"Cracker" (1993) TV series 1993-1996

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Creator:

Jimmy McGovern
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | unknown

Release Date:

27 September 1993 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

An abrasively eccentric forensic psychologist aids in the solving of difficult police cases.

Plot Keywords:

Psychological Drama

Awards:

16 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Robbie Coltrane	...	Dr. Eddie 'Fitz' Fitzgerald (20 episodes, 1993-1996)
Geraldine Somerville	...	DS Jane 'Panhandle' Penhaligon (19 episodes, 1993-1995)
Kieran O'Brien	...	Mark Fitzgerald (18 episodes, 1993-1995)
Lorcan Cranitch	...	DS Jimmy Beck (17 episodes, 1993-1995)
Barbara Flynn	...	Judith Fitzgerald (16 episodes, 1993-1995)
Ricky Tomlinson	...	D.C.I. Charlie Wise / ... (11 episodes, 1994-1996)
Christopher Eccleston	...	DCI David Bilborough (10 episodes, 1993-1994)
Tess Thomson	...	Kate 'Katie' Fitzgerald / ... (10 episodes, 1993-1995)
Colin Tierney	...	D.C. Bobby Harriman (9 episodes, 1994)

(more)

Series Directed by
Tim Fywell		(4 episodes, 1994-1995)
Andy Wilson		(3 episodes, 1993)
Julian Jarrold		(3 episodes, 1994)
Jean Stewart		(3 episodes, 1994)
Simon Cellan Jones		(2 episodes, 1993)
Michael Winterbottom		(2 episodes, 1993)
Charles McDougall		(1 episode, 1995)
Richard Standeven		(1 episode, 1996)

Series Writing credits
Jimmy McGovern		(17 episodes, 1993-1995)
Ted Whitehead		(3 episodes, 1994)
Paul Abbott		(3 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Produced by
Sally Head	....	executive producer (18 episodes, 1993-1995)
Gub Neal	....	producer / executive producer / ... (9 episodes, 1993-1996)
Paul Abbott	....	producer (9 episodes, 1994)
Hilary Bevan Jones	....	producer (4 episodes, 1995-1996)
Delia Fine	....	executive producer: A&E / executive producer: A&E Network (4 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Original Music by
David Ferguson		(4 episodes, 1994)
Rick Wentworth		(4 episodes, 1995-1996)
Roger Jackson		(3 episodes, 1993)

Series Cinematography by
Ivan Strasburg		(16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Dick Dodd		(4 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Film Editing by
Oral Norrie Ottey		(6 episodes, 1993-1994)
Tony Cranstoun		(5 episodes, 1994-1996)
Edward Mansell		(4 episodes, 1994-1995)
Chris Gill		(2 episodes, 1993)
Trevor Waite		(2 episodes, 1993)

Series Casting by
Gail Stevens		(16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Andrew Hall		(unknown episodes)
Marilyn Johnson		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Chris Wilkinson		(8 episodes, 1993-1996)
Stephen Fineren		(6 episodes, 1994)
Claire Kenny		(3 episodes, 1994)

Series Art Direction by
Deborah Morley		(7 episodes, 1993)
David Butterworth		(4 episodes, 1994-1996)
Chris Coldwell		(3 episodes, 1994)
Nick Wilkinson		(3 episodes, 1994)

