The Boxer (1997)

Director:

Jim Sheridan

Writers (WGA):

Jim Sheridan (written by) &
Terry George (written by)

Release Date:

31 December 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Love is always worth fighting for.

Plot:

Nineteen year old Belfastian Danny Flynn is imprisoned for his involvement with the IRA. He leaves behind...

Plot Keywords:

Boxer | Boxing | Protestant | Belfast | Peace

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Daniel Day-Lewis	...	Danny Flynn
Daragh Donnelly	...	Prison Officer
Frank Coughlan	...	Prison Officer
Sean Kearns	...	Prison Officer
Lorraine Pilkington	...	Bride
Niall Shanahan	...	Groom
John Wall	...	Priest (as Father John Wall)
Maria McDermottroe	...	Betty
Carol Scanlan	...	Wedding Guest
Kate Perry	...	Wedding Guest
Andrea Irvine	...	Wedding Guest
Joan McGarry	...	Wedding Guest
Theresa McComb	...	Wedding Guest
Catherine Dunne	...	Wedding Guest
Kerrie Duggan	...	Wedding Guest
Sharon Dunne	...	Wedding Guest
Derbhla McClelland	...	Wedding Guest
Oliver Maguire	...	Prison Governor
David McBlain	...	Sean
Emily Watson	...	Maggie
Sandra Corbally	...	Cake Decorator
Eleanor Methven	...	Patsy
Gerard McSorley	...	Harry
Tess Sheridan	...	Pianist
Brian Cox	...	Joe Hamill
David Hayman	...	Joe Hamill's Aide
Paul Sheridan	...	IRA Man
John Sheridan	...	IRA Man
Pat Mulryan	...	IRA Man
Peter O'Donoghue	...	IRA Man
Martin Dunne	...	IRA Man
Tommy O'Neill	...	IRA Man
Ciarán Fitzgerald	...	Liam (as Ciaran Fitzgerald)
Maurice Henry	...	Liam's Friend
Josie Doherty	...	Singer
Joseph Rea	...	Agnes' Son
Joan Sheehy	...	Agnes
Peter Sheridan	...	Peter Mallon
Ken Stott	...	Ike Weir
Larry Byrne	...	Old Man in Shelter
Joe Gallagher	...	Car Bomb Driver
Sean Brunett	...	Boy on Bicycle
James Hayes	...	Bomb Victim
Richie Pigott	...	Sean's Helper
Jack Waters	...	Soldier On Roof
Padraig O'Neill	...	Doorman At Gym
Mark Mulholland	...	Old Man In Gym
John Cowley	...	Old Man In Gym
Don Foley	...	Old Man In Gym
Tim McDonnell	...	Caretaker Of Gym
Kenneth Cranham	...	Matt MaGuire
Philip Sutcliffe	...	Boxer On Pads
Britta Smith	...	Mrs. Boots
Gavin Kennedy	...	Bootsy
Eamon Brown	...	Referee - 1st Fight
Martin Lynch	...	Journalist
Gavin Brown	...	Liam's Opponent
Noel O'Donovan	...	Timekeeper - 1st Fight
Joe Colgan	...	Danny's Cornerman
Damien Denny	...	Eddie Carroll
Nye Heron	...	Eddie's Trainer
Paul Ronan	...	Eddie's Cornerman
Liam Carney	...	Mr. Walsh
Veronica Duffy	...	Mrs. Walsh
Des Braiden	...	Mr. Orr
Joan Brosnan Walsh	...	Mrs. Orr
Sean Donaghy	...	Mickey
Brian Milligan	...	Ned
Vinny Murphy	...	Danny's Supporter
Mick Nolan	...	Danny's Supporter
Berts Folan	...	Danny's Supporter
Juliet Cronin	...	Cardgirl - 1st Fight
Kirsten Sheridan	...	Girl With Drinks
Brian Russell	...	Liam's Friend In Gym
Mick Tohill	...	Billy Patterson (as Mickey Tohill)
Ian McElhinney	...	Reggie Bell
Conor Bradford	...	TV Announcer
Anna Meegan	...	Woman At 2nd Fight
Al Morris	...	Referee - 2nd Fight
Ian Thompson	...	Child At 2nd Fight
Paul Wesley	...	Danny's Sparring Partner
Michael James Ford	...	Head Waiter
John Cooke	...	Toastmaster
Cornelius Carr	...	London Fighter
Norman Kelly	...	London Fighter
Gerry Storey	...	Cornerman
Fred Tiedt	...	Referee - London Fight
Clayon Stewart	...	Akim
Jer O'Leary	...	Timekeeper - London Fight
Jules Kingelesi	...	Akim's Corner
Dennis Mika	...	Akim's Corner
David Heap	...	Maitre D'
John Hewitt	...	Ike's Drinking Buddy
Janine McGuinness	...	Cardgirl - London Fight
Tom Maguire	...	Policeman at Checkpoint
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Bell	...	(uncredited)
Tony Doyle	...	(uncredited)
Tania Grier	...	Louise (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim Sheridan

