The Tailor of Panama (2001)

Director:

John Boorman

Writers (WGA):

John le Carré (novel)
Andrew Davies (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

In a place this treacherous, what a good spy needs is a spy of his own.

Plot:

A tailor living in Panama reluctantly becomes a spy for a British agent.

Plot Keywords:

Panama | Tailor | Spy | President | Debt

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Pierce Brosnan	...	Andrew 'Andy' Osnard
Geoffrey Rush	...	Harold 'Harry' Pendel
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Louisa Pendel
Leonor Varela	...	Marta
Brendan Gleeson	...	Michelangelo 'Mickie' Abraxas
Harold Pinter	...	Uncle Benny
Catherine McCormack	...	Francesca Deane
Daniel Radcliffe	...	Mark Pendel
Lola Boorman	...	Sarah Pendel
David Hayman	...	Luxmore
Mark Margolis	...	Rafi Domingo
Martin Ferrero	...	Teddy, the Reporter
John Fortune	...	Maltby
Martin Savage	...	Stormont
Edgardo Molino	...	Juan-David
Jon Polito	...	Ramón Rudd, the Banker
Jonathan Hyde	...	Cavendish
Dylan Baker	...	General Dusenbaker
Paul Birchard	...	Joe
Harry Ditson	...	Elliot
Ken Jenkins	...	Morecombe
Adolfo Arias Espinosa	...	President
Juan Carlos Adames	...	Marco
Luis Antonio Gotti	...	Ernesto 'Ernie' Delgado (as Luis A. Goti)
Vladimir Vega	...	Customer
Iris De Arco	...	Palace Secretary
César Sanjur	...	Angelo, the Manager
Heather Emmanuel	...	Esmeralda
Diomara De Ruiz	...	Mrs. Delgado
Doug Cockle	...	Pentagon Aide
Patrick Poletti	...	Officer #1
Andrew French	...	Officer #2
Frank Melia	...	Official #1
Lisa Dwan	...	Stewardess
Paolo Tullio	...	Panamanian Businessman
Siraj Zaidi	...	Official #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luigi Lescure	...	Parent Taking Child to School (uncredited)

Directed by
John Boorman

Writing credits (WGA)
John le Carré		(novel "The Tailor of Panama")
Andrew Davies		(screenplay) and
John le Carré		(screenplay) and
John Boorman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Kevan Barker	....	co-producer
John Boorman	....	producer
John le Carré	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Shaun Davey

Cinematography by
Philippe Rousselot

Film Editing by
Ron Davis

Production Design by
Derek Wallace

Art Direction by
Sarah Hauldren		(supervising art director)
Irene O'Brien
Lucinda Thomson		(as Lucinda Thompson)

Set Decoration by
Laura Bowe

Costume Design by
Maeve Paterson		(as Maeve Patterson)

Makeup Department
Orla Carrol	....	key hair stylist
Lynn Johnson	....	makeup artist (as Lynn Johnston)
Tara McHugh	....	assistant makeup artist
Maire O'Sullivan	....	key makeup artist
Rick Provenzano	....	hairdresser: Mr. Brosnan
Bron Roylance	....	makeup artist: Mr. Brosnan
Deirdre Tormey	....	assistant hairdresser

Production Management
Paul Barnes	....	production manager: Ireland
David Byrne	....	production manager: Panama
Howard Gibbins	....	production manager: Ireland
Kevan Barker	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tommy Gormley	....	first assistant director
Jose Jimenez	....	second second assistant director
Anel E. Moreno	....	assistant director
Sarah Purser	....	second assistant director
Aoife Thunder	....	third assistant director
Genevieve Whitfield	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
June Connon	....	props
Neil Crawford	....	rigger
Manus Daly	....	supervising carpenter
Stephen Daly	....	assistant art director
Alan Dunne	....	stand-by props
Pascal Farrell	....	assistant construction manager (as Paschal Farrell)
Paul Hedges	....	property master
Shirley Henderson	....	buyer
Sarah Kingston	....	prop buyer
Paul McDonnell	....	special props
Owen Murnane	....	master painter
Des O'Neill	....	master plasterer
Laurence O'Toole	....	scenic artist
José Tuñón	....	construction buyer
Alexandra Walker	....	draughtsman
David Wallace	....	stand-by props
Dave Whelan	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Mark Auguste	....	sound editor
Sam Auguste	....	assistant sound editor
Brendan Deasy	....	sound mixer
Joe Gilmore	....	dialogue editor
Pauline Griffiths	....	foley artist
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jenny Lee Wright	....	foley artist (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
Anthony Litton	....	foley editor
Steven McLoughlin	....	sound trainee
Eddie Quinn	....	boom operator
Fionn Seavers	....	assistant sound editor
Paul Drenning	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Gerard Roche	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Clive Beard	....	special effects supervisor
Jorge Cunningham	....	effects assistant: Panama
Mick Doyle	....	senior effects technician: Ireland
Maurice Foley	....	special effects supervisor: Ireland
Lee Kennealy	....	effects technician: Panana
Hiroko Ray Lay	....	effects assistant: Panama
Alan Poole	....	special effects technician: Panama
Pamela Poole	....	effects coordinator: Panama
Peter Skehan	....	special effects technician: Panama
Brendan Walsh	....	special effects technician: Ireland (as Brendan Walshe)

