Love and Death on Long Island (1997)

Director:

Richard Kwietniowski

Writers:

Gilbert Adair (novel)
Richard Kwietniowski (writer)

Release Date:

6 March 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Giles De'Ath is a widower who doesn't like anything modern. He goes to movies and falls in love with film star...

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Obsession | Film Within A Film | Supermarket | Actress

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

John Hurt	...	Giles De'Ath
Jason Priestley	...	Ronnie Bostock
Fiona Loewi	...	Audrey
Sheila Hancock	...	Mrs. Barker
Harvey Atkin	...	Lou
Gawn Grainger	...	Henry
Elizabeth Quinn	...	Mrs. Reed
Maury Chaykin	...	Irving 'Irv' Buckmuller
Linda Busby	...	Mrs. Abbott
Bill Leadbitter	...	Eldridge
Anne Reid	...	Maureen (as Ann Reid)
Danny Webb	...	Video Assistant (as Daniel Webb)
Andrew Barrow	...	Harry
Dean Gariss	...	Rob
Robert McKewley	...	Video Salesman
Tusse Silberg	...	Abigail's Mother
Rebecca Michael	...	Abigail
Jean Ainslie	...	Ticket Seller 1
Nigel Makin	...	Ticket Seller 2
Jonathan Stratt	...	Taxi Driver
Magnus Magnusson	...	Quiz Master
Shaughan Seymour	...	Quiz Show Contestant
Marguerite McNeil	...	Irv's Customer 1
Andy Smith	...	Irv's Customer 2 (as Andrew Smith)
Jeffrey Hirschfield	...	Policeman
Tom Hurst	...	Mailman (as Tommy Hurst)
Lex Gigeroff	...	Cab Driver 1
Michael Pellerin	...	Cab Driver 2
Cecil Wright	...	Cab Driver 3
Benita Ha	...	Weather Reporter
Vince Corazza	...	Corey (as Vincent Corazza)
Geoff Herod	...	Brad (as Geoffrey Herod)
Ryan Rogerson	...	Tommy
Bruce Fillmore	...	Big Guy
Nancy Marshall	...	Corey's Mother
Elizabeth Murphy	...	The Stomper
Jennie Raymond	...	Molly (as Jenny Raymond)
Charles Jannasch	...	Rusty
Shaun D. Richardson	...	Pete
Gabriel Hogan	...	Jake
Jeremy Akerman	...	Father Bryson
Christine Jeffers	...	Sitcom Mother
Morrissey Dun	...	Sitcom Father (as Morrissey Dunn n)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jocelyn Cunningham	...	Realtor (scenes deleted)
Mary Allison Putnam	...	Girl on Bed (scenes deleted)
Charlie Rhindress	...	Fax Assistant (scenes deleted)
Thom Fitzgerald	...	Waiter (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Kwietniowski

Writing credits
Gilbert Adair		(novel)
Richard Kwietniowski		(writer)

Produced by
Steve Clark-Hall	....	producer
Brian Donovan	....	associate producer
Christopher Zimmer	....	producer

Original Music by
Richard Grassby-Lewis
The Insects

Cinematography by
Oliver Curtis

Film Editing by
Susan Shipton

Casting by
Jon Comerford
Kate Day

Production Design by
David McHenry

Costume Design by
Martha Curry
Andrea Galer

Makeup Department
Cathy O'Connell	....	makeup artist: Nova Scotia
Norma Richard	....	hair stylist: Nova Scotia
Kim Ross	....	makeup assistant: Nova Scotia
C.J. Wills	....	makeup assistant: London
Tory Wright	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Gilles Bélanger	....	production manager: Nova Scotia (as Gilles Belanger)
Mairi Bett	....	production manager: London

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Max Keene	....	first assistant director
Finn McGrath	....	second assistant director: London
Shandi Mitchell	....	second assistant director: Nova Scotia (as Shandi Mitchell-Macleod)
Jez Murrell	....	third assistant director: London
Mary Reynolds	....	third assistant director: Nova Scotia

