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DramaComedy

Calendar Girls

- Some ladies will do anything for a good cause.

Members of a Yorkshire branch of the Women's Institute cause controversy when they pose nude for a charity calendar.

Release Date : 2003-09-02

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Harbour Pictures

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Helen Mirren

Character Name : Chris Harper

Original Name : Helen Mirren

Gender : Female

Julie Walters

Character Name : Annie Clarke

Original Name : Julie Walters

Gender : Female

John Alderton

Character Name : John Clarke

Original Name : John Alderton

Gender : Male

Linda Bassett

Character Name : Cora

Original Name : Linda Bassett

Gender : Female

Annette Crosbie

Character Name : Jessie

Original Name : Annette Crosbie

Gender : Female

Philip Glenister

Character Name : Lawrence Sertain

Original Name : Philip Glenister

Gender : Male

Ciarán Hinds

Character Name : Rod Harper

Original Name : Ciarán Hinds

Gender : Male

Celia Imrie

Character Name : Celia

Original Name : Celia Imrie

Gender : Female

Geraldine James

Character Name : Marie

Original Name : Geraldine James

Gender : Female

Penelope Wilton

Character Name : Ruth

Original Name : Penelope Wilton

Gender : Female

George Costigan

Character Name : Eddie

Original Name : George Costigan

Gender : Male

Graham Crowden

Character Name : Richard

Original Name : Graham Crowden

Gender : Male

John Fortune

Character Name : Frank

Original Name : John Fortune

Gender : Male

Georgie Glen

Character Name : Kathy

Original Name : Georgie Glen

Gender : Female

Angela Curran

Character Name : May

Original Name : Angela Curran

Gender : Female

Rosalind March

Character Name : Trudy

Original Name : Rosalind March

Gender : Female

John-Paul Macleod

Character Name : Jem

Original Name : John-Paul Macleod

Gender : Male

Marc Pickering

Character Name : Gaz

Original Name : Marc Pickering

Gender : Male

John Sharian

Character Name : Danny

Original Name : John Sharian

Gender : Male

Belinda Everett

Character Name : Maya

Original Name : Belinda Everett

Gender : Female

Harriet Thorpe

Character Name : Brenda Mooney

Original Name : Harriet Thorpe

Gender : Female

Gillian Wright

Character Name : Eddie's Woman

Original Name : Gillian Wright

Gender : Female

Ian Embleton

Character Name : Andy

Original Name : Ian Embleton

Gender : Male

Janet Howd

Character Name : Julia

Original Name : Janet Howd

Gender : Female

Lesley Staples

Character Name : Jenny

Original Name : Lesley Staples

Gender : Female

Richard Braine

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : Richard Braine

Gender : Male

Maggie McCarthy

Character Name : W.I. Administrator 1

Original Name : Maggie McCarthy

Gender : Female

Diana Marchment

Character Name : W.I. Administrator 2

Original Name : Diana Marchment

Gender : Female

Celia Henebury

Character Name : Check-In Stewardess

Original Name : Celia Henebury

Gender : Female

Ted Robbins

Character Name : Bike Man

Original Name : Ted Robbins

Gender : Male

Arthur Kelly

Character Name : Bookshop Owner

Original Name : Arthur Kelly

Gender : Male

Alison Pargeter

Character Name : Chemist's Assistant

Original Name : Alison Pargeter

Gender : Female

Tim Barker

Character Name : Holiday Speaker

Original Name : Tim Barker

Gender : Male

Angus Barnett

Character Name : Orchid Photographer

Original Name : Angus Barnett

Gender : Male

Frank Barrie

Character Name : Lecherous Photographer

Original Name : Frank Barrie

Gender : Male

John Sparkes

Character Name : Welsh Photographer

Original Name : John Sparkes

Gender : Male

Merryn Owen

Character Name : Student Photographer

Original Name : Merryn Owen

Gender : Male

Richard Ashton

Character Name : Policeman 2

Original Name : Richard Ashton

Gender : Male

Shameer Seepersand

Character Name : Policeman 3

Original Name : Shameer Seepersand

Gender : Male

Elizabeth Bennett

Character Name : W.I. Judge

Original Name : Elizabeth Bennett

Gender : Female

Simon Ludders

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Simon Ludders

Gender : Male

Darren Southworth

Character Name : Sofa Salesman

Original Name : Darren Southworth

Gender : Male

Sharon Thomas Cain

Character Name : TV Reporter

Original Name : Sharon Thomas Cain

Gender : Female

Christa Ackroyd

Character Name : News Presenter

Original Name : Christa Ackroyd

Gender : Female

Geoffrey Wilkinson

Character Name : Seed Company Manager

Original Name : Geoffrey Wilkinson

Gender : Male

Bob Flag

Character Name : Alan Rathbone

Original Name : Bob Flag

Gender : Male

Mark Hayford

Character Name : Charity Chicken Worker

Original Name : Mark Hayford

Gender : Male

Geoffrey Banks

Character Name : Lycra Cyclist 1

Original Name : Geoffrey Banks

Gender : Male

Wilfred Harrison

Character Name : Lycra Cyclist 2

Original Name : Wilfred Harrison

Gender : Male

Adil Hussain

Character Name : Jem's Friend 1

Original Name : Adil Hussain

Gender : Male

Waqas Altaf

Character Name : Jem's Friend 2

Original Name : Waqas Altaf

Gender : Male

Paul McLeary

Character Name : Husband 1

Original Name : Paul McLeary

Gender : Male

Peter Lorenzelli

Character Name : Husband 2

Original Name : Peter Lorenzelli

Gender : Male

Jay Leno

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Jay Leno

Gender : Male

Matt Malloy

Character Name : Hotel Manager

Original Name : Matt Malloy

Gender : Male

Patton Oswalt

Character Name : Larry

Original Name : Patton Oswalt

Gender : Male

Craig Kirkwood

Character Name : Bellboy

Original Name : Craig Kirkwood

Gender : Male