Visual Effects by
Robin Aristorenas	....	computer animator & modeler: Double Negative
Richard Bain	....	compositor: Double Negative
Adrian Banton	....	compositor: Double Negative
Pete Bebb	....	computer animator & modeler: Double Negative (as Peter Bebb)
Jim Bowers	....	computer animator & modeler: Double Negative
Richard Briscoe	....	compositor: Double Negative
Peter Chiang	....	visual effects supervisor
Frazer Churchill	....	digital supervisor: Double Negative
Wayde Duncan-Smith	....	computer animator & modeler: Double Negative
Emily Edwards	....	visual effects producer: Double Negative
John Hardwick	....	compositor: Double Negative
Elie Jamaa	....	computer animator & modeler: Double Negative
Jody Johnson	....	compositor: Double Negative
Jesper Kjölsrud	....	computer animator & modeler: Double Negative
Rogan Macdonald	....	visual effects artist
Dolores McGinley	....	digital artist
John Moffatt	....	compositor: Double Negative
Charlie Noble	....	compositor: Double Negative
Paul Riddle	....	compositor: Double Negative
Simon Terry	....	compositor: Double Negative
Craig Chandler	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Paul J. Franklin	....	visual effects animator: Double Negative (uncredited)
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: Double Negative (uncredited)
Steve MacPherson	....	technical operations manager: Double Negative (uncredited)

Stunts
Jonathan Fildes	....	precision driver
Ken Fildes	....	precision driver

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Byrne	....	video assistant
Xiomara Comrie	....	clapper loader
John Conroy	....	focus puller
Louis Conroy	....	chief lighting technician
Neil Crawford	....	rigger
Neil Cullen	....	rigging gaffer
Marcele de León	....	video assistant
Gerard Donnelly	....	best boy (as Gerald Donnelly)
Richie Egan	....	second grip (as Richard Egan)
Jimmy Hennessy	....	head rigger (as James Hennessy)
Jonathan Hession	....	still photographer
Roger Kenney	....	camera trainee (as Roger Kenny)
John Murphy	....	key grip
Philip Murphy	....	second grip
Michael J. Walsh	....	electrician
Des Whelan	....	camera operator
Stewart Whelan	....	clapper loader (as Stewart A. Whelan)
Vince McGahon	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
John Trapman	....	aerial director of photography (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mary Gail Artz	....	casting: USA
Barbara Cohen	....	casting: USA
Jina Jay	....	casting: U.K.
Shaheen Baig	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carol Graham	....	wardrobe assistant
Mark Holmes	....	wardrobe master
Susan O'Connor Cave	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Sandra Campbell	....	post-production coordinator
Simon Davis	....	assistant editor
Bob Robinson	....	assistant editor
John Stanborough	....	color timer
Sylvia Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Sarah Burn	....	copyist
Shaun Davey	....	orchestrator
Noel Eccles	....	musician: percussion soloist
Víctor Heredia	....	composer: song "Todavia Cantamos"
Kieran Lynch	....	assistant music engineer
Brian Masterson	....	music recording engineer
Des Moore	....	musician: guitar soloist
Dino Nugent	....	music consultant: Panama
Nic Raine	....	orchestrator
Fiachra Trench	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Stephen Carroll	....	action vehicle coordinator
Arthur Dunne	....	transportation captain
Matt Kelly	....	transportation captain
Vince Pecora	....	transportation assistant (as Vincent Pecora)