Art Department
John Allenby	....	property master: London
Greg Allen	....	assistant set decorator: Nova Scotia
Lorne Armstrong	....	set dresser: Nova Scotia
Dave Ball	....	construction manager: London
Kendrick Beck	....	scenic artist: Nova Scotia
Richard Burnett	....	stand-by carpenter: London (as Ricky Burnett)
James D'Ambrogi	....	assistant scenic artist: Nova Scotia
James D'Ambrogi	....	painter: Nova Scotia
Daniel Delaquis	....	scenic artist: Nova Scotia
Teresita Doucet	....	property master: Nova Scotia (as Teresita Doucet-Reilly)
Bernard Faye	....	scenic artist: Nova Scotia
Richard Fraser	....	construction manager: Nova Scotia
George Gore	....	assistant scenic artist: Nova Scotia
George Gore	....	painter: Nova Scotia
Paul Gorman	....	assistant props: Nova Scotia
Robert Grani	....	set dresser: Nova Scotia (as Rob Grani)
Barry Greaves	....	property buyer: London
Adam Hallett	....	assistant scenic artist: Nova Scotia
Adam Hallett	....	painter: Nova Scotia
Bill Hardwick	....	assistant set decorator: Nova Scotia
Michael Higgins	....	carpenter: Nova Scotia
Chris Hill	....	carpenter: Nova Scotia
Robert Hill	....	stand-by props: London
Emanuel Jannasch	....	art director: Nova Scotia
Patricia Larman	....	set decorator: Nova Scotia
Steve Macdonald	....	stand-by props: London (as Steve McDonald)
David Marsh	....	scenic artist: Nova Scotia
Marilyn McAvoy	....	scenic artist: Nova Scotia
Glen McElmon	....	carpenter: Nova Scotia
Darren Nauss	....	carpenter: Nova Scotia
Roy O'Connor	....	dressing props: London
Tony Owen	....	scenic artist: Nova Scotia
Jason Reilly	....	stand-by painter: London
Claude Roussel	....	assistant props: Nova Scotia
Paul Ruxton	....	storyboard artist: London
Jason Shurko	....	assistant set decorator: Nova Scotia
Scott Simpson	....	assistant set decorator: Nova Scotia
Mary Steckle	....	set props: Nova Scotia
Jennifer Stewart	....	assistant art director: Nova Scotia
Christian Sullivan	....	carpenter: Nova Scotia
James Tumblin	....	scenic artist: Nova Scotia
Fleur Whitlock	....	art director: London
James L. Wolstenholme	....	art department coordinator: London

Sound Department
Julie Anderson	....	foley artist
Jaya Bishop	....	boom operator: London
Kevin Brazier	....	sound editor
Rebecca Buckley	....	sound trainee: London
John Fewell	....	foley artist
Stephen Griffiths	....	sound editor
Dave Humphries	....	dubbing mixer
Neil Kingsbury	....	sound mixer: London
Jim Rillie	....	sound mixer: Nova Scotia
Alan Sallabank	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Alex Salter	....	boom operator: Nova Scotia

Visual Effects by
Jason Farrow	....	video effects

Stunts
Branko Racki	....	stunt coordinator: Nova Scotia
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt double: Nova Scotia

Camera and Electrical Department
Carolyn Adams	....	grip: Nova Scotia
Jeff Adams	....	key grip: Nova Scotia
Steve Arnold	....	grip: Nova Scotia
Sophie Baker	....	still photographer: London
Alf Bloor	....	stand-by rigger: London (as Alfie Bloor)
Chuck Calder	....	video assist operator: Nova Scotia
Kyle Cameron	....	camera trainee: Nova Scotia
Steven Cassidy	....	clapper loader: London
Chuck Clark	....	grip: Nova Scotia
Jake Clarke	....	best boy electric: Nova Scotia
Johnny Cochrane	....	second assistant camera: Nova Scotia (as John Cochrane)
Dick Conway	....	electrician: London
Paul Daley	....	electrician: London
Rob Dickinson	....	video playback operator: London
Dennis Dillon	....	grip: London
Eric Emery	....	electrician: Nova Scotia
Rick Gillis	....	stand-by rigger: Nova Scotia (as Joseph Rick Gillis)
Stephen Gillis	....	stand-by rigger: Nova Scotia
Maynard Harris	....	grip: Nova Scotia
Darren Harvey	....	best boy electric: London
Jason Harvey	....	assistant camera: New York
Zena Holloway	....	camera trainee: London
Jake Hull	....	camera trainee: London
Terry Hunt	....	gaffer: London
Ruth Leggett	....	electrician: Nova Scotia
Forbes MacDonald	....	first assistant camera: Nova Scotia (as Forbes Macdonald)
Fred Macdonald	....	effects camera: Nova Scotia
Jan Meyerowitz	....	generator operator: Nova Scotia
Paul Mitcheltree	....	grip: Nova Scotia
Todd Murchie	....	grip: Nova Scotia
Len O'Brien	....	electrician: London
Mario Paulin	....	gaffer: Nova Scotia
Christopher Reardon	....	still photographer: Nova Scotia (as Chris Reardon)
Mark Silk	....	focus puller: London
Ward Swan	....	electrician: Nova Scotia
James Thibodeau	....	electrician: Nova Scotia
Keith Adams	....	best boy grip: Nova Scotia (uncredited)

