A Cock and Bull Story (2005)

Director:

Michael Winterbottom

Writers:

Laurence Sterne (novel)
Frank Cottrell Boyce (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 January 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Because everyone loves an accurate period piece.

Plot:

Director Michael Winterbottom (Northam) attempts to shoot the adaptation of Laurence Sterne's essentially unfilmable novel, "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman."

Plot Keywords:

Split Screen | Interview | Baby | Teeth | Midwife

Awards:

2 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Steve Coogan	...	Tristram Shandy / Walter Shandy / Steve Coogan
Rob Brydon	...	Capt. Toby Shandy / Rob Brydon
Keeley Hawes	...	Elizabeth
Shirley Henderson	...	Susannah
Raymond Waring	...	Trim
Conal Murphy	...	Young Tristram Shandy - Age 6
Joe Williams	...	Young Tristram Shandy - Age 9
Paul Kynman	...	Obadiah
Mark Tandy	...	London Doctor
Mary Healey	...	Midwife
Dylan Moran	...	Dr. Slop
Jack Shepherd	...	Surgeon
David Walliams	...	Parson
Jeremy Northam	...	Mark
Benedict Wong	...	Ed
Naomie Harris	...	Jennie
Claire Keelan	...	Make-up Assistant
Kelly Macdonald	...	Jenny
Mark Hadfield	...	Leo
Elizabeth Berrington	...	Debbie
Mark Williams	...	Ingoldsby
Jenny Ogilvie	...	Sandy
Tony Wilson	...	TV Interviewer (as Anthony H. Wilson)
Justine Mitchell	...	Tony's Director
Kieran O'Brien	...	Gary
Roger Allam	...	Adrian
Ashley Jensen	...	Lindsey
James Fleet	...	Simon
Ian Hart	...	Joe
Ronni Ancona	...	Anita
Greg Wise	...	Greg
Paul Rider	...	Prop Guy
Stephen Fry	...	Patrick Curator / Parson Yorick
Sara Stewart	...	Joanna
Gillian Anderson	...	Widow Wadman
Stephen Rodrick	...	New York Times Reporter
Stuart Wilson	...	Sound Mixer
Rosie Cavaliero	...	Rachel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andy Callaghan	...	Playing Film Crew
Peter Bach	...	Visual Effects Supervisor (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Winterbottom

Writing credits
Laurence Sterne		(novel "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy")
Frank Cottrell Boyce		(screenplay) (as Martin Hardy)

Produced by
Jeff Abberley	....	executive producer
Julia Blackman	....	executive producer
Wendy Brazington	....	co-producer
Andrew Eaton	....	producer
Henry Normal	....	executive producer
Kate Ogborn	....	executive producer
Anita Overland	....	co-producer
Tracey Scoffield	....	executive producer
David M. Thompson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Edward Nogria

Cinematography by
Marcel Zyskind

Film Editing by
Peter Christelis

Casting by
Wendy Brazington

Production Design by
John Paul Kelly

Art Direction by
Emma MacDevitt

Costume Design by
Charlotte Walter

Makeup Department
Deborah Jarvis	....	hair stylist
Deborah Jarvis	....	makeup artist
Marese Langan	....	chief hair designer
Marese Langan	....	chief makeup designer

Production Management
Layla Blackman	....	post-production supervisor (as Layla Evans)
Jethro Harris	....	post-production manager: Pepper Post Production Ltd.
Cass Marks	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jessica Hurles-Laws	....	second assistant director (as Jessica Hurles)
Josh Hyams	....	third assistant director
Barrie McCulloch	....	first assistant director
Lucy Thomas	....	additional third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Mark Billingham	....	dressing props
Byron Broadbent	....	stand-by art director
Dan Carling	....	art department trainee: East Midlands (as Daniel Carling)
Justin Chappell	....	carpenter
Shay Leonard	....	property master
Andrew Palmer	....	art department assistant
Luke Stevens	....	art department trainee: Norfolk
Jackie Yau	....	prop buyer
Rob Anderson	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Tim Alban	....	foley recordist
Mark Appleby	....	assistant dubbing mixer (as Mark Apply)
Orin Beaton	....	boom operator
Richard Davey	....	dubbing mixer
James Hamilton	....	foley artist
Vincent Hazard	....	sound effects editor
Richard Kondal	....	dialogue editor
Mitch Low	....	boom operator (as Mitchell Low)
Rowan October	....	sound trainee
Joakim Sundström	....	supervising sound editor
Jessie Taylor	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Stuart Wilson	....	sound
Jamie Roden	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Ted Swanscott	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Doug McCarthy	....	senior special effects technician
Charlie Bluett	....	special effects prosthetics (uncredited)
Jo Grover	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Peter Bach	....	head of film: Clear Films
Melissa Butler Adams	....	compositor: Clear Films
Chris Eborn	....	Shake engineer: Clear Films
James D. Etherington	....	compositor: Clear Films (as Jim Etherington)
Adam Gascoyne	....	lead compositor: Clear Films (as Adam Gasgcoine)
Laura Ricketts	....	line producer: Clear Films
David J. Zimmerman	....	data operator: Clear Films (as David Zimmerman)
Simon Hughes	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Daniel Naprous	....	stunt double: Obadiah
Gerard Naprous	....	stunt coordinator
Andreas Petrides	....	stunt coordinator
Tom Struthers	....	stunt double: Dr. Slop