Writing credits (WGA)
Jim Sheridan		(written by) &
Terry George		(written by)

Produced by
Nye Heron	....	associate producer
Arthur Lappin	....	producer
Jim Sheridan	....	producer

Original Music by
Gavin Friday
Maurice Seezer

Cinematography by
Chris Menges		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Clive Barrett
Gerry Hambling

Casting by
Nuala Moiselle

Production Design by
Brian Morris

Art Direction by
Fiona Daly
Richard Earl

Costume Design by
Joan Bergin

Makeup Department
Jan Archibald	....	hair stylist: second unit
Jan Archibald	....	makeup artist: second unit
Muriel Bell	....	trainee hairdresser
Eileen Buggy	....	assistant hair stylist
Anne Dunne	....	chief hair stylist
Morna Ferguson	....	makeup artist
Fiona Hogan	....	assistant makeup artist
Sandra Kelly	....	assistant hair stylist
Melissa Lackersteen	....	hair stylist: second unit
Melissa Lackersteen	....	makeup artist: second unit
Tara McHugh	....	trainee makeup artist
Maire O'Sullivan	....	chief makeup artist
Morag Ross	....	hair stylist: second unit
Morag Ross	....	makeup artist: second unit
Dee Tormey	....	hair stylist: second unit
Dee Tormey	....	makeup artist: second unit

Production Management
Mary Alleguen	....	production manager
Susan Lazarus	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Daisy Cummins	....	second assistant director: second unit
Ben Gibney	....	first assistant director: second unit
Tommy Gormley	....	first assistant director
Mary Gough	....	second second assistant director
Nye Heron	....	second unit director
Lisa Kelly	....	trainee assistant director
Suzanne Nicell	....	second assistant director
Sarah Purser	....	third assistant director
Aoife Thunder	....	trainee assistant director
Sean Griffin	....	trainee assistant director: dailies (uncredited)

