Mona Lisa (1986)

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writers:

Neil Jordan (screenplay) and
David Leland (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 June 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Sometimes love is a strange and wicked game.

Plot:

George, after getting out of prison, begins looking for a job, but his time in prison has reduced his stature in the criminal underworld...

Plot Keywords:

Pimp | Lesbian | Father Daughter Relationship | Unrequited Love | London

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Bob Hoskins	...	George
Cathy Tyson	...	Simone
Michael Caine	...	Mortwell
Robbie Coltrane	...	Thomas
Clarke Peters	...	Anderson
Kate Hardie	...	Cathy
Zoë Nathenson	...	Jeannie (as Zoe Nathenson)
Sammi Davis	...	May
Rod Bedall	...	Terry
Joe Brown	...	Dudley
Pauline Melville	...	George's Wife
Hossein Karimbeik	...	Raschid
John Darling	...	Hotel Security
Bryan Coleman	...	Gentleman in Mirror Room
Robert Dorning	...	Hotel Bedroom Man
Raad Rawi	...	Arab Servant (as Raad Raawi)
David Halliwell	...	Tim Devlin
Stephen Persaud	...	Black Youth in Street
Maggie O'Neill	...	Girl in Paradise Club
Gary Cady	...	Hotel Waiter
Donna Cannon	...	Young Prostitute
Perry Fenwick	...	Pimp
Dawn Archibald	...	Wig Girl in Club
Richard Strange	...	Pornshop Man
Alan Talbot	...	Bath House Attendant
Geoffrey Larder	...	Hotel Clerk
Helen Martin	...	Peep Show Girl
Kenny Baker	...	Brighton Busker
Jack Purvis	...	Brighton Busker
Bill Moore	...	Brighton Busker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Ashton	...	Man (uncredited)
Jeremy Hardy	...	Shop Assistant (uncredited)
Derek Lyons	...	Pinball Player (uncredited)
Zoot Money	...	Carpenter (uncredited)
Mandy Winch	...	Flower Shop Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Neil Jordan

Writing credits
Neil Jordan		(screenplay) and
David Leland		(screenplay)

Produced by
Chris Brown	....	co-producer
Patrick Cassavetti	....	producer
Ray Cooper	....	co-producer
George Harrison	....	executive producer
Denis O'Brien	....	executive producer
Nik Powell	....	co-producer
Stephen Woolley	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Roger Pratt

Film Editing by
Lesley Walker

Casting by
Susie Figgis

Production Design by
Jamie Leonard

Art Direction by
Gemma Jackson

Costume Design by
Louise Frogley

Makeup Department
Lois Burwell	....	makeup artist
Nick Dudman	....	additional makeup artist
Stevie Hall	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Linda Bruce	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Aherne	....	third assistant director
Chris Brock	....	second assistant director
Ray Corbett	....	assistant director

Art Department
Len Bailey	....	stand-by construction
Les Benson	....	property master
Richard Burkett	....	painter
Ron Burkett	....	chargehand painter
Steven Burkett	....	stand-by construction
Stan Cook	....	propman
Gary Crosby	....	painter
Andy Evans	....	construction manager
Micky Ince	....	stand-by construction
Katie Kilroy	....	prop buyer (as Kate Kilroy)
Andrew Palmer	....	propman (as Andy Palmer)
Dave Pearce	....	chargehand carpenter (as David Pearce)
Alfred Pulis	....	carpenter
Tony Robson	....	carpenter
Denise Ruben	....	assistant art director
Robert Schofield	....	stand-by construction (as Bob Schofield)
Alfie Smith	....	propman (as Alf Smith)
Colin Smith	....	stagehand
Eric Strange	....	chargehand prop
Micky Swift	....	propman
Jim Taylor	....	stagehand
Chris Townsend	....	art department assistant
Stuart Williams	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Jonathan Bates	....	sound editor
Paul Carr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Cridlin	....	sound assistant
David John	....	sound recordist
Chris Kelly	....	footsteps editor
Matthew Launay	....	boom operator
Brian Mann	....	adr editor
Brian Paxton	....	sound re-recording mixer

Stunts
Terry Forestal	....	stunt arranger (as Terry Forrestal)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Brock	....	clapper loader
John Cantwell	....	electrician
Clive Coote	....	still photographer
Russell Farr	....	electrician
Bill Geddes	....	camera grip
Ian Norgate	....	rigger
Barry Read	....	electrician
Ted Read	....	chief electrician
John 'Porky' Rivers	....	camera grip (as Porky Rivers)
Mike Roberts	....	camera operator
Ian Tabor	....	electrician
Robert Wilcox	....	electrician (as Bob Wilcox)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brenda Dabbs	....	wardrobe supervisor
Patrick Sharkey	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Jeremy Hume	....	first assistant editor
Kevin Lane	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Genesis	....	composer: song "In Too Deep"
Dave Hunt	....	music recording engineer
Andy Jackson	....	music mixer

