Little Voice (1998)

Director:

Mark Herman

Writers:

Jim Cartwright (play)
Mark Herman (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 December 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Music

Tagline:

Finding your own voice can be magic.

Plot:

The pathetically shy LV lives the life of a recluse listening to her late fathers old records in her room and in the process driving her abusive...

Plot Keywords:

Singer | Shy | Ghost | Fire | Pigeon

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Brenda Blethyn	...	Mari Hoff
Jane Horrocks	...	LV
Ewan McGregor	...	Billy
Philip Jackson	...	George
Annette Badland	...	Sadie
Michael Caine	...	Ray Say
Jim Broadbent	...	Mr. Boo
Adam Fogerty	...	Bouncer
James Welsh	...	Bouncer
Karen Gregory	...	Stripper
Fred Feast	...	Arthur
Graham Turner	...	LV's Dad
George Oliver	...	Pawnbroker
Virgil Tracy	...	Loan Advisor
Dick Van Winkle	...	Money Lender
George Bradley	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Geoffrey Emmerson	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Barry Gomersalt	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Angela Harrison	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Jean Hotton	...	Mr. Boo's Band
David Kemp	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Aiden Lawrence	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Michael Lynskey	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Peter Marshall	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Peter Minns	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Christine Quick	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Len Rangely	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Bob Scott	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Melanie Simpson	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Doug Stewart	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Peter Thomson	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Stan Wright	...	Mr. Boo's Band
Howard Grace	...	Talent Scout
Alex Norton	...	Bunnie Morris
Melodie Scales	...	George's Girlfriend
Sean Hadland	...	Take Fat
Roger Neville	...	Take Fat
Michael Prior	...	Take Fat
Paul Swan	...	Take Fat
Carl Whittaker	...	Take Fat
Kitty Roberts	...	Brenda Bailey
Fred Gaunt	...	Wild Trigger Smith
Alita Petrof	...	Elaine
Jonathan Clark	...	Fireman

Directed by
Mark Herman

Writing credits
Jim Cartwright		(play "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice")
Mark Herman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Laurie Borg	....	co-producer
Elizabeth Karlsen	....	producer
Nik Powell	....	executive producer
Paul Webster	....	co-executive producer
Bob Weinstein	....	co-executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	co-executive producer
Stephen Woolley	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Altman

Cinematography by
Andy Collins		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Michael Ellis

Casting by
Priscilla John

Production Design by
Don Taylor

Art Direction by
Jo Graysmark		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
John Bush

Costume Design by
Lindy Hemming

Makeup Department
Tamsin Dorling	....	hair assistant
Tamsin Dorling	....	makeup assistant
Peter King	....	chief hair stylist
Peter King	....	chief makeup artist
Kirstie Stanway	....	hair assistant
Kirstie Stanway	....	makeup assistant

Production Management
Wendy Broom	....	production manager: second unit
Tony Clarkson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonathan Benson	....	first assistant director
Tean Borg	....	additional crowd assistant director
Sara Desmond	....	second assistant director
Antony Ford	....	second assistant director: second unit
Emma Griffiths	....	third assistant director
Fiona Richards	....	assistant director: crowds
Mick Ward	....	additional crowd assistant director
Trevor Wright	....	third assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Frances Bennett	....	stand-by art director
Les Benson	....	property master
Steve Bohan	....	construction manager
Eddie Bolger	....	carpenter
William Brown	....	painter
Gary Crosby	....	supervising painter
Joe Dipple	....	stand-by props
Dean Dunham	....	painter
Colin Ellis	....	stand-by props
Charlie Gayner	....	stand-by carpenter
Mark Goodman	....	stagehand
David Haberfield	....	painter
Gary Hedges	....	carpenter
Julie Ann Horan	....	art department runner (as Julie Horan)
Inge Loeffen	....	art department runner
Thomas Martin	....	supervising carpenter (as Tom Martin)
Neil Murrum	....	dressing props
John O'Regan	....	carpenter
Danny O'Regan Jr.	....	carpenter
John Palmer	....	prop storeman
Steven Pollecutt	....	stand-by rigger
Peter Prentice	....	painter
Eric Strange	....	dressing props
Paul Westcott	....	construction art director (as Paul Westacott)
Derek Whorlow	....	stagehand
Peter Wilkinson	....	carpenter
Peter Wilkinson	....	stand-by painter