Art Department
Maximilian Aita	....	trainee dressing props (as Max Aita)
Russ Bailey	....	construction manager
Antun Bosanac	....	storyboard artist
Tony Boston	....	trainee dressing props
Christina Brosnan	....	stores person
Peter Bryant	....	prop master: second unit
Johnny Byrne	....	property buyer
Lisa Canty	....	trainee storyboard artist
June Connon	....	trainee dressing props
Clodagh Conroy	....	assistant art director: second unit
Brian Craine	....	metal worker
Ronnie Craine	....	stagehand
Keith Cullen	....	trainee dressing props
Susie Cullen	....	assistant art director (as Susan Cullen)
Manus Daly	....	chargehand carpenter
Brian Doyle	....	plasterer
Alan Dunne	....	stand-by props
Pascal Farrell	....	carpenter
David Flanagan	....	trainee dressing props
Mick Flood	....	dressing props
Bernard Hickie	....	trainee dressing props
Edward Humphries	....	carpenter (as Eddie Humphries)
Jimmy Irwin	....	plasterer (as James Irwin)
Stanley Irwin	....	plasterer
Jimmy Kavanagh	....	drapes
Martin Kenny	....	painter
Paul Keogh	....	carpenter
Kevin Kileen	....	stand-by rigger (as Kevin Killeen)
Hugh Lakes	....	painter
Gerard Lanigan	....	trainee dressing props (as Gerry Lanigan)
Eoin Lewis	....	chargehand dressing props
Noel Long	....	carpenter
Frank Matthews	....	master plasterer
Raymond McCann	....	chargehand plasterer (as Ray McCann)
Lamonn McElwain	....	carpenter
Nuala McKernan	....	prop master
Colm Murnane	....	carpenter
Owen Murnane	....	master painter
Fenton O'Brien	....	plasterer
William O'Brien	....	stand-by rigger
Gary O'Donnell	....	painter
Jimmy O'Meara	....	stand-by stagehand (as James O'Meara)
Padraig O'Neill	....	draftsman
Liam O'Riain	....	carpenter
Thomas O'Shaughnessy	....	painter
Lorcan O'Toole	....	stand-by carpenter
Sheelagh Power	....	trainee prop buyer
Gary Purdy	....	stagehand
John Purdy	....	chargehand stagehand
Brendan Rankin	....	draftsman
Robbie Reilly	....	chargehand rigger (as Robert Reilly)
Gerard Richardson	....	painter
Robbie Richardson	....	stand-by painter
Paul Sheehy	....	plasterer
Brendan Shortall	....	carpenter
Blanaid Travers	....	construction office coordinator
Jil Turner	....	property buyer: second unit
David Wallace	....	dressing props
Derek Wallace	....	stand-by props
Anthony Walsh	....	carpenter
Anthony Walsh	....	stagehand
Graham Waters	....	carpenter
David Whelan	....	supervisor carpenter

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	supervising adr editor (as Gina R. Alfano)
David Boulton	....	adr recording engineer
Lockie Butler	....	adr recording engineer
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Benjamin Cheah	....	sound effects recordist (as Ben Cheah)
Ted Clark	....	sound re-recording operator
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Ray Cross	....	sound mixer: second unit
Daniel Crowley	....	boom operator: second unit
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jennifer L. Dunnington	....	assistant adr editor (as Jennifer Dunnington)
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rick Freeman	....	dialogue editor
Sarah Gaines	....	dailies transfer operator
Bob Gavin	....	adr editor
Pat Hayes	....	adr recording engineer
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
Harry Higgins	....	sound re-recording operator
Kieran Horgan	....	sound mixer
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Dan Korintus	....	adr editor
Karen McMullen	....	dialogue editor
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
Todd Milner	....	assistant sound editor
Branka Mrkic	....	adr editor
David Novack	....	adr recording engineer (as David Novak)
Clodagh O'Donovan	....	adr recording engineer
Conor O'Toole	....	sound assistant
Glenfield Payne	....	sound effects editor
Harry Peck Bolles	....	adr editor
Anne Pope	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
Noel Quinn	....	boom operator
Jac Rubenstein	....	dialogue editor
Melanie Ryder	....	assistant sound editor
Alex Soto	....	apprentice sound editor
Paul P. Soucek	....	sound effects editor
Ted Swanscott	....	adr recording engineer
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor
David Wahnon	....	assistant supervising sound editor
Dustin DuPilka	....	assistant foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Simon Baker	....	special effects technician
James Brady	....	special effects technician (as Jim Brady)
Conor Coughlan	....	special effects technician
Yves De Bono	....	special effects supervisor
Mark Griffin	....	special effects buyer/tech
John Herzberger	....	senior special effects technician
Andrew Wilson	....	senior special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Peter Govey	....	opticals

