jones	....	driver
Sid Juett	....	driver
Tony Leport	....	driver
Clive Mills	....	driver
Mike Moran	....	driver
Eddie Saunders	....	driver
Harry Smith	....	driver
Len Smith	....	driver: props
Steve Timms	....	driver

Other crew
Phyl Allarie	....	production coordinator
David Boardman	....	location manager
Beccy Burge	....	caterer: Set Meals
Sara Chappell	....	caterer: Set Meals
Tim Desbois	....	helicopter coordinator
Steven Edwicker	....	production accountant
David Flynn	....	caterer: Set Meals
Marilyn Goldsworthy	....	assistant accountant
Constantine Gregory	....	dialogue coach
Pauline Hume	....	title designer
Claire Litchfield	....	unit nurse
Ryan Locke	....	floor runner
Russell Lodge	....	location manager
Steve Morphew	....	runner
Chas Newens	....	boat master
Julie Newens	....	assistant boat master
Anya Noakes	....	unit publicist
Emma Pill	....	runner
Colin Plenty	....	assistant location manager
Caroline Quilter	....	unit nurse
Roman Rewakowicz	....	director: Warsaw Chamber Choir
John Sargent	....	production accountant
Duncan Scott	....	trainee: FT2
Daniel Topolski	....	technical advisor
Peter A. Tullo	....	location manager (as Peter Tullo)
Mariam Vossough	....	trainee: FT2
Anna Worley	....	script supervisor
Karen Yeaman	....	trainee: FT2
Emma Young	....	assistant to producers
Jerry Grayson	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Jeff 'Doc' Porter	....	production medic (uncredited)
Mark Sheffield	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Thanks
Duncan Clegg	....	thanks: Oxford University Boat Club
Josh Copeland	....	thanks: UCLA Marine Aquatic Centre
Steve Royle	....	thanks: Oxford University Boat Club

Production Companies

• Booker Entertainment
• Channel Four Films
• Film and General Productions
• Rafford Films

Distributors

• FilmFour (1996) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinema Club (1997) (UK) (DVD)
• Manuel Salvador (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates

Other Companies

• Chór Kameralny Warszawskiej Opery Kameralnej  chorus (as Warsaw Chamber Choir)
• Cowan/Symes & Associates  public relations
• Filharmonia Narodowa  orchestra (as Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Film Finance  completion bond
• Flight Logistics Ltd.  helicopter services
• General Screen Enterprises  titles
• Ice Film Equipment  Aston cameras provided by
• Lays International  transportation
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Location Facilities  facilities
• Media Film Services  camera equipment provided by
• Pinewood Studios  re-recording at
• Polskie Radio  music recorded at (as Polish Radio Warsaw)
• Sampson & Allen  insurance
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Simkins Partnership  legal services

Also Known As:

Miracle at Oxford (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Norway:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Booker Entertainment

Trivia:

The Cambridge crew in this film were played by members of the rowing squad from Imperial College, London, including several members of the British international squad.

Goofs:

Continuity: The depiction of the race includes real footage of the Boat Race in 1997 - the problem being that the crews are the wrong way round. This can be seen during one of the cuts between actor crew and actual Boat Race footage.

Quotes:

Morrison Black: So tell me something - what is it that makes Topolski such a hot shot?
Nick Bonham: I don't know, I've never understood it... Maybe he's hung like a horse?

Soundtrack:

Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys

Pretty to look at, but that's all.

"Aawks-furrd". According to the introductory voice-over, this is where True Blue is set. It seems this was a token attempt not to completely alienate an American audience. For this is a story where poor misguided Oxford rowers draft in wicked Americans to help beat the apparently unstoppable Force Of Nature that is Cambridge University, which has been so unsporting as to actually win the last Boat Race. We are thus drawn into a picturesque but insane world where the motto is "six months' torture for a lifetime's pride". Unfortunately, we have to take part in some of the torture as rowers and coaches bitch at each other about training too much.

If the film could impart some of the ambition and dedication of top athletes to an ideal of winning (as does the book True Blue), then it would be exciting and disturbing. Similarly, if it could give an impression of their personal sacrifices it would remind us of how remarkable the Boat Race actually is in the sport of rowing. Unfortunately, the film falls between the two stools. It fails to show the personal lives of the squad beyond caricatures where bitterness and childish pranks are the norm, and therefore fails to create any sympathy with the characters; yet it also fails to do justice to the sport, showing us actors desperately trying to row as they bat up and down the boat, failing to make any impression on the boat speed except throwing up a lot of water at the camera. Rowing should be a sport that is smooth and beautiful, not rushed and convulsive.

It is only when the film stops using actors and hires real rowers, drops the clunky script (who could forget such lines as "That's unconscionable!"?) and shows us an actual race that the director's skill can come through. He has been spending the rest of the film showing us beautiful but pointless shots of the sun rising over the dreaming spires of Oxford. In this way, the portrayal of the Boat Race itself almost makes up for the excruciating moroseness of the Blue Boat squad that has been flung at us for the last hour.

In the end, if you want to see some nice shots of Oxford, see some well-built rowers in Lycra and hear a pseudo-"Chariots of Fire" soundtrack, you could watch this film. Or you could do a ten-thousand metre work session on a rowing machine, which would be shorter and less painful.