Series Costume Design by
Janty Yates		(2 episodes, 1993)
Tudor George		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Anastasia Shirley	....	makeup assistant / makeup designer (3 episodes, 1993-1996)
Helen King	....	makeup supervisor (3 episodes, 1993-1994)
Colin Ware	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Des Hughes	....	production manager (9 episodes, 1994)
Bill Leather	....	production supervisor (9 episodes, 1994)
Liam Foster	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1993)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Shaw	....	first assistant director (9 episodes, 1993-1994)
Jude Harrison	....	second assistant director (9 episodes, 1994)
Emma Bodger	....	second assistant director (7 episodes, 1993)
John Friend Newman	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Rachel Longhurst	....	second assistant director / third assistant director (4 episodes, 1993)
Choi Pui Hing	....	third assistant director: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)
Jack Ravenscroft	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Phil Buckley	....	graphic designer (16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Frank Massey	....	chargehand asm (16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Ron Pritchard	....	prop buyer / production buyer / ... (16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Peter O'Rourke	....	action props (3 episodes, 1993)
Nigel Place	....	prop dresser (3 episodes, 1993)
Vic Shirovay	....	prop dresser (3 episodes, 1993)
David Livesey	....	production buyer (unknown episodes)
Tommy Lyons	....	chargehand asm (unknown episodes)
Chiu Kin Sun	....	art director: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)
Chan Yee	....	production buyer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Phil Smith	....	sound mixer (10 episodes, 1993-1995)
John Whitworth	....	dubbing mixer (9 episodes, 1993-1996)
John Senior	....	dubbing editor (8 episodes, 1994-1996)
John Rutherford	....	dubbing editor (5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Mark Briscoe	....	dubbing editor (4 episodes, 1995-1996)
Tony Cooper	....	boom operator (3 episodes, 1993-1994)
Andy Wyatt	....	dubbing mixer (3 episodes, 1993-1994)
Phil Loftus	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Peter Brayham	....	stunt coordinator (10 episodes, 1993-1994)
Dave Holland	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1993)
Chris Webb	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1993)
Rick Avery	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Brierley	....	first assistant camera / focus puller (11 episodes, 1993-1996)
David Ratcliffe	....	chargehand electrician (3 episodes, 1993-1994)
Bob Gregory	....	grip (2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator / steadicam operator (2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Mike Miller	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Howard Smith	....	Steadicam operator (unknown episodes)
Gary Stanton	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Deki Lee Chu Wing	....	grip: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Andy Pryor	....	casting / casting assistant (10 episodes, 1993-1994)
Beverley Keogh	....	additional casting (4 episodes, 1993)
Patricia Pao	....	additional casting: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)
April Webster	....	additional casting: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sally Mason	....	wardrobe supervisor (2 episodes, 1993)
Alice Lee	....	wardrobe assistant: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)
Sandi Ng	....	wardrobe assistant: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)
Michael Richards	....	wardrobe supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Neil Parker	....	colorist (12 episodes, 1994-1996)
Chris Clarkson	....	assistant film editor (3 episodes, 1994)
Peter Christelis	....	assistant editor / assistant film editor (2 episodes, 1993)
Portia Napier	....	post-production consultant (2 episodes, 1993)
David Boyle	....	assistant film editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Roger Jackson	....	musician (1 episode, 1993)
Carol Kidd	....	singer: "Summertime" and "Stormy Weather" (1 episode, 1993)
Julian Wastall	....	musician (1 episode, 1993)

Series Other crew
Gwenda Bagshaw	....	script associate (16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Dorothy Friend	....	continuity (16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Ken Mair	....	location manager (16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Craig McNeil	....	production executive (10 episodes, 1993-1994)
Eileen Wood	....	production coordinator (9 episodes, 1994)
Tracy Lee	....	production coordinator (7 episodes, 1993)
Catriona McKenzie	....	script editor (7 episodes, 1993)
Nicola Shindler	....	script editor (7 episodes, 1993)
Debbie Shewell	....	script editor (6 episodes, 1994)
Roxy Spencer	....	script editor (6 episodes, 1994)
Gareth Williams	....	production financing (5 episodes, 1993)
Mark Borkowski	....	unit publicist (3 episodes, 1993)
Chris Wheeler	....	production financing (3 episodes, 1993)
Maria Grimley	....	producer secretary / producer's secretary (2 episodes, 1993)
Karen Barker	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Melissa Dice	....	production coordinator: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)
Wayne Docksey	....	animal master (unknown episodes)
Jo Farr	....	production secretary (unknown episodes)
Yau Ming Joseph	....	location manager: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)
Joyce Kitchen	....	continuity (unknown episodes)
Neil MacDonald	....	production supervisor: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)
Michael Park	....	unit publicist (unknown episodes)
Ben Rimmer	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Valery Ryan	....	script editor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• A&E Television Networks
• Granada Television

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV) (1993-1996) (UK) (TV)
• A&E Television Networks (1994-1996) (USA) (TV)
• Elephant Films (2009) (France) (all media)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2003-2004) (USA) (DVD)
• ITV DVD (2008) (UK) (DVD) (complete series)
• Koch Media (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Compuhire  computer and video playback
• Karaoke AV Ltd.  karaoke
• Pioneer LDCE  karaoke

Runtime:

Germany:90 min (9 episodes) | UK:60 min (22 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 (seasons 1-3) | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | UK:18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

Robert Lindsay was the original choice for Fitz but turned it down.

Quotes:

Penhaligon: To be left at the airport, Fitz, that's one thing. But to be left by a big, fat, egocentric, middle-aged man, well, that's a different thing altogether.
Fitz: I didn't mind the big.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Summertime

Robbie Coltrane is brilliant

In my opinion, the little I've seen of the American version of Cracker was actually a noble effort, but the crucial difference between the two was the presence of Robbie Coltrane.

Coltrane is one of the world's best actors. He fills the character of Fitz so well that this unlikely character, who drinks hard, gambles, and is full of rage but is also compassionate and incredibly intelligent, is completely believable. He is one of the few unattractive leading men who can convincingly flirt with attractive women, so that when they are suddenly interested in him, you believe it.

Cracker is harsh stuff sometimes. Every killer on the show, it seems, has a psychological angle that is positively disturbing (hence, I suppose, the need for a police psychologist). The series also has humor, though. The scene in which Fitz, seeking revenge on a fellow therapist who's fooling around with his wife, turns a "gamblers anonymous" group into a card game is the sort of harsh but banned-in-America dark humor that Jimmy McGovern (author of the film Priest) excels at.