Calendar Girls

Director: Nigel Cole Nigel Cole

Overview

"Nigel Cole directs two of the most respected British actresses of their generation, Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, in the comedy Calendar Girls. That film makes its debut on DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. A French soundtrack is accessible, as are Spanish subtitles. The film's story is based on actual events, and a featurette about the real-life people depicted in the film is included, along with a making-of featurette and deleted scenes. This is a solid release from Touchstone Home Entertainment."

Product Details

Release Date:	05/04/2004
UPC:	0786936227932
Original Release:	2003
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:48:00
Sales rank:	1,758

Special Features

Closed Caption;"The Naked Truth" documentary; "Creating the Calendar" documentary; Deleted scenes

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Helen Mirren	Chris
Julie Walters	Annie
John Alderton	John
Linda Bassett	Cora
Annette Crosbie	Jessie
Philip Glenister	Lawrence
Celia Inrie	Celia
Geraldine James	Marie
Penelope Wilton	Ruth
George Costigan	Eddie
Graham Crowden	Richard
John Fortune	Frank
Georgie Glen	Kathy
Angela Curran	May
Rosalind March	Trudy
John-Paul MacLeod	Jem
Marc Pickering	Gaz
John Sharian	Danny
Belinda Everett	Maya
Harriet Thorpe	Brenda Mooney
Gillian Wright	Eddie's Woman
Ian Embleton	Andy
Janet Howd	Julia
Lesley Staples	Jenny
Richard Braine	Policeman
Maggie McCarthy	W.I. Administrator 1
Diana Marchment	W.I. Administrator 2
Celia Henebury	Check-In Stewardess
Ted Robbins	Bike Man
Arthur Kelly	Bookshop Owner
Alison Pargeter	Chemist's Assistant
Tim Barker	Holiday Speaker
Angus Barnett	Orchid Photographer
Frank Barrie	Lecherous Photographer
John Sparkes	Welsh Photographer
Merryn Owen	Student Photographer
Richard Ashton	Policeman 2
Shameer Madarbakus	Policeman 3
Elizabeth Bennett	W.I. Judge
Simon Ludders	Waiter
Darren Southworth	Sofa Salesman
Sharon Thomas	TV Reporter
Christa Ackroyd	News Presenter
Geoffrey Wilkinson	Seed Company Manager
Bob Flag	Alan Rathbone
Mark Hayford	Charity Chicken Worker
Geoffrey Banks	Lycra Cyclist 1
Wilfred Harrison	Lycra Cyclist 2
Adil Hussain	Jem's Friend
Waqas Altaf	Jem's Friend 2
Paul McLeary	Husband 1
Peter Lorenzelli	Husband 2
Jay Leno	Himself
Matt Malloy	Hotel Manager
Patton Oswalt	Larry
Craig Kirkwood	Bellboy
Frank Bello	Member of Anthrax
John Bush	Member of Anthrax
Scott Ian Rosenfeld	Member of Anthrax
Ashley Niles	Hotel Registration
Angela Baker	Highgyll W.I. Lady
Beryl Bamforth	Highgyll W.I. Lady
Christine Clancy	Highgyll W.I. Lady
Ros Fawcett	Highgyll W.I. Lady
Lynda Logan	Highgyll W.I. Lady
Tricia Stewart	Highgyll W.I. Lady
Ciarán Hinds	Rod
Roy the Postman	Himself
Celia Imrie	Celia
Patrick Doyle	Composer

Technical Credits

Juliette Towhidi

Tim Firth

Nigel Cole	Director
Juliette Towhidi	Screenwriter
Tim Firth	Screenwriter
Roy Alon	Stunts
Stuart Brisdon	Special Effects
Richard Stammers	Special Effects
Gail Stevens	Casting
Nick Barton	Producer
Suzanne Mackie	Producer
Nik Powell	Executive Producer
Steve Clark-Hall	Producer
Henry Badgett	Special Effects
Ricky Butt	Sound Effects
Tim Cavagin	Sound Effects
Colin Cooper	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

A femme Full Monty (1997), Calendar Girls (2003) mines humor and charm out of the true story of older British women doffing their clothes for charity, despite reverting to perilously trite melodrama in its clumsy second half. Mercifully restrained in portraying the critical illness that provokes these Yorkshire ladies to shake up their comically dull women's club, Calendar Girls lightly builds to the moment of truth, as Helen Mirren's ballsy Chris and Julie Walters' widow Annie corral their friends for the calendar photo shoot that hilariously redefines the meaning of "cheesecake." Once the curse of fame sets in, though, the girls' predictable interpersonal crises and fateful trip to Hollywood sap the energy out of the film, leaving only the performances to save it. Sly, funny, and passionate, Mirren not only turns Chris into a complex blend of ego and sass, but also proves once again that hotness doesn't end at age 40; Walters' low-key strength makes Annie's grief palpable without becoming maudlin. The stellar supporting cast, including Celia Imrie, Annette Crosbie, and Penelope Wilton, deftly shows the fun in throwing modesty (and bras) to the wind. Even with its dramatic weaknesses, Calendar Girls remains enough of a delight for giving so many superb actresses witty, multi-layered roles.