Sound Department
Jason Adams	....	dialogue editor
Ed Colver	....	adr mixer
Ed Colver	....	foley mixer
Graham Daniel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Twydor Davis	....	dialogue editor
Jonathan Enraght-Moony	....	foley editor
Steve Finn	....	sound assistant
Rodney Glenn	....	supervising sound editor
Pauline Griffiths	....	foley artist
Jenny Lee Wright	....	foley artist (as Jenny Lee-Wright)
Peter Lindsay	....	sound recordist
Dennis McTaggart	....	preview sound
Ray Merrin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Malcolm Rose	....	sound maintenance
Lyle Scott-Darling	....	sound recordist
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Paul Clayton	....	special effects assistant
Simon Davey	....	special effects assistant
Adam Hollow	....	special effects assistant
Bob Hollow	....	special effects supervisor
Tim Baxter	....	optical effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Craig Chandler	....	digital effects producer

Stunts
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt double
Jamie Edgell	....	stunt double (as Jamie Edgehill)
Mark Henson	....	stunt double
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Bain	....	clapper loader: second unit (as Chris Baines)
Sam Bloor	....	electrician
Harry Bowers	....	clapper loader
Gary Colkett	....	electrician: second unit
Mark Evans	....	electrician (as Mark 'Giffer' Evans)
Warren Ewen	....	best boy: second unit
Abbie Ewing	....	electrician: second unit
Chuck Finch	....	gaffer
Stephen Finch	....	electrician (as Steve Finch)
Wick Finch	....	electrician: second unit
Michael Green	....	focus puller: second unit (as Mike Green)
Peter Hawkins	....	chargehand rigger
Gary Hutchings	....	camera grip: second unit (as Gary Hutchins)
Micky James	....	generator operator: second unit
Roger McDonald	....	camera operator: second unit
Billy Merrell	....	best boy
Mark Milsome	....	focus puller
Jackie Oudney	....	clapper loader: second unit
Chris Plevin	....	camera operator
Joth Shakerley	....	additional still photographer
Malcolm Sheehan	....	camera grip
Adrian Smith	....	Steadicam operator
Laurie Sparham	....	still photographer
Jonathan Sykes	....	focus puller: second unit
Robert Tomlinson	....	electrical labourer
Elizabeth Trott	....	camera trainee
Ian Wilson	....	lighting camera operator: second unit
George Worley	....	generator operator
Steve Finn	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Orla Maxwell	....	casting assistant (as Orla Pulton)
Tony Turner	....	casting: Mr. Boo's Band

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Crossman	....	wardrobe assistant
Nigel Egerton	....	assistant costume designer
Jenny Hawkins	....	wardrobe supervisor
Vanessa Munro	....	wardrobe assistant: second unit
James Smith	....	wardrobe dresser (as Jim Smith)

Editorial Department
Simon Harris	....	first assistant editor
Jane Winkles	....	second assistant editor
Stephen Law	....	post-production consultant (uncredited)
Mark Wright	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
John Altman	....	music arranger
Heather Bownass	....	music coordinator
Andrew Glen	....	music editor (as Andy Glen)
Isobel Griffiths	....	music fixer
Jane Horrocks	....	music performer: songs
Tom Jenkin	....	music assistant engineer
Bob Last	....	music supervisor
Tony Lewis	....	assistant to music editor
Steve Price	....	music engineer
James Collins	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Paula Adamson	....	driver: minibus
Peter Brook	....	unit driver
Mick Crowley	....	facilities driver
Robert Dixon	....	facilities driver
Adrian Goldy	....	driver: minibus
Tom Innes	....	facilities driver
Ross Keel	....	facilities driver
Maggie Lodge	....	unit driver
Dean Macey	....	facilities driver
Ian Maskell	....	facilities driver
Hugh McLellan	....	transportation captain
Colin Morris	....	unit driver
Barry Newell	....	unit driver
Peter Newson	....	driver: second unit
Neil Pearson	....	driver: second unit
Alex Robinson	....	driver: minibus
Nick Smalley	....	facilities driver
Dennis Swan	....	facilities driver (as Denis Swan)
Roy Tait	....	facilities driver
Peter Thompson	....	facilities driver
Steve Timms	....	unit driver
Ricky Titcombe	....	facilities driver
Keith West	....	facilities driver
Dale Wilson	....	facilities driver

