Billy Elliot
StudioCanal (2000)
Ballet/Dance, Drama, Music, Queer Themes/Interest
In Collection
#2038
7*
Seen ItYes
(3/25/2020 Home)
025192113420
IMDB   7.7
110 mins UK / English
DVD    US - R
Jamie Bell Billy
Jean Heywood Grandma
Jamie Draven Tony
Gary Lewis Dad
Stuart Wells Michael
Mike Elliot George Watson
Billy Fane Mr Braithwaite
Nicola Blackwell Debbie
Julie Walters Mrs. Wilkinson
Carol McGuigan Librarian
Joe Renton Gary Poulson
Colin MacLachlan Mr. Wilkinson
Janine Birkett Billy's Mum
Trevor Fox PC Jeff Peverly
Charlie Hardwick Sheila Briggs
Denny Ferguson Miner
Dennis Lingard NCB Official
Matthew James Thomas Simon
Stephen Mangan Ballet Doctor
Paul Ridley Tutor in medical
Patrick Malahide Principal
Barbara Leigh-Hunt Vice-Principal
Imogen Claire Tutor 1
Diana Kent Tutor 2
Neil North Tutor 3
Director/Choreographer
Stephen Daldry
Producer Greg Brenman
Jonathan Finn
Charles Brand
Writer/Composer Lee Hall
Cinematography Brian Tufano
Music Stephen Warbeck


Set against the background of the 1984 Miners' Strike, 11-year-old Billy Elliot stumbles out of the boxing ring and onto the ballet floor. He faces many trials and triumphs as he strives to conquer his family's set ways, inner conflict, and standing on his toes.
Edition Details
Distributor Universal Studios
Release Date 2000
No. of Discs/Tapes 1
Personal Details
Purchase Date 2/3/2020
Location Personal Library
Owner Deitz
Store Amazon
Purchase Price $10.67
Condition New
Order 112-8746182-1568217
Tags ballet, music
Links +3/3 Review: Roger Ebert (October 13, 2000)
IMDB
TheMovieDb.org

Notes
The film is mainly well done, but...
"The movie is sort of awkwardly cobbled together, and there are big shifts in character without much explanation. Billy's dad, a supporter of the strike, not only begins to understand his son's dream, but actually becomes a strikebreaker to get money for Billy to attend an important audition. I can believe a coal miner supporting his son's dancing dreams, but anyone who believes he would become a scab to raise the money doesn't know much about union miners." [Roger Ebert]
As we were watching it, I felt uneasy about some of the sudden character changes.
+3/3 Review: Roger Ebert (October 13, 2000)

Story of Billy Elliot Inspired by Life of Opera Singer
Hi John,
An article claims that the story of Billy Elliot by Lee Hall was “inspired by” the life of the international opera star, Sir Thomas Allen. Lee Hall wrote the screenplay and was nominated for an Academy Award. In addition to being a screenwriter, Lee Hall is a playwright, television writer, and lyricist. Wikipedia says: “The inspiration for the screenplay was drawn, in part, from the A. J. Cronin novel The Stars Look Down, which is also set in an English coal mining community during a strike, and similarly tells the story of a miner's son who goes against the grain.” [However, none of the characters in the novel aspire to some profession in the arts. The primary similarity is the setting-a coal-mining town and young men who follow unexpected paths. Another article claims Billy Elliot is also partly the story of Philip Mosley, a dancer at London’s Royal Ballet at Covent Garden.
Richard