Stunts
Sarah Buckley	....	stunts
Anthony Condren	....	stunt performer
Anthony Condren	....	stunts (as Tony Condren)
Brendan Condren	....	stunts
Emma Condren	....	stunts
Joe Condren	....	stunts
Patrick Condren	....	stunt coordinator
Martin Grace	....	stunts
Steve Griffin	....	stunts (as Steve Street Griffin)
Dominick Hewitt	....	stunt performer
Thomas Kavanagh	....	stunts
Vincent Keane	....	stunts
Paul Kelly	....	stunts
Donal O'Farrell	....	additional stunt coordinator: stunts
Des O'Neill	....	stunt double: Ike
Anna Stewart	....	stunts
Mick Tohill	....	stunts (as Mickey Tohill)
Alan Walsh	....	stunts
Philippe Zone	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Butler	....	focus puller
John Carr	....	gaffer
John Carr	....	practical electrician
Hugh-Thomas Cavanagh	....	practical electrician
Frank Connor	....	still photographer
John Conroy	....	assistant camera
John Conroy	....	focus puller
Louis Conroy	....	gaffer
Sean Corcoran	....	camera operator: second unit
Noel Cullen	....	best boy
Cian de Buitléar	....	camera operator: second unit (as Cian De Buitléar)
Kieran Dempsey	....	electrician
Tony Devlin	....	gaffer: second unit
Noel Donnellon	....	video playback operator
Bill Dowling	....	video assist operator
Richie Egan	....	grip trainee (as Richard Egan)
Richie Egan	....	trainee grip
David Fitzgerald	....	focus puller
Michael Frawley	....	practical electrician
Russell Gleeson	....	clapper loader
David Grennan	....	clapper loader
Paul Mangan	....	electrician
Davie Mayes	....	practical electrician
James McGuire	....	electrician
Charlie McKenna	....	rigger
Noel McKenna	....	rigger
Philip McKeon	....	clapper loader trainee
John Murphy	....	key grip
Mike Proudfoot	....	camera operator
Vic Purcell	....	camera operator
Luke Quigley	....	grip: second unit
Peter Robertson	....	Steadicam operator
Peter Robertson	....	second camera operator
Pat Ryder	....	electrician
Brian Sheridan	....	electrician
Brendan Walls	....	best boy: second unit
Graeme Haughton	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Frank Moiselle	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Clodagh Deegan	....	wardrobe trainee
Catherine George	....	wardrobe trainee
Jo Kissack	....	assistant wardrobe
Gabriel O'Brien	....	assistant wardrobe
Keelin O'Síochain	....	wardrobe: second unit
Susan Scott	....	assistant costume designer
Ger Scully	....	wardrobe mistress
Una Towell	....	wardrobe trainee (as Una Powell)
Liz Treacy	....	wardrobe trainee
Tara Van Zyl	....	trainee costume designer
Judith Williams	....	wardrobe trainee

Editorial Department
Carolyne Chauncey	....	first assistant editor
Dermot Diskin	....	editor: lightworks
David Feldman	....	second assistant editor
Miles Ferguson	....	assistant post-production coordinator
Joe Landauer	....	assistant editor (as Joseph Landauer)
Marty Levenstein	....	lightworks consultant
Mairead McIvor	....	assistant editor
Philip Weisman	....	assistant editor: lightworks
Marcelino Pérez	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Paul Corkett	....	music engineer
Mark Duley	....	choir director: Choir of Christ Church Cathedral
Gavin Friday	....	musician: orchestra
Barnes Goulding	....	additional musician
Anne-Louise Kelly	....	music coordinator
Conal Markey	....	music engineer
Richard McCullough	....	assistant music engineer
Pinko Murphy	....	additional musician
Robb Navrides	....	music editor: TV version
James Nichols	....	music engineer (as James P. Nichols)
Peter O'Toole	....	additional musician
Andrew Phillpott	....	musician: orchestra
Renaud Pion	....	musician: wind instrument soloist
Maurice Seezer	....	musician: orchestra
Alex Steyermark	....	music supervisor
Fiona Traynor	....	music clearance
Fiachra Trench	....	conductor
Fiachra Trench	....	orchestrator
Maisie Weissman	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Ernie Beakhurst	....	unit driver
Albert Cassells	....	driver: generator
Bernard Corish	....	driver
Tony Cullen	....	unit driver
Jimmy Devlin	....	driver
Tony Dignan	....	unit driver
Jimmy Doyle	....	driver
Gerry Fearon	....	transportation captain
John Gibbins	....	driver (as Johnnie Gibbins)
Paddy Hiney	....	driver
Dracey Jobbins	....	driver
Austin Kelly	....	driver
Bob Kelly	....	driver
Matt Kelly	....	unit driver
Philip Malone	....	driver (as Phil Malone)
Shane Munnelly	....	driver
Kevin Scott	....	driver: generator
Colie Sharkey	....	unit driver
Brian Thompson	....	driver
John J. Thompson	....	driver (as Johnny Thompson)
John Wall	....	driver (as Johnny Wall)

