Buster (film)
| Buster | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | David Green |
| Produced by | Norma Heyman |
| Written by | Colin Shindler |
| Starring | Phil Collins Julie Walters |
| Music by | Anne Dudley |
| Cinematography | Tony Imi |
| Editing by | Lesley Walker |
| Studio | The Movie Group Vestron Pictures |
| Distributed by | Hemdale Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | November 23, 1988 |
| Running time | 102 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $540,000 (domestic) |
Buster is a 1988 British comedy-drama crime film based on characters and events from the Great Train Robbery (1963). It stars musician Phil Collins, Julie Walters, Larry Lamb and Sheila Hancock. The soundtrack featured two Phil Collins singles which eventually topped the Billboard 100 singles chart.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Buster Edwards (Phil Collins) is a petty criminal from the East End of 1960s London. His long-suffering wife June (Julie Walters) thinks of him as a loveable rogue and cannot believe it when she learns of his involvement in the Great Train Robbery.
For several months after the robbery, Buster and June are in hiding with their young daughter Nicky (Ellie Beaven) until they are turned in to the police by a suspicious neighbour. Buster flees to Acapulco where he is met by fellow Great Train Robber Bruce Reynolds (Larry Lamb) and his girlfriend Franny Reynolds (Stephanie Lawrence) who are also on the run and living it up in the sun with the profits of their crime.
June and Nicky arrive despite the disapproval of her mother (Sheila Hancock) and although Nicky seems to love her new life in the sun, June is immediately not keen on their new way of life, resolving to return to England, despite knowing that if Buster is to return with them, then this will mean imprisonment for him.
Buster remains in Acapulco for some time after June leaves, until realising (while celebrating England's 1966 World Cup triumph) that despite his having money and the sun, it means nothing if he doesn't have his family, and he returns to England to accept his punishment.
The film closes, twelve years after Buster's release from jail, seemingly content and running a flower stall near Waterloo Bridge on the Thames.
[edit] Stage Version
A stage production of Buster was produced between 2000 - 2004 at various locations across the UK starring (amongst others) Ray Quinn in the main cast. The production was an adaptation by Kieran Woodbury of the original screenplay penned by Colin Shindler.
[edit] Cast
- Phil Collins as Buster Edwards
- Julie Walters as June Edwards
- Larry Lamb as Bruce Reynolds
- Stephanie Lawrence as Franny Reynolds
- Ellie Beaven as Nicky Edwards
- Ralph Brown as Ronald Biggs
- Christopher Ellison as George
- Sheila Hancock as Mrs. Rothery
- Martin Jarvis as Inspector Jack Mitchell
- Anthony Quayle as Sir James Mcdowell
[edit] Soundtrack
Several Phil Collins singles were released from the soundtrack, including "A Groovy Kind of Love" and "Two Hearts", which reached #1 and #6 on the UK Singles Chart, respectively. Both songs were Number One singles in the US.[1] Phil Collins also co-wrote "Loco in Acapulco", performed by The Four Tops for the soundtrack. "Two Hearts" received an Acedemy Award nomination for Best Original Song, a Grammy Award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, tying with "Let the River Run" from Working Girl by Carly Simon.
[edit] Filming locations
The opening sequence was filmed in Broadway Market, Hackney. The robbery scenes were filmed on the Great Central Railway, using British Rail Class 40, D306, as a stand-in for D326 which was actually involved. Some scenes were filmed in Page Street, Westminster, London.
[edit] References
- ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. pp. 160. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
[edit] External links
- Buster at the Internet Movie Database
- Buster at Box Office Mojo
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
