Frank Gallagher Movies
They Shoot Movies, Don't They? is a "pseudo-documentary" about Tom Paulson (Tom Wilson), a filmmaker attempting to get financing to complete his feature film, entitled "Mirage." The director, Frank Gallagher, narrates, describing how Paulson was a hot baseball prospect before an injury ended his athletic career. Paulson then turned to film, and got a development deal at Universal right out of college. Frustrated with waiting for the studio to approve one of his projects, Paulson gave up his lucrative deal at Universal and threw all his money into his own independent production. The film picks up as "Mirage" wraps. Paulson has a distribution deal in place, but the distributor backs out at the last minute, giving Paulson a choice. Either he can turn over control of postproduction to the distributor, or the deal is dead. Paulson refuses to relinquish control of his film, leaving him 80,000 dollars short of completion. He turns to a friend, successful businessman Ari Barak, who offers to come up with half the completion money if Paulson comes up with the other half. Paulson exhausts all his resources, trying to get a bank loan, calling on his old associates at Universal, and begging for money from friends, but he can't raise the 40,000 dollars. Paulson's relationship with his girlfriend, Adele Baughn, is deteriorating, and, as he grows increasingly despondent, Paulson decides to take drastic action. Wilson co-produced and co-wrote They Shoot Movies, Don't They? with Gallagher, who plays the intrusive documentarian. An airing on IFC sparked a minor controversy, as some viewers apparently weren't sure whether or not the film was fiction. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Paul Wilson
- 1998
Comprised of equal parts comedy, drama, and wry cynicism, this six-episode British series chronicled the exploits of a bunch of Glasgow-born kids who hoped to make it big in show business. The young would-be pop idols included Jez (Ciaran McMenamin), Fiona (Simone Lahbib), Psycho (Duncan Marwick), Joe (Nicola Stapleton), Wullie (Stephen McCole), and Ossie (Frank Gallagher). Though the younger cast members were talented and personable, the series was handily stolen by Forbes Masson as the kids' wheeler-dealer agent Art Stilton. The winner of the Royal Television Society's Best Drama serial award, The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star originally aired from November 10 to December, 15, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ciarán McMenamin, Simone Lahbib, (more)
Following his Cannes award-winning performance in Ken Loach's My Name is Joe, Scottish actor Peter Mullan made his feature script and directorial debut with this British dark comedy-drama about four adult siblings on the eve of their mother's funeral in Glasgow. Eldest son Thomas (Gary Lewis) offers a tribute to her in a local pub, but his brother Michael (Douglas Henshall) is stabbed during a brawl at the bar, prompting third brother John (Stephen Cole) to seek vengeance. Michael evades medical treatment, trying to hold out until the next day in order to make a claim for workers compensation. Thomas leaves to join sister Sheila (Rosemarie Stevenson), who has cerebral palsy, in a night-long chapel vigil. The four attempt to reunite after they are separated when the full fury of a violent storm hits the town. Shown at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Douglas Henshall, Gary Lewis, (more)
- 1984
All the Rivers Run is a four-part miniseries set in the Australia of the early 1900s. Sigrid Thornton stars as Philadelphia Gordon, an English artist who undertakes a tragic move to Australia with her family. During their voyage to the new continent, a shipwreck occurs, killing all but Philadelphia and one of the ship's crewmen. She is then shuttled off to live with her aunt and uncle on their farm, and uses her inheritance to fund a paddleship business with the crewman from the vessel who saved her life. Philadelphia's life is forever altered when she meets handsome frontier paddleboat skipper Brenton Edwards (the Australian actor John Waters -- not to be confused with the iconoclastic American director of the same name). Our heroine marries Edwards, but the union begets trouble when their paddlesteamer catches fire, destroying the craft altogether and forcing Brenton to take another job. Later, an accident that renders Brenton lame forces Philadelphia to work hard and support the couple; she then decides to rebuild the vessel while doubling up her efforts as a painter. Scripted by George Miller (the director of Man from Snowy River), All the Rivers Run was released in the U.S. over the HBO Cable service; it first aired January 15 through 18, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sigrid Thornton, John Waters, (more)