Camera and Electrical Department
John Colley	....	gaffer
Derek Docherty	....	rigger
Kevin Edwards	....	camera trainee
Henry Landgrebe	....	second assistant camera
John Law	....	rigger
Pim Tjujerman	....	first assistant camera
Amelia Troubridge	....	still photographer
Mat Wilson	....	best boy (as Matt Wilson)

Casting Department
Ruth Breslaw	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Paula Casarin	....	costume continuity
Richard Cooke	....	assistant costume designer
Kate Eden	....	wardrobe supervisor
Shane Kingdon	....	costume assistant
Georgina Painter	....	wardrobe assistant
Gilli Thompson	....	period costume dyer
Sabrina Vickery	....	wardrobe assistant
Hannah Walter	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Ian Buchan	....	assistant editor
Scott Hinchcliffe	....	on-line editor: Pepper Post Production Ltd.
Jet Omoshebi	....	digital colorist: Pepper Post Production Ltd.
Shane Warden	....	on-line editor: Pepper Post Production Ltd.
Simon Giblin	....	on-line editor (uncredited)
Steve Lemley	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Christopher Barnett	....	composer: additional music
Michael Nyman	....	music arranger: Handel Sarabande
Leonard Rosenman	....	music arranger: "Lilburlero" from "Barry Lyndon"

Transportation Department
Graham Farmer	....	driver: East Midlands & Norfolk
Bob Hawkins	....	driver: East Midlands & Norfolk
Chris Johnson	....	driver: East Midlands & Norfolk
Alan Lewandowski	....	driver: wardrobe truck (as Alan Lewandlyski)
George Martin	....	driver: make-up truck
John Oxborough	....	driver: East Midlands & Norfolk
Linton 'Bullet' Small	....	driver: wardrobe truck
Bren Tierney	....	driver coordinator
Bernie Walsh	....	driver: East Midlands & Norfolk
Frank Wisbey	....	driver: East Midlands & Norfolk

Other crew
Chris Andrews	....	security officer
Isabel Begg	....	head of business and legal affairs: BBC Films
Sarah Best	....	production and finance coordinator: BBC Films
Izzy Bolling	....	set runner: Norfolk
Emma Brazier	....	assistant accountant
Fran Budd	....	production secretary
Darren Capper	....	rushes runner
Nicole Carmen-Davis	....	production executive: Scion Films
Gilly Case	....	location manager: Norfolk
Rachel Clark	....	set runner: East Midlands
Owen Davies	....	set runner: East Midlands
Megan Davis	....	head of business and legal affairs: Scion Films
Dell Gakhal	....	chef
Kidj Gakhal	....	catering assistant
Helen Giles	....	legal and business affairs executive: BBC Films
Robert Gomdez	....	catering assistant
Alix Graham	....	assistant production coordinator
Nicola Graydon	....	publicist
David J. Groom	....	floor runner (as David Groom)
Michael Groom	....	floor runner
Hilary Grove	....	production runner: Norfolk
Michael Harm	....	additional location manager
Susy Liddell	....	head of production: BBC Films
Fiona McGuire	....	head of production: Revolution Films
Stephen Nex	....	production assistant: Revolution Films
Melissa Parmenter	....	assistant: Michael Winterbottom and Andrew Eaton
Melissa Parmenter	....	location manager: East Midlands
Bev Reid	....	production secretary: Scion Films
Joanne Sennitt	....	production accountant: Scion Films
Camille Sims	....	set runner: Norfolk
Maxine Stanley	....	post-production accountant
Trevor Stanley	....	production accountant
Laura Tatton	....	production assistant: Scion Films
Ben Thomas	....	business and legal affairs: Scion Films
Molly Tudhope	....	assistant location manager
Nick Warren	....	rushes runner
Sam Williams	....	security officer
Sally Wright	....	production runner: East Midlands
Pauline Burt	....	risk manager (uncredited)
Heather Mansfield	....	risk manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• BBC Films (presents)
• Baby Cow Productions (in association with)
• EM Media (executive production) (in association with)
• East Midlands Media Initiative
• Prescience Film Fund
• Revolution Films (in association with)
• Scion Films (produced with)

Distributors

• Redbus Film Distribution (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Picturehouse Entertainment (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Newmarket Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Film (2006) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (all media)
• ID Distribution (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Future Film (2006) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Lionsgate (2006) (UK) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (New Zealand) (all media)