Other crew
Grenville Bartlett	....	floor runner: Scarborough
Isabel Begg	....	legal and business affairs: Miramax
Wendy Broom	....	production coordinator
Sue Carreck	....	assistant: Nik Powell
Rachel Coward	....	production liaison: London
Cathy Doubleday	....	script supervisor: second unit
Kathy Ewings	....	assistant accountant
Joan Field	....	stand-in
Tanya Freedman	....	production assistant
Howard Grace	....	stand-in
Ryan Green	....	production runner
Mark Herbert	....	location manager
Nicky Jarvis	....	unit nurse
Beverley Lacey	....	stand-in
Stephen Law	....	technical delivery coordinator
Laura Madden	....	production executive: Miramax
Undine Marshfield	....	unit publicist: Warren Cowan/Phil Symes & Assocs.
Sam Mendes	....	director: original stage production
John Morgan	....	accountant: Scala
Alison Pitman	....	location assistant
Michael Prior	....	unit nurse
Martin Raine	....	location assistant
Claire Robertson	....	accounts assistant
Patsy Rodenburg	....	dialect coach
John Ruddy	....	stand-in
Anne Shields	....	accountant: second unit
Pip Short	....	location manager: second unit
Jez Therry	....	assistant to director (as Jez Thierry)
Jez Therry	....	assistant to producer (as Jez Thierry)
Jo Thompson	....	singing coach
Bruno Tonioli	....	choreographer
Kevin Trehy	....	production accountant
Reg Turner	....	stand-in
Romany Turner	....	assistant to director
Romany Turner	....	assistant to producer
Angela Wharton	....	script supervisor
Philippa Wood	....	assistant: Stephen Wooley
Steve Zielinski	....	business affairs: Scala
Simon Dowling	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
David Aukin	....	special thanks
Ginette Chalmers	....	special thanks
Rachel Chartres	....	special thanks
Tim Corrie	....	special thanks
Paul Cowan	....	special thanks
Finola Dwyer	....	special thanks
John Hadity	....	special thanks
Deborah Harwood	....	special thanks
Harvey Herman	....	special thanks
Joy Herman	....	special thanks
Laura Herman	....	special thanks
Kevin Hyman	....	special thanks
Jonathan Karlsen	....	special thanks
Lindy King	....	special thanks
Terry Lansbury	....	special thanks
Jack Lechner	....	special thanks
Sally Long-Innes	....	special thanks
Anne McNulty	....	special thanks
Amanda Posey	....	special thanks
Allon Reich	....	special thanks
Harriet Robinson	....	special thanks
Ian Robinson	....	special thanks
Lucy Ryan	....	special thanks
Mike Stainer	....	special thanks
Olivia Stewart	....	special thanks
Jason Wheeler	....	special thanks
Rachel Wood	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Miramax Films (presents) (copyright owners)
• Scala Productions (presents)

Distributors

• Budapest Film (1999) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (Czech Republic)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• New Films International
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• Shaw Brothers (Singapore)

