The Land Girls (1998)

Director:

David Leland

Writers:

Angela Huth (novel)
Keith Dewhurst (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

The story of three young women and the events that would change their lives... The friendships that would stay with them forever... and the loves that would change their hearts.

Plot:

Three young women from very different walks of life join the women's land army during World War II and are sent to work together on a farm in Dorset and the experience changes their lives forever.

Plot Keywords:

Farm | England | Countryside | Friend | Love

Cast

Catherine McCormack	...	Stella
Rachel Weisz	...	Ag (Agapanthus)
Anna Friel	...	Prue (Prudence)
Steven Mackintosh	...	Joe Lawrence
Tom Georgeson	...	Mr. John Lawrence
Maureen O'Brien	...	Mrs. John Lawrence
Lucy Akhurst	...	Janet
Gerald Down	...	Ratty, Lawrence Farm Hand
Paul Bettany	...	Philip
Nick Mollo	...	Barry Hampton
Michael Mantas	...	Desmond
Nicholas Le Prevost	...	Agricultural Officer
Celia Bannerman	...	District Commissioner
Ann Bell	...	Philip's Mother
Nigel Planer	...	Gerald
Edmund Moriarty	...	Harry the Airman
Shirley Newbery	...	WAAF at Dance
Russell Barr	...	Jamie, the Scottish Airman
John Gill	...	Doctor
Crispin Layfield	...	German Pilot
Grace Leland	...	Baby Barry
Reverend Alan Bennett	...	Reverend Alan Bennett
Martha Mackintosh	...	Child at Christening
Felix Davis	...	Child at Christening
Jacob Leland	...	Child as Christening
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arnold Brown	...	C.O. (uncredited)
Esther Hall	...	Mavis (uncredited)
Charlie Higson	...	Subaltern (uncredited)
Kate Lock	...	Lady in Charge (uncredited)
Daniel Tee	...	Man in pub (uncredited)

Directed by
David Leland

Writing credits
Angela Huth		(novel)
Keith Dewhurst		(writer) &
David Leland		(writer)

Produced by
Ruth Jackson	....	executive producer
Simon Relph	....	producer
Andrew Warren	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Brian Lock

Cinematography by
Henry Braham		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nick Moore

Casting by
Jeremy Zimmerman

Production Design by
Caroline Amies

Art Direction by
Frank Walsh

Costume Design by
Shuna Harwood

Makeup Department
Terry Jarvis	....	wig maker
Veyatie MacLeod	....	hair stylist (as Veyatie Macleod)
Veyatie MacLeod	....	makeup artist (as Veyatie Macleod)
Ivana Primorac	....	hair stylist (as Ivana Primovac)
Ivana Primorac	....	makeup artist (as Ivana Primovac)
Jenny Shircore	....	hair designer
Jenny Shircore	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Linda Gamble	....	post-production supervisor
Jane Headland	....	post-production supervisor
Nick Heckstall-Smith	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Elliott	....	second assistant director (as Mike Elliott)
Nick Laws	....	first assistant director
Candy Marlowe	....	second assistant director: crowd (as Candida Marlowe)
George Walker	....	third assistant director
Toby Hosking	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Alan Bailey	....	property master
David Barker	....	carpenter
John Bastin	....	carpenter
Pete Beasley	....	stand-by carpenter (as Peter Beasley)
Robert Betts	....	painter (as Lee Betts)
Dennis Bosher	....	assistant art director
David Burke	....	carpenter
Anthony Caccavale	....	painter
Alan Chesters	....	construction manager
Leigh Chesters	....	carpenter
Mat Collingwood	....	painter
Martin Duffy	....	carpenter
James Ede	....	stand-by painter
William Edwards	....	stand-by props
Brian Eke	....	carpenter
Danny Evans	....	dressing props
Dave Fisher	....	chargehand stand-by props (as David Fisher)
James P. Foran	....	construction supervisor
James Gruar	....	stand-by stagehand
Michael Gunner	....	supervising painter
Rosie Hardwick	....	art department assistant
Joe Hawthorne	....	carpenter (as Joseph Hawthorne)
David Ned Kelly	....	changehand carpenter (as David 'Ned' Kelly)
Dean Kelly	....	apprentice carpenter
Sean Kiely	....	painter
Michael King	....	production buyer (as Mike King)
Jack Lovesay	....	stagehand (as J.T. Lovesay)
Sarah Low	....	model maker
George Malin	....	prop startman
Gary McCarthy	....	apprentice painter
Nick Mollo	....	dressing props
Grant Montgomery	....	assistant art director
Martin Phipps	....	stand-by rigger
Joanne Smith	....	art department junior assistant
Len Smith	....	dressing props
Michael Standish	....	assistant buyer
Michael Weaver	....	painter
Terry Weaver	....	painter
Michael Webb	....	chargehand stagehand
Peter Wilkinson	....	scenic painter