Special Effects

• Artem
• Clear

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment supplied by
• Clarity Post Production Sound  sound post-production
• Falco Ink.  publicity
• Limehouse Recordings  sound post-production
• Mayflower Studios  post-production facilities
• Pepper Post Production  post-production
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Soho Images  film laboratory services

Also Known As:

Tristram Shandy (UK) (working title)
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (USA)
Tournage dans un jardin anglais (France) [fr]
Tristram Shandy - Mia istoria gi' agrious (Greece) (festival title) [el]
Tristram Shandy - herrasmiehen paljastukset (Finland) [fi]
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexual content.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Argentina:16 | Sweden:Btl | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:M18 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Blickling Hall, Blickling, Norfolk, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

Cameo: [Tony Wilson]The real Tony Wilson (who Steve Coogan played in 24 Hour Party People (2002), another Michael Winterbottom film) plays himself, interviewing Steve Coogan on the film set. The somewhat spiky relationship between the two (who also worked together on local TV in the early 1990s) is subtly referenced in Coogan's lukewarm "let's catch up in Manchester".

Quotes:

Mark: [referring to Gillian Anderson] It would make it a real movie if it had a real star.
Mark: [noting Steve Coogan's presence] Two stars.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The South Bank Show: Michael Winterbottom (#29.9)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Over the Waves

Is it possible to have a hot streak with a Winterbottom?

A film so post-post-postmodern that Steve Coogan steps out of the screen and hits on your girlfriend in the theater lobby -- I won't say if this is true or not -- Tristram Shandy is a meticulously controlled work that, despite the film-within-a-film conceit, is very faithful to its impenetrable source. Just like Sterne's book, the engine of Winterbottom's film is bittersweet melancholy, but the engine noise, drowning out what some might consider to be a nihilistic message, is bawdy, music-hall, veddy veddy English humor.

For Americans to get anything out of this movie, you will need to understand a bit about both Tristram Shandy -- at least enough to know that Coogan is playing Shandy's FATHER and that Shandy himself is only the narrator -- and about Steve Coogan's mythology. For those who are too lazy, all you need to know is that Coogan doesn't have a reputation for being led around by his brain. I have briefly met him in person and found the experience uncanny. He is so fully what he is that he seems to have a force-field around him that separates him from the more amorphous mass of humanity. In the future, when you say the word "Coogan," it will instantly paint a picture of a certain type of male. A type that women are drawn to irresistibly, because he is both a child in need of mothering, a grown Linus Van Pelt perpetually clutching a security blanket, and aggressively sexual and dirty. He's the bad boy and the baby all rolled into one. And yet, far from being a jerk or a cad, he is intensely likable.

All of which goes to show that rarely has any actor been more perfect for a role than Coogan is here. Posing this hapless man-child next to a bull with a huge bazoing pretty much says it all. You see, Sterne is not a fan of the procreative arts ( and judging by his last few movies, neither is Winterbottom; "Everyone's kid is so special," says Samantha Morton in Code 46, "Makes you wonder where all the ordinary adults come from." ) The title character of Tristram Shandy remains famously unborn, and the only characters that Sterne truly loves, and who truly love each other, are a eunuch and a widow, all of which goes to show that Sterne considers death to be a blessing and human existence to be largely unnecessary, nothing but the byproduct of mindless sexual flare-ups that would be quickly forgotten except for the babies they produce, who in turn have more sexual flare-ups, and so on. In the film these flare-ups come courtesy of Steve Coogan, playing both himself as a father -- and constantly attempting to cheat on his wife, as he is famous for doing in real life; you may even recall the false alarm that he'd knocked up Courtney Love! -- and also the reluctant Shandy's paterfamilias. Between these two Johnny Appleseeds, both of whom look like Steve Coogan, entire planetary systems could be populated and repopulated.

The film is short, but dense -- every scene has so many dimensions that the end result fans out like a peacock's tail. There are infinite details to sift through in its 90 minute running time, and there is a very beautifully done telescoping of time periods to match Tristram Shandy's 18th-century milieu with that of Steve Coogan's and our own modern day. When Coogan haggles over a script in the lobby of a trendily underlit London hotel, you feel somehow transported back to Shandy's father's palatial home and its elegant candlelight. The central scene of the film comes when Coogan, escaping from a costume party where the 21st century briefly crashes into the 18th, tells his wife: "I just had a nightmare." That nightmare is called our world, reality, human as opposed to divine love, the world controlled by time yet where nothing really changes except the clothes and the hairstyles, and that, despite its obvious wretchedness and pain, people are too afraid to give up; yes, the very same "cock and bull story" of the title. It is not every comedian who has something to say about the human comedy. But Coogan certainly does, under Michael Winterbottom's expert and disillusioned hand.