Other Companies

• 2020 Casting  background casting (uncredited)
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance services (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Angel Recording Studios  music mixing and recording
• Angels & Bermans  costume hire (as Angels and Bermans)
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies (as Audiolink Ltd.)
• BBC Radio  excerpts courtesy of: Terry Wogan Voice Recording
• Bickers Action Enterprises  low loader (as Bickers Action)
• Brendan Donnison Lyps Inc.  adr loop group
• British Telecommunications (BT)  special thanks
• Capital FX, London  titles
• F.A.B. Sound Services  sound playback equipment
• Film & Digital Effects Studios  digital opticals
• Film & Digital Effects Studios  film opticals
• General Screen Enterprises  digital opticals
• General Screen Enterprises  film opticals
• Goldcrest Post Production London  post-production facilities
• H&S Advisory Services  health & safety
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Lansdowne Studios  music mixing and recording
• Lays International  transport supplier
• Lee Lighting  lighting equipment provided by
• MGM Consumer Products  excerpts courtesy of: "Some Like It Hot"
• Mitchells Self Drive  transport supplier
• Mobile Mouthful  catering
• Nationwide Skylift  cherrypickers
• Olswang  legal services
• On Set Location Services  transport supplier
• Panavision UK  camera cranes (as Panavision Manchester)
• Peter Thorpe  pigeons provided by
• Pick-Ups  transport supplier (as Pick-Ups Transport)
• Practical Car & Van Rental  transport supplier
• Prop Fram Ltd.  pigeons provided by
• Richmond Film Services  sound playback equipment
• Ron Osman  t.v. playback
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• Sargent Disc  computer services
• Shepperton Sound  re-recorded at
• Studios CTS  music mixing and recording (as CTS Studios)
• Sylvia Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting (uncredited)
• TLO Film Services  action vehicles (as TLO)
• Technovision Cameras  camera cranes
• The Film Game  camera consumables
• The Travel Company  travel services
• Vidfilm Europe  telecine services
• Warner Bros. Pictures  excerpts courtesy of: "A Star Is Born" and "The Wizard of Oz" (as Warner Bros.)
• Warren Cowan/Phil Symes Associates  unit publicity (as Warren Gowan/Phil Symes & Assocs.)
• Yorkshire Television (YTV)  copyright: "Bruce's Price Is Right"

Also Known As:

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:MG6 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L | USA:R (certificate #35929) | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes directed the original London stage version of the play, entitled "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" which was written especially for Jane Horrocks.

Quotes:

Mari Hoff: Come on, knock out a bit, make way for a woman in lust.

Movie Connections:

Features "Bruce's Price Is Right" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Tub Thumping

And the song fades...

The movie was not known in my philistine city, don't mention the awarded original production on stage "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice". To most of my townspeople, "LV" forever stands for Marianne's "Louis Vuitton" reticules, the association of John Bull's "Little Voice" ridicule would never come out, very unlikely.

I picked the VCD solely because I was attracted by the bankable casting: Brenda Blethyn, Ewan McGregor, Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent, they seldom let fans down. Yet, apologies, apologies. I don't have the slightest iota of a clue about who Jane Horrocks is… well, maybe voice widely heard (in the UK) but face rarely seen (in the Universe). And now I logged on IMDb and am made dumbstruck by the 134 comments. Why has it never been shown in my town? Not even in small movie house. (Shall we bludgeon Hollywood to cranberry jam? Hegemonic, preponderantly.)

Some viewers think that the flick does not deserve so many commendations. To me, my vote 7 goes to mainly the acting, the singing and the casting. If you intend to look for something else from it, disappointment is inescapable. Seeing the wardrobe and the look of BB, MC (funny outdated curly hair) and JB, I can't help thinking about the outrageous 1960s. Time seems to have "frozen" itself in sleazy Scarborough, North Yorkshire but not the wrinkles on people's faces and nor the weight on their arses. In actuality, the music and setting form an appropriate match, old songs in worn-out area.

BB offers me lots of jolly good fun. I always like her acting. Her portrayal of a lonely, horny and vulgar mother of mercenary spirit is so life-like. I can imagine a Cantonese copy with roving eye, someone like the landlady in "Kung Fu Hustle" walking down the street in the red-light area at Wan Chai right after the evening twilight has just arrived. Terpsichore graced EM's feet five years later in "Down with love" where he is a dancing beau at the end of the film. If he were presented the flair earlier, he might have danced in LV's little voice.

LV reminds me of Charlotte Church, the girlish diva. Her mother may not have experienced Mari Hoff's (BB) "predicament" after her daughter's refusal to continue to sing. Nevertheless the turbulent relationship and lavish spending of this opera babe do worry people. All her fans, though I am not one, we don't want to have "The Rise and Fall of A Teen Soprano" on show (too soon), it is forever good to have a prolonged "The Rise to Stardom of a Welsh Cherubim".