Casting Department
John Dunsworth	....	additional casting
Christine Sheaks	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patricia Cowmeadow	....	wardrobe: Nova Scotia
Tim Guthrie	....	wardrobe: London
Dianne Murphy	....	wardrobe: London
Cara Porter	....	wardrobe: Nova Scotia

Editorial Department
Chris Bannister	....	color timer
Christine Campbell	....	assistant editor
Tai Zimmer	....	editor trainee

Music Department
John Baggott	....	musician: piano
Clive Deamer	....	musician: drums
Isobel Griffiths	....	music fixer
Simon Hale	....	music arranger: strings
Jon Hassell	....	musician: trumpet
David Lyon	....	orchestrator
Steve Parr	....	music mixer

Transportation Department
David Ellis	....	driver: makeup bus, London
Rob Eshelby	....	unit driver: Nova Scotia
Gerry Floyd	....	unit driver: London (as Jerry Floyd)
Rob Fowle	....	driver: camera car, London (as Robert Fowle)
Mervin Geddes	....	unit driver: Nova Scotia
Tony Jayes	....	driver: Mr. Hurt, London
Jannette Joudrey	....	unit driver: Nova Scotia (as Jeanette Joudrey)
Ken Lupton	....	driver: props, London (as Kenny Lupton)
Bob MacIsaac	....	unit driver: Nova Scotia (as Bob McIssac)
Jack Niven	....	driver: Mr. Hurt, Nova Scotia
Kelly Peterson	....	unit driver: Nova Scotia
Les Quick	....	stand-by driver: props, London
Gilbert Russell	....	unit driver: Nova Scotia
Hal Shaver	....	driver: Mr. Priestley, Nova Scotia
Darlene Shiels	....	vehicle wrangler: Nova Scotia
Charlie Simpson	....	driver: wardrobe bus, London
Michael Sullivan	....	transportation coordinator: Nova Scotia
Manny Taylor	....	transportation captain: Nova Scotia
John van Noord	....	unit driver: Nova Scotia (as John Van Noord)

Other crew
Barbara Badessi	....	floor runner: Nova Scotia
Bartholomew Baker	....	production runner: London
McMillan Binch	....	legal services
Leonard John Bruno	....	clearances: New York (as John Leonard)
Martin Butterworth	....	title designer
Clair Chrysler	....	stand-in: London
Mick Collins	....	caterer: London
Andy Darbon	....	caterer: London
Moira Demos	....	production assistant: New York
Andrea Dorfman	....	production runner: Nova Scotia
Charlotte Farrar	....	accounts assistant: London
Derek Filiatrault	....	assistant production coordinator: Nova Scotia
Linda Gamble	....	unit publicist
Debbie Harkins	....	unit nurse: London
Jeri-Matti Helppi	....	utility runner: Nova Scotia
John Howe	....	floor runner: London
Lauri Huyghue	....	utility runner: Nova Scotia
David Hyslop	....	location assistant: Nova Scotia
Kyle Jackson	....	caterer: Nova Scotia
Emma James	....	production coordinator: London
Phil Johns	....	caterer: London
Debi Jonathanson	....	craft service: Nova Scotia (as Debbie Jonatason)
Elizabeth Kavanagh	....	production accountant: Nova Scotia
Jane Kearney-Collins	....	production assistant: London
Andrea Kokic	....	accounts assistant: Nova Scotia
Miara Martell	....	location manager: London (as Martell)
Karla Morash	....	production coordinator: Nova Scotia
Kim Murray	....	animal trainer: Nova Scotia
Colin Plenty	....	location assistant: London
Jack Ross	....	stand-in: London
Tom Rousell	....	caterer: Nova Scotia
Gary Swim	....	location manager: Nova Scotia
Maggie Thomas	....	script supervisor
Derek Townshend	....	insurance
Dave Wallace	....	caterer: London
Marianne Ward	....	unit publicist
Andy Smith	....	dialect coach (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Arts Council of England
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• British Screen Productions
• Mikado Films
• Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation
• Skyline Films
• The Sales Company
• Téléfilm Canada
• imX Communications