Other crew
Adolfo Alvarez-Calderon	....	location manager
Orla Collins	....	payroll accountant
Con Cremins	....	production accountant
Susan d'Arcy	....	unit publicist
Raisa De Alba	....	production assistant (as Raisa de Alba)
Sandra L. Dixon	....	second assistant accountant: Panama (as Sandra Dixon)
Emer Egan	....	second assistant accountant
Mauri Freed	....	assistant to production manager
Sonya Gildea	....	assistant to producer/director (as Sonya Supple)
Jim Hanna	....	catering
Peter Marinker	....	dialogue coach
Stephen McGillen	....	assistant accountant
John McKenna	....	chief armorer
Oonagh McMorrow	....	assistant production coordinator
Niamh O'Dea	....	production coordinator
Rob Partridge	....	armourer
Laerke Sigfred Pedersen	....	script supervisor
Mary Sunshine	....	production accountant
Clodagh Tierney	....	location scout
Julian Valdes	....	assistant location manager
Jean Wainwright	....	assistant production accountant
Luca Ward	....	voice dubbing: Pierce Brosnan
Tommy G. Warren	....	source: photos (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (as Columbia Pictures) (presents)
• Merlin Films

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2001-) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films AB (2001) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• AXN (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2001) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Guardian Television Network (GTN) (2006) (USA) (TV)
• Nordisk Film (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Talpa (2005) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Double Negative (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Ardmore Sound  re-recorded at (as Ardmore School, Ireland)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints
• General Screen Enterprises  titles and opticals
• Marriott Hotels  special thanks (as Panama Marriott Hotel)
• Panama Canal Authority  special thanks
• Panavision UK  cameras
• Paskal Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Technicolor  color
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Wescam USA  helicopter
• Windmill Lane Recording Studios  music recorded at

Also Known As:

"El sastre de Panamá" - Argentina, Mexico (imdb display title), Spain
"O Alfaiate do Panamá" - Brazil, Portugal (imdb display title)
"A panamai szabó" - Hungary
"Der Schneider von Panama" - Germany
"Il sarto di Panama" - Italy
"Krawiec z Panamy" - Poland
"Le tailleur de Panama" - Canada (French title)
"O raftis tou Panama" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Panama terzisi" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Panaman räätäli" - Finland
"Panamski krojac" - Serbia
"Skräddaren i Panama" - Sweden
"Skredderen i Panama" - Norway (imdb display title)
"The Tailor of Panama" - France

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, language and some violence

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA | Ireland

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Iceland:12 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

This film's opening prologue states: "Often called the 8th wonder of the world[,] The Panama Canal was built by American engineers and operated by the U.S. Army for 85 years. At the end of 1999, it was controversially handed back to Panama leading to intense speculation about the future of this vital gateway. Meanwhile in a corner of Panama City, plying his trade was . . . THE TAILOR OF PANAMA."

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the high level intelligence briefing scene, the ribbons on General Dusenbaker's (Dylan Baker) uniform are displayed incorrectly.

Quotes:

[first lines]
MI.6 Handler:Panama.
Andrew 'Andy' Osnard:Panama?
MI.6 Handler:Best I could do Andrew. Under the circumstances, given your sins. They were baying for blood.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Taylor of Atlanta (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Let's Face the Music and Dance

Geoffrey Rush does it again

This brilliant actor is so reminiscent of Alec Guiness, sinking into his roles so well and in this movie merging with the character, every inch the fawning fussy tailor with other agendas on the side and a secret past. I do not care for Jamie Lee Curtis's performances normally, I find her brittle with no depth, but here she shines with a light sense of humour and a feminist conscience and fidelity that brings a true authenticity to the role. the marriage portrayed here is highly believable, lots of lovely nuances and the tailor himself fussilly tending to braiding his daughter's hair and making sure the children get to school on time. Enter Pierce Brosnan who portrays an appalling cad here. You can tell he relishes the chance to play a true unsophisticate, preying on any woman who crosses his path. I will not give away the plot which spins very much like "Our Man in Havana" another wonderful movie. some of the roles were prettied up for Hollywoodland, Marta was more tragic and mute than she needed to be, Jamie Lee far too soignee and elegant. All in all a 7 out of 10. John Boorman never lets me down.