Beautiful Thing (1996)

Director:

Hettie Macdonald

Writers:

Jonathan Harvey (written by)
Jonathan Harvey (play)

Release Date:

9 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

An urban fairytale.

Plot:

In a suburb of London, young Jamie is escaping sport hours, to avoid being the victim of his comrades. Young Ste, his neighbor, is beaten by his father, and comes to sleep overnight. They discover new feelings, sleeping in the same bed.

Plot Keywords:

Housing Estate | Gay Lead Character | Club | Homosexual | Gay Bar

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Meera Syal	...	Miss Chauhan
Martin Walsh	...	Mr. Bennett
Steven M. Martin	...	Ryan McBride (as Steven Martin)
Andrew Fraser	...	Jayson
John Savage	...	Lenny
Scott Neal	...	Ste Pearce
Glen Berry	...	Jamie Gangel
Julie Smith	...	Gina
Linda Henry	...	Sandra Gangel
Jeillo Edwards	...	Rose
Tameka Empson	...	Leah Russell
Anna Karen	...	Marlene
Garry Cooper	...	Ronnie Pearce
Ben Daniels	...	Tony
Daniel Bowers	...	Trevor Pearce
Terry Duggan	...	Kevin
Sophie Stanton	...	Louise
Ozdemir Mamodeally	...	Slasher
John Benfield	...	Rodney Barr
Davyd Harries	...	Brewery Official
Beth Goddard	...	Brewery Official
Marlene Sidaway	...	Betty
Liane Ware	...	Claire
Catherine Sanderson	...	Kelly
Dave Lynn	...	Drag Performer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jonathan Harvey	...	Wheelchair Queen (uncredited)

Directed by
Hettie Macdonald

Writing credits
Jonathan Harvey		(written by)
Jonathan Harvey		(play)

Produced by
Tony Garnett	....	producer
Bill Shapter	....	producer

Original Music by
John Altman

Cinematography by
Chris Seager		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Don Fairservice

Casting by
Andy Pryor
Gail Stevens

Production Design by
Mark Stevenson

Art Direction by
Chrysoula Sofitsi

Costume Design by
Pam Tait

Makeup Department
Gilly Fiford	....	assistant makeup artist
Elisa Johnson	....	makeup designer
Pebbles	....	chief hairdresser

Production Management
Nick O'Hagan	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Victoria Goodall	....	third assistant director
James Imber	....	second assistant director
Ben Johnson	....	third assistant director
Susie Liggat	....	first assistant director
Jim Wilkinson	....	third assistant director

Art Department
David Fitzjohn	....	stand-by painter (as Dave Fitzjohns)
Jane Henwood	....	assistant art director
Guy Hunt	....	construction manager
Andy Marr	....	dressing props
Andy Marr	....	stand-by props
Tom Pleydell-Pearce	....	dressing props
Tom Pleydell-Pearce	....	stand-by props
Mike Power	....	property master
Guy Rutter	....	scenic artist
Nigel Salter	....	prop hand
Sara Wan	....	production buyer
Dave Williams	....	stand-by carpenter
Ken Marples	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Greg Mason	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Kevin Brazier	....	sound editor
Wayne Brooks	....	sound editor
John Chandler	....	boom operator: second unit
Piers Lawrance	....	sound trainee: FT2
Paul Le Mare	....	sound recordist: second unit
John Midgley	....	sound mixer
David Old	....	dubbing mixer
June Prinz	....	boom operator

Stunts
David Cronnelly	....	stunt coordinator
Gabe Cronnelly	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Beeby	....	gaffer
Billy Brooks	....	best boy
Paul Chedlow	....	still photographer
John Haylen	....	gaffer
Jeremy Hiles	....	operator: second unit
Peter Howard	....	clapper loader: second unit (as Skip Howard)
Alex Howe	....	focus puller: second unit
Dean Kennedy	....	best boy
Drew Meldon	....	rigger
Oona Menges	....	clapper loader
Duncan Scott	....	camera trainee: FT2
Kim Seber	....	focus puller
Adrian Smith	....	Steadicam operator
Colin Strachan	....	grip
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
John Whickman	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eleanor Appleby	....	wardrobe assistant
Charlotte Couchman	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Kimaathi Spence	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Bob O'Brien	....	genny driver
Len O'Brien	....	genny driver

Other crew
Jim Allan	....	location manager
Jedd Aukin	....	floor assistant
Danielle Brandon	....	production coordinator
Sam Dundas	....	location assistant
Fleur Fontaine	....	assistant to producer
John Heald	....	location assistant
Susanna Lenton	....	script supervisor
Nigel Marchant	....	floor assistant
Richard McNeill	....	assistant accountant
Mark Sell	....	location assistant
Linda Sherwood-Page	....	titles
Barry Smith	....	location manager
Howard Sykes	....	location assistant
Harry Teacher	....	production runner
Paul Van Der Weele	....	production accountant
Anya Noakes	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Channel Four Films
• World Productions

Distributors

• Cinemania Films Group (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cult Filmes (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Homescreen (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Vértigo Films (Spain)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  light equipment
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, pervasive strong language and some drug content.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Singapore:(Banned) | Australia:MA | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:12 | Italy:T | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Anchor Pub, Rotherhithe, London, England, UK

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

When Sandra recalls that Cass Elliot died by choking on a sandwich she is repeating an urban legend. "Mama" Cass actually died of heart failure. Reports immediately after her death (before the autopsy) apparently quoted her doctor as saying she probably died by choking on a sandwich. Despite the results of the autopsy, the sandwich story has stuck.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Jamie and his Mum are fighting on the floor of their living room, the transmitter of the body mike is visible on his back underneath his tee-shirt.

Quotes:

Sandra: It's not natural, is it?
Jamie: What ain't?
Sandra: A girl her age being into Mama Cass.
Leah: She's got a really beautiful voice.
Sandra: And what's wrong with Madonna?
Leah: She's a slag.
Sandra: Hypocrite.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Another Gay Movie (2006)

Soundtrack:

Dream a little dream of me

Feel-good, positive film

This is one of those great British dramas set in a typically grim environment but shot with positivity throughout. Having grown up around the area in the film and being only a few years older than the featured boys, it was a joy to see life there depicted in the film.

I agree with all previous comments about the actors and how true-to-life it feels. Although slightly exaggerated in places, this film is a great comment on London working class life as well as being focused around a gay-based storyline.

However, I wanted to add that this film also comments on the complex class system in the UK which explains why Tony was dropped by Sandra. Many non-British viewers may not have picked up on this. Thoughout, Tony is shown as a middle class character who doesn't really fit into the working class environment. He uses different slang words to the others, has a 'posher' accent and has slightly different attitudes to all the other characters. He and Sandra come from different worlds. As Sandra says, she has been fighting all her life, whereas he has had evertyhing given to him on a plate. Ultimately, this relationship was never going to last. Life in London (and the UK) is still spilt into different social classes, although they do mix a little more than they used to. But you can often tell where someone is from by their accent and their choice of words. This was used to great affect in the film.

Overall, a light-hearted look at life on a London council Estate with some great performances... one of my favourite films.