Sound Department
Martin Astle	....	sound recording engineer
Roy Burge	....	dialogue editor
Michael Crouch	....	dialogue editor (as Mike Crouch)
Richard Finney	....	boom operator (as Richie Finney)
Ian Fuller	....	supervising sound editor
John Hayward	....	dubbing mixer
Bradley Kendrick	....	sound assistant
Dennis McTaggart	....	sound editor
Hugo Middleton	....	sound effects editor
Richard Pryke	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Kevin Tayler	....	foley mixer
Stuart Wilson	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Jeff Clifford	....	special effects
Steve Petts	....	special effects driver
Ian Wingrove	....	special effects
Neil Toddy Todd	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Martin Body	....	optical cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
Crispin Layfield	....	stunts
Andreas Petrides	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Nick Powell	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Sophie Baker	....	additional still photographer
Joss Barratt	....	additional still photographer
Peter Byrne	....	second clapper loader
Neil Carr	....	rigger supervisor
Paul Chedlow	....	still photographer
Gary Cross	....	electrician
Chris Dowling	....	electrician
Matthew Elmes	....	video assistant
John Ferguson	....	assistant camera: second unit
John Foster	....	focus puller
Mark Goldeman	....	rigger (as Mark Godleman)
Brian Kemp	....	best boy electric
Steve Langley	....	electrician
David Morgan	....	camera operator: second unit
Larry Randall	....	chief electrician
Luke Redgrave	....	clapper loader
Malcolm Sheehan	....	camera grip
Philip Sindall	....	camera operator
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
Al Watson	....	generator operator
Shawn White	....	electrician
Darren Bailey	....	remote camera technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Manuel Puro	....	casting assistant
Sam Richards	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
June Nevin	....	wardrobe assistant
Jane Petrie	....	wardrobe assistant
Rebecca Townsend	....	wardrobe assistant
Marion Weise	....	costume supervisor
David Whiteing	....	wardrobe assistant (as David Whiting)
Lee Clayton	....	tailor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Angela Bailey	....	trainee: FT2
Celia Haining	....	second assistant editor
Lionel Johnson	....	second assistant editor
Andrew Perrier	....	second assistant editor
Gabrielle Smith	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Howard Evans	....	composer: song "Speed the Plough"
David Firman	....	conductor
Liz Gallacher	....	music clearance (as Liz Gallagher)
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Mike Gregory	....	composer: song "Speed the Plough"
Isobel Griffiths	....	musicians contractor
Ian Hierons	....	music supervisor
Brian Lock	....	orchestrator
Arthur Rose	....	composer: song "The Lambeth Walk"
Philippe Sarde	....	music arranger: song "Come to the Manger"
Matthew Scott	....	composer: additional music
Matthew Scott	....	composer: songs "The Dulverton Waltz", "Slow Burn", "Savoy Foxtrot" and "Lucky Glen"

Transportation Department
Charles Batchelor	....	unit driver
Steve Clark	....	unit driver
Dave Grabham	....	advisor: farm vehicle
Steve Hammick	....	driver: makeup truck
Dominic Harvey	....	driver: tractor
Tony Jayes	....	unit driver
Larry Maxwell	....	unit driver
Bruce McCallum	....	driver: minibus
Charlie Morris	....	driver: honeywagon
Maurice Newsome	....	transportation captain
Les Quick	....	driver: props truck
Charlie Simpson	....	driver: wardrobe truck
Kieran Smith	....	driver: camera truck
Dougie Lankston	....	driver: dressing props (uncredited)

Other crew
Nigel Aird	....	assistant location manager
Angela Bailey	....	trainee: FT2
Gwenda Bassett	....	stand-in
Keith Batchelor	....	trainer: tractor
Paul Bonham	....	pilot: Messerschmitt
Mike Carter	....	assistant location manager
Lynn Compton	....	unit nurse
Matt Cooke	....	production runner
Simon Dowling	....	title designer
Penny Eyles	....	script supervisor
Linda Gamble	....	unit publicist
Andy Gardner	....	stand-in
John Gunn	....	special contractor
Jim Hajicosta	....	production accountant
Mark Hanna	....	pilot: Spitfire
Nicholas Harris	....	location scout
Edwin Kennen	....	cavs
Jenny Kennen	....	cavs
Sam Kennen	....	cavs
David King	....	trainee: FT2
Abi Leland	....	floor runner
Chloe Leland	....	location scout
Bob Loudel	....	copyist
Clare Macauley	....	stand-in
Alison MacKinnon	....	dialogue coach
Mark Mostyn	....	location manager (as Mark Mostin)
Faye Nicholls	....	assistant to director
Brenda Persey	....	horses
David Persey	....	horses
Clive Rabbitts	....	production runner
Clifford Skinner	....	advisor: agriculture
Patrick Stewart	....	production runner
Nathalie Tanner	....	production coordinator
Jojo Tulloh	....	production secretary
Ramin Vojdani	....	unit nurse
Suzanne Walsingham	....	assistant to director
Tristan Whalley	....	international marketing
Richard Wood	....	assistant accountant
Anya Keith	....	runner (uncredited)

