Raining Stones (1993)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Ken Loach

Writer:

Jim Allen (writer)

Release Date:

6 October 1993 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Plot:

This Ken Loach film tells the story of a man devoted to his family and his religion. Proud, though poor...

Plot Keywords:

Social Realism | Tragicomedy | Money | Independent Film

Awards:

6 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Bruce Jones	...	Bob
Julie Brown	...	Anne
Gemma Phoenix	...	Coleen
Ricky Tomlinson	...	Tommy
Tom Hickey	...	Father Barry
Mike Fallon	...	Jimmy
Ronnie Ravey	...	Butcher
Lee Brennan	...	Irishman
Karen Henthorn	...	Young Mother
Christine Abbott	...	May
Geraldine Ward	...	Tracey
William Ash	...	Joe
Matthew Clucas	...	Sean
Anna Jaskolka	...	Shop Assistant
Jonathan James	...	Tansey
Anthony Bodell	...	Ted
Bob Mullane	...	Ted's Mate
Jack Marsden	...	Mike
Jim R. Coleman	...	Dixie
George Moss	...	Dean
Jackie Richmond	...	Club Steward
Little Tony	...	Cliff
Derek Alleyn	...	Factory Boss
Tracey Adamson
Antony Audenshaw
Gloria Bodell
Cissie Clark
Graham Cooke
Susan Cookson
Samantha Elka
Donna Elson
Kathrine Falvey
Jacky Hamilton
Linda Harris
Corinne Heritage
Gary Hesford
Ricky Livid
Stephen Lord
Tommy Maine
Anne Martin
John Merman
Eric Noi
Lesley Rae Bancs
Cindy Shaw
James Shaw
Tony Smyles
Ken Strath
Jacky Taylor
Janice Taylor
Anthony Ward
Patrick Ward
Sheila Weir
Vince Williams
Kevin Wright

Directed by
Ken Loach

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jim Allen		writer

Produced by
Sally Hibbin	....	producer

Original Music by
Stewart Copeland

Cinematography by
Barry Ackroyd

Film Editing by
Jonathan Morris

Production Design by
Martin Johnson

Art Direction by
Fergus Clegg

Costume Design by
Anne Sinclair

Makeup Department
Louise Fisher	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Lesley Stewart	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Gilchrist	....	second assistant director
Tommy Gormley	....	first assistant director
Ben Johnson	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Simon Dalton	....	property master
Nick Goodall	....	construction crew
Stephen Hargreaves	....	construction manager
James Morgan	....	property master
John Newman	....	construction crew
John Newman	....	construction worker
Adrian Start	....	construction crew
Adrian Start	....	worker
Paul Whitelock	....	construction worker

Sound Department
Ray Beckett	....	sound mixer
Kevin Brazier	....	dubbing editor
Ben Brookes	....	sound assistant
Karen Jones	....	boom operator
David Old	....	dubbing mixer
Julie Ankerson	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Perry Davey	....	stunt arranger
Mark Southworth	....	stunt driver

Camera and Electrical Department
Gary Beckerman	....	camera trainee
Paul Chedlow	....	still photographer
Clive Freeth	....	electrician
Paul Grech-Ellul	....	focus puller
Baz Irvine	....	clapper loader
Steve Pochetty	....	electrician
Dominic Seal	....	gaffer
Malcolm Keys	....	electrician (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Anthony Morris	....	assistant editor
Kimaathi Spence	....	editorial trainee
Colin Coull	....	color grader (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Seitz	....	music recording engineer

Other crew
David Allen	....	production assistant
Jeff Bowen	....	location manager
Wendy Ellerker	....	production accountant
Lauren Gordon	....	chaperone
Stephen Grosz	....	production attorney
Susanna Lenton	....	continuity
Wendy Lilly	....	contact: London
Paula McBreen	....	production assistant
Shellie Smith	....	production coordinator
Graham Tew	....	supplies
Michael Ward Jr.	....	production assistant
Michael Ward Sr.	....	production assistant
Mick Ward	....	floor runner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Channel Four Films
• Parallax Pictures

Distributors

• Alta Films (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Northern Arts Entertainment (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Lorber (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Fox Lorber (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Gativideo (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cinelume  titles
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

Also Known As:

Chuva de Pedras (Portugal) [pt]
Como caídos del cielo (Argentina) [es]
Közápor (Hungary) [hu]
Lloviendo piedras (Spain) [es]
Piovono pietre (Italy) [it]
Plouen pedres (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Une pluie de pierres (Canada: French title) [fr]
Vrohi apo petres (Greece) (festival title) [el]

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:Not Rated | Argentina:13 | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Middleton, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

Channel Four Films

Soundtrack:

Something Good

Hyper-realistic masterpiece

I watched this on Channel 4 late one night a few years ago. I had had a bad day at work, and was dog-tired. On the verge of turning off the TV, I caught the beginning, and I was immediately hooked.

Ken Loach provides a hyper-realistic portrayal of life on the edge in the 1990`s. Bruce Jones (later to play the feckless Les Battersby on Coronation Street) displays a remarkable tenderness as the struggling father who desperately tries to obtain enough money to buy his daughter a communion dress. He, and Ken Loach,indicate that this poor man represents the best of the working class, only forced to crime,in order to feed and clothe his family.He is a true hero.

The grim setting and subject matter (a disintegrating council estate, and dingy pubs) are not allowed to swamp the deeply human nature of the tale, and there are a number of moments (especially provided by Ricky Tomlinson), where the mood is lightened, allowing gritty humour to emerge. The opening, where the two heroes are unsuccessfully trying to steal a sheep is hysterical.

I wouldn`t call myself a great Ken Loach fan, but this is his masterpiece. I would call it one on the best British films of all time.