The Designated Mourner (1997)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

David Hare

Writers:

Wallace Shawn (play)
Wallace Shawn (written by)

Release Date:

23 May 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Jack and Judy are husband and wife, and Howard is Judys father. They live in some fictional undemocratic and repressive country...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film | Based On Play

Cast

Mike Nichols	...	Jack
Miranda Richardson	...	Judy
David de Keyser	...	Howard (as David De Keyser)

Directed by
David Hare

Writing credits
Wallace Shawn		(play)
Wallace Shawn		(written by)

Produced by
Simon Curtis	....	executive producer
Donna Grey	....	producer
David Hare	....	producer
Mike Nichols	....	producer
Mark Shivas	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Richard Hartley

Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George Akers

Production Design by
Bob Crowley

Art Direction by
John Ralph

Makeup Department
Tina Earnshaw	....	chief makeup artist
Simon Thompson	....	chief hair stylist

Production Management
Catherine Jardine	....	post-production supervisor
Sheila Fraser Milne	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Toby Hefferman	....	third assistant director
Tim Lewis	....	assistant director

Art Department
Graham Barford	....	stand-by carpenter
Michael Bartlett	....	dressing props
Gary Gleeson	....	stand-by painter
Harry Metcalfe	....	construction manager
Paul Purdy	....	property master
Gary Reynolds	....	stand-by stagehand

Sound Department
Jason Adams	....	foley editor
Matthew Desorgher	....	boom operator
Dominic Lester	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dennis McTaggart	....	sound editor
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rosie Straker	....	boom operator
Clive Winter	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Roderick Barron	....	camera operator
Ray Brown	....	electrician
Liam Daniel	....	still photographer
Barney Davis	....	second assistant camera
John Fletcher	....	focus puller
Michael Green	....	focus puller
Vic Hammond	....	camera grip
Jamie Harcourt	....	camera operator
Gerry Higgins	....	rigger
Roger Lowe	....	best boy
Mike Miller	....	camera operator
Terence Montague	....	electrician (as Terry Montague)
Ron Nicholls	....	grip
Charlie Panayi	....	electrician
Chris Pinnock	....	focus puller
Larry S. Prinz	....	gaffer (as Larry Prinz)
Miles Proudfoot	....	clapper loader
Severin Woxholt	....	clapper loader

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Howard Rayner	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Keith Mason	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Chris Dibble	....	music recordist

Other crew
Angela Allen	....	script supervisor
Con Cremins	....	production accountant

Thanks
Jenne Casarotto	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Greenpoint Films

Distributors

• First Look International
• Lions Gate Films (Canada)

Other Companies

• Sapex Scripts  post-production services

MPAA:

Rated R for some language.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Jack: Stories are as necessary as food.

A late night surprise feast

I happened by complete accident on this film late last night on BBC 2; and although I had to arise early the next morning, there was NO WAY I could do anything but watch it to the end. I'll have to watch it again - maybe more than once - to discover all the nuances in the wonderful dialogue, but for me the performance of Mike Nichols (whom I remember as half of the wildly funny Nichols and May) was amazing and totally riveting. For that alone - and the complex and all-too-human nature of the character he plays - it was well worth viewing and re-viewing (and reviewing!). This is not to denigrate the other actors' contributions; It's just that Nichols' was so memorable. So September's license fee is already justified . . .