Transportation Department
Mark Binnall	....	driver: transport and facility
Paul Daley	....	driver: transport and facility
Mark Daubney	....	driver: transport and facility
Peter Godfrey	....	driver: transport and facility
Alan Howard	....	unit driver
Peter Lupson	....	unit driver
Ray Randall	....	driver: transport and facility
Ian Rankine	....	driver: transport and facility
Dave Watson	....	action vehicle mechanic (as David Watson)
Des Wyard	....	driver: transport and facility
Stuart Rose	....	action vehicle coordinator (uncredited)
Brian Weske	....	driver: Michael Caine (uncredited)

Other crew
Bobby Blues	....	production accountant (as Bob Blues)
Laurie Borg	....	location manager
Jacky Holding	....	accounting assistant (as Jackie Holding)
Laura Julian	....	production coordinator
Michael Larkins	....	production accountant
Simon McNair Scott	....	assistant location manager
Pat Rambaut	....	script supervisor
Ringo Starr	....	special production consultant (as Richard Starkey MBE)
Bob Stilwell	....	follow focus
Fran Triefus	....	assistant to producer
John Varley	....	production runner
Brian Weske	....	personal assistant: Michael Caine (uncredited)

Thanks
Nat 'King' Cole	....	grateful acknowledgment

Production Companies

• HandMade Films

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (UK) (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Cannon Screen Entertainment (1986) (UK) (video)
• Criterion Collection, The (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Hem Films (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Island Pictures
• Sunfilm Entertainment GmbH (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates

Other Companies

• Audio International  music mixed at
• Geoff Axtell Associates Ltd.  titles and opticals
• Grip House  grip equipment
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment
• Lyps Inc.  additional sound recording
• Mr. Lighting  electrical equipment
• National Philharmonic Orchestra  soundtrack performed by
• Roger Cherrill Ltd.  sound re-recording
• Smith & Jones Catering  catering
• Stuart Rose Film Services  action vehicles
• Studios CTS  music recorded at

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1988) | Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 (1986) | Germany:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

HandMade Films

Trivia:

The early scripting called for George to be a much older character and Sean Connery was suggested. Although Connery admired the work of Neil Jordan and wanted to work with him he disliked the role.

Quotes:

Simone: You look better in the daytime.
George: Yeah and so do you. Where do you wanna go?
Simone: Down here.
George: You wanna walk?
Simone: Yes, it's good for you.
George: Bit early, innit?
Simone: I know, but the early bird catches the worm.
George: Clever little bastard...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Secret Life of Brian (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

IN TOO DEEP

**** (Out of four)

"Mona Lisa" is one of those weird Neil Jordan dramedies which resound with more ferocity upon afterthought than while actually watching it. Like "The Crying Game", I was left with no immediate impression of the movie, but days after watching it, I became haunted by the film's ingratiating reality. You can tell you're watching a good movie when you can describe it as "atmospheric" without the film trying overtly to reach for that effect.

Bob Hoskins stars as George, and as we first see him, he is lulling along a dismal London apartment neighborhood with a plastic bag and a fistful of flowers. As he reaches his destination, the audience soon realizes what a heartbroken journey this man's life has been. Indeed his good intentions at seeing his wife and daughter are mired by the wife's stubborn, yet understandable reaction of slamming the door in her ex-convict husband's face.

Soon George is hired by the callous gangster Mortwell (Michael Caine) as a chauffeur for the high-class call girl Simone (Cathy Tyson). He is at first repelled by the "tall black tart", as she remarks about his slovenly appearance. In a subplot structured like a revisionist feminine "Pygmalion", George is made over by the prostitute into the appearance of a "gentleman", a contempestuous appearance which only magnifies his good-hearted nature in comparison with the cold-blooded Mortwell.

Soon, however, George and Simone strike a bond seemingly based on a mutual affection for the souls lurking beneath each facade. Simone details to George an old blonde friend named Cathy still working the streets and implores him to rescue her. Jordan builds upon the elements of "Taxi Driver" here and even pays homage to that film in one scene depicting the front end of George's automobile backlit by a seedy district filled with peep shows and pedophiles.

Of course George is starting to fall for his elegant charge, but his feelings are more of a fatherly nature than anything. Simone seems to feed off this affection, as she states that she does no more than drink tea at the behest of her clients and even provides snapshots of her doing so. This is why it comes as even more of a shock to George when he accidentally discovers a porn video featuring Simone at the provocation of things which her innocent demeanor had previously rendered him incapable of imagining.

Much of "Mona Lisa" is built around human desperation, and indeed one can sense that George, like Travis Bickle or Jimmy Stewart in "Vertigo", is attempting to erroneously place the puzzled-together image of the perfect woman into the jagged emotional contours of his love interest. Of course the title implies this, and Jordan reinforces this symbolization with not only the Da Vinci painting and the Nat "King" Cole ballad, but with the incandescent statues of the Virgin Mary which his friend (Robbie Coltrane) collects. This is unarguably Hoskins' best performance, in a career entirely overlooked by even the most driven of film fanatics. After roles in "The Long Good Friday", "Pink Floyd: The Wall", this, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", and the upcoming "Felicia's Journey", one can deduce the sheer emotional vicissitude which compelled him to aim for, let alone attain, the raw power that comprises his characters.