Other crew
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
Peggy Brazil	....	script supervisor: second unit
Gabrielle Breathnach	....	stand-in: Emma Watson
Michael Conneely	....	helicopter pilot (as Mick Conneely)
Eileen Conroy	....	unit nurse
Emer Conroy	....	script supervisor assistant
Geraldine Daly	....	location manager
Alan Davis	....	helicopter pilot
Noel Donnellon	....	video coordinator
Eamon Dunne	....	action car supplier
Cara Gavigan	....	assistant locations
Sonya Gildea	....	assistant: Daniel Day-Lewis (as Sonya Supple)
Gerry Grennell	....	dialogue coach: second unit
Brendan Gunn	....	dialogue coach
Janette Hamill	....	production secretary
Andrew Hegarty	....	assistant location manager
Maureen Hughes	....	assistant to director
Dara Kelly	....	intern
Santena Jenaris King	....	post-production office coordinator
Gerry Lundberg	....	unit publicist
Judy Lunny	....	script supervisor trainee
Bailey Marks	....	stand-in: Daniel Day-Lewis
Paddy McCarney	....	assistant locations (as Patrick McCarney)
Dara McClatchie	....	location manager: second unit
Barry McGuigan	....	boxing consultant
Barry McGuigan	....	boxing trainer: Daniel Day-Lewis
John McKenna	....	armorer
David McLoughlin	....	trainee producer
Linda H. Miller	....	post-production accountant
Johnny Mulligan	....	assistant accountant (as John Mulligan)
Paul Myler	....	financial controller
Geraldine Nolan	....	assistant accountant
Niamh Nolan	....	production coordinator
Lucie Nunan	....	tutor
Cathy O'Kennedy	....	choreographer
John O'Sullivan	....	helicopter coordinator
Andrew Phillpott	....	synthesizer designer
Andrew Phillpott	....	synthesizer programmer
Pat Rambaut	....	script supervisor
Clare Scully	....	assistant to producers
Yvonne Shaw	....	first assistant accountant
Michal Shemesh	....	intern
Pat Tighe	....	machinist
Caitriona Walsh	....	fixer
David Whelan	....	production assistant
Sabine Wührer	....	script supervisor trainee

Thanks
Rene Bastian	....	special thanks
Linda Moran	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Hell's Kitchen Films

Distributors

• MCA/Universal Pictures (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1998) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cinema International (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• HK Film Corporation
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• Movietech  camera equipment provided by
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording mixing facilities
• The Irish Film Orchestra  orchestra

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, language, drugs and violence.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA | Ireland

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Although set in Belfast, the film was almost exclusively shot in the run-down docklands and Sheriff Street area of Dublin's North Inner City. The flat complex used in the film was earmarked for demolition but this was postponed until filming was completed. Since then the entire area has been redeveloped and now contains several multinational company headquarters, a college, hotels, up-market restaurants, a rail station and million dollar apartments.

Goofs:

Continuity: The cut above Danny's left eye disappears in some scenes.

Quotes:

Danny: I'm not a killer, Maggie, but this place makes me want to kill.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

IN THE SHADOW OF A GUN

Difficult but rewarding

I think the reason this wasn't as well received as MY LEFT FOOT and IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (the previous collaborations of Daniel Day-Lewis and Jim Sheridan) is this is telling a more complex tale, and while I loved both of those films, this one you have to work harder for. It should be said there are some lapses, particularly in the dialogue, which is often unnecessarily repeated. And sometimes, in his attempt not to play on our emotions too much, Sheridan goes too far in the opposite direction, making the film too distant.

Still, this is a powerful film. Sheridan was accused with IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER with making an anti-British film, but in that one and this one, he shows he's not afraid of taking on his own people as well. At the same time, while his sympathies are with Day-Lewis' character, he's able to recognize all sides of the situation, as to emphasize the point that peace is always hard work. Day-Lewis, as usual, gives an outstanding performance, though he's a little too old, and Watson continues to grow as an actress with her performance.