Thanks
David Aukin	....	thanks
Tim Bevan	....	thanks
Audrey Blackmore	....	thanks
Thomas Blackmore	....	thanks
Arnold Brown	....	thanks
Peter Coles	....	thanks
Nick Drake	....	thanks
Guy East	....	thanks
Graham Easton	....	thanks
Will Evans	....	thanks
Sara Geater	....	thanks
Kathy Goodman	....	thanks
Esther Hall	....	thanks
Sara Harper	....	thanks
Tim Haslam	....	thanks
Charlie Higson	....	thanks
Billy Hinshelwood	....	thanks
Jackie Hurt	....	thanks
Michael Kuhn	....	thanks
Colin Leventhal	....	thanks (as Colin Levanthal)
Kate Lock	....	thanks
Tony Lucas	....	thanks
Mary Ann Lutyens	....	thanks
John Nash	....	thanks
Nigel Palmer	....	thanks
Gail Pattinson	....	thanks
Ron Pearce	....	thanks
Simon Perry	....	thanks
Bruno Pésery	....	thanks (as Bruno Pesary)
Allon Reich	....	thanks
Russell Schwartz	....	thanks
Ann Scott	....	thanks
Michel Seydoux	....	thanks
James Shirras	....	thanks
Nigel Sinclair	....	thanks
George Stukely	....	thanks
Gilles-Marie Tiné	....	thanks (as Gilles-Marie Tine)
Jeffrey White	....	thanks (as Jeff White)
Tessa White	....	thanks
Hugh Whittaker	....	thanks
David Wilder	....	thanks
Kate Wilson	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Intermedia Films
• Channel Four Films
• Greenpoint Films
• Caméra One (a British French co-production with)
• West Eleven Films (in association with)
• Arena Films (a British French co-production with)
• Canal+ (with the participation of)
• Sofineurope (with the participation of)

Distributors

• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• Gramercy Pictures (I) (USA)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Channel Four Films (UK)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Aeroshoot Film Services  transportation
• Angel Recording Studios  music recording
• Banque Internationale A Luxembourg S.A.  banking finance provided by
• Bellamour Car Rental  car hire
• Berliner Bank  banking finance provided by
• Capital FX, London  titles
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  post-production
• Edit Hire (New Technology)  editing equipment
• F.I.L.M.S.  banking finance arranged by
• Film Finance  completion bond company
• Flame  costumier
• Goalpost Film  international publicity
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance
• Packham Brothers  threshing
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• Peerless  visual effects
• Pinewood Studios  post-production
• Richmond Film Services  sound equipment
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Set Meals  catering
• The Fighter Collection  planes
• The Old Flying Machine Co.  planes

Also Known As:

Trois Anglaises en campagne (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | France:U | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:R | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Crowcombe Heathfield station, West Somerset Railway, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

Intermedia Films

Trivia:

The Reverend Alan Bennett, seen conducting the christening near the end of the film, is the actual Rector of the church where the scene was filmed.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the shot of the train approaching the farmer's son standing on the line, a British Railways insignia is visible on one of the coaches. This was not used until the railways were nationalised in 1948.

Quotes:

Stella: Where's Prue?
[Ag points towards the barn]
Stella: And where's Joe?
[Ag points towards the barn again]
Stella: I should have known.

Soundtrack:

Savoy Foxtrot

Totally satisfying to heart and mind in deep contrast with newly released ENIGMA.

I must compare LAND GIRLS (1998)with the newly-released (2001) ENIGMA both of which I saw this evening. The more recent film is utterly cliche-ridden (Tom Stoppard, the screenwriter, even throws in a bit borrowed from John Buchan's 39 STEPS!) while David Leland's movie continues to surprise the viewer to the last frame. The horror,the restraint, the mood of Britain at war come through careful period reconstruction. Reality is heightened so that the dazzlingly photographed British countryside continually reminds us of the dark shadow of War which hangs over these young lives. The acting is uniformly good and many of the cast come from the British stage to deliver real truth-of-performance. Unlike ENIGMA'S characters you believe the Land Girls and the people around them.