Distributors

• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Les Acacias (France)
• Lions Gate Films (1998) (USA)
• New Star (Greece) (VHS)
• Rosebud (Greece)
• Universal Pictures (TV)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Action Cars  action vehicles provided by
• Aeroshoot Film Services  unit transport provided by
• Animals for Motion Talent Agency  Streider, Ronnie's and Audrey's dog, provided by
• Bell Lighting Ltd.  lighting equipment
• Blue  video effects
• Hear No Evil Studios  music recorded at
• Hearing Dogs for the Deaf  Mrs. Rees's dog provided by
• Jones Rigging Equipment Ltd.  rigging
• Magic Camera Company, The  opticals
• Michael Henry & Co.  legal services
• Mike Fraser  avid editing
• Mike Fraser  negative cutting
• Mike Fraser  sound transfer
• Mike Fraser  telecine transfers
• Moles Recording Studio  music recording
• Near North Entertainment  insurance
• Production Services Atlantic  grip and lighting equipment
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Set Breaks  caterer: London
• Soho Kitchen  caterer: Nova Scotia
• The Creative Partnership  titles

Also Known As:

Amour et mort à Long Island (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, thematic elements and some sexual content.

Runtime:

93 min | Germany:90 min | UK:103 min | USA:94 min | Argentina:94 min

Country:

UK | Canada

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Netherlands:AL | Australia:M | France:U | Germany:12 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Arts Council of England

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the mailman delivers mail to Ronnie Bostock's mailbox,he raises the mailbox flag, presumably to signal to the resident that mail has been delivered. (Ronnie's girlfriend, seeing the mailbox flag has been raised, seems to interpret the signal accordingly.) Although it may be the convention for mail delivery wherever the director/writer is from, it is not the case on Long Island, where it is the custom for the resident to raise the mailbox flag to alert the mailman that mail is in the mailbox waiting to be picked up. Once the mail has been picked up, the mailman lowers the flag - the opposite of what occurred in the film.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Giles De'Ath: It is so difficult to know where I should begin, especially when, unlike you, I already know the ending. But let us say that this story began with end of another.

Movie Connections:

References Cliffhanger (1993)

Has John Hurt ever been better?

John Hurt is a great actor, and his performance in this film shows just how great. There have been plenty of reviews here that detail the plot and the essential characteristics of Giles De'Ath. What struck me even more on seeing the film a second time is what an extraordinary balancing act Hurt pulls off. De'Ath could so easily have been a caricature, a bumbling old fogey; Hurt shows that, while he is indeed out of touch, he is also highly intelligent and unapologetic about his fusty ways - and he also has the imagination to broaden his horizons. There were some lovely scenes showing other people's amused reactions to his naivety about modern ways, particularly those with his agent.

I've never seen Jason Priestley in anything else (hey, does that mean I'm like De'Ath, an old fuddy-duddy?), but he certainly holds his own in the face of an acting titan, just as Brendan Fraser did in Gods & Monsters - and yes, there are a LOT of similarities between the two films. And I really enjoyed Fiona Loewi's performance as his girlfriend - what else has she done? The smaller roles were extremely well cast (as others have noted, Maury Chaykin is a treat), even De'Ath's sister-in-law, who is only in one brief scene, but conveys a lot about how highbrow and inaccessible his novels are considered to be.

I'm also not the only one who has noticed echoes of Death in Venice, not only in the title and the storyline, but also, I'll swear at one point there was a Mahler symphony playing on the soundtrack - was that another nod? Then there is the artistic convention of the older mentor and the younger muse, which is explicitly raised in the film. There are a lot of interesting ideas about the nature of love, and about how even the most set in their ways can suddenly find a new lease of life.

This is a film that rewards more than one viewing. See it if only for a truly majestic performance from John Hurt, a masterclass in subtlety, defiance and thwarted passion.