Frank Bello

Character Name : Anthrax

Original Name : Frank Bello

Gender : Male

John Bush

Character Name : Anthrax

Original Name : John Bush

Gender : Male

Scott Ian

Character Name : Anthrax

Original Name : Scott Ian

Gender : Male

Ashley Niles

Character Name : Hotel Registration

Original Name : Ashley Niles

Gender : Female

Angela Baker

Character Name : Highgyll W.I. Lady

Original Name : Angela Baker

Gender : Female

Beryl Bamforth

Character Name : Highgyll W.I. Lady

Original Name : Beryl Bamforth

Gender : Female

Christine Clancy

Character Name : Highgyll W.I. Lady

Original Name : Christine Clancy

Gender : Female

Ros Fawcett

Character Name : Highgyll W.I. Lady

Original Name : Ros Fawcett

Gender : Female

Lynda Logan

Character Name : Highgyll W.I. Lady

Original Name : Lynda Logan

Gender : Female

Tricia Stewart

Character Name : Highgyll W.I. Lady

Original Name : Tricia Stewart

Gender : Female

Roy Harrison

Character Name : Roy Harrison

Original Name : Roy Harrison

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

It's not naked it's nude. When Annie Clarke's beloved husband succumbs to leukaemia, her best friend Chris comes up with a unique idea for raising funds for the hospital that cared for the dearly departed John. They, and fellow members of the Knapely Womens Institute, will pose in some strategically nude pictures and sell them as a calendar! Based on a true story, and following on from the roaring success of 1997s The Full Monty, it was a story just begging to be adapted for the big screen. Also boasting a shot in the arm for actresses of a certain age, who sadly are bereft of decent cinematic parts, Calendar Girls may not be a masterpiece of homely cinema values, but it certainly warms the cockles and hits an entertaining spot in spite of the laborious last third. The cast are uniformly excellent, Julie Walters, Helen Mirren (gorgeous), Linda Basset, Annette Crosbie and Geraldine James are particularly memorable in telling this tale of a close-knit village quite unsure on how to deal with a touchy subject. From there the press sensationalism arrives and this shifts the girls (and sadly the film) to another plane. The picture manages to be that rare old thing of a comedy drama actually impacting heavy on both fronts. The comedy moments are joyous and flow frequently for the first two thirds of the picture, whilst the touching drama, of what is a serious subject at its core after all, really touches a nerve. Sadly as we enter the final third, the makers tag on an unnecessary dissection of friendships and relationships, and it nearly costs the film dear. It does survive, mainly due to the wonderful cast and the integrity laden point of view, making it a film that once viewed is clearly not going to be forgotten. So in the main we should all hail those wonderful Calendar Girls. 7/10

P

Peter McGinn

@narrator56

2021-06-23

Another one of those movies I watched decades ago and recently revisited. I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time. It reminds me of Waking Ned Devine in a way. It contains witty and realistic dialogue and a good percentage of the actors are older. There is a bit more drama in Calendar Girls, but it never submerges into melodrama. I am glad I watched it a second time. It has aged well and is a classic feel old movie.

P

Peter McGinn

@narrator56

2021-06-23

Another one of those movies I watched back when it came out and recently watched again. Like the women who pose for the calendar, the movie has aged well. My wife and I watch a lot of British tv (for Americans) so we have seen the actresses in many other excellent performances. Calendar a Girls reminds me of another great movie, (Waking) Ned Devine. There is humor, a feel good plot, and a fine ensemble cast. There are a perhaps a couple of more serious subplots in this film, such as Alderton’s character’s illness that gives birth to the calendar fundraiser. The movie is of course based on an actual fundraising calendar undertaken from women aged 45-65. I didn’t research it to see how accurate the plot is as I do in some reality based films, because I just watched it for is entertainment value. So should you.

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-08-11

My dad worked in the motor trade when I was a kid, and I was forever seeing Pirelli or Michelin calendars with scantily clad women on them; hell even the beer cans had them too! Well, it's in a garage that "Chris" (Helen Mirren) spots one and it gives her inspiration. Why? Her best friend "Annie" (Julie Walters) has recently become a widow following the death from cancer of her beloved husband "John" (John Alderton), and they are trying to organise a fund raiser to buy a new sofa for their local hospice. With another vodka tasting already ruled out by their slightly prudish WI President "Marie" (Geraldine James) they have to think out of the box, or in this case out of the bra! Yep, she decides to recruit another eleven of her friends and then rope in Richard Glenister's "Lawrence" as the photographer to create a tasteful yet provocative showcase for their beauty. Of course this isn't a straightforward procedure, there are reservations from "Marie", their husbands and even themselves in the beginning but once they've decided... Up to this point, this grand assembly of British stage and screen talent delivers a pithily written, even brave, look at sexuality amongst the older generations. The dialogue is funny and acutely observational at times, and a really solid cast with Celia Imrie, Annette Crosbie and Penelope Wilton all delivering well into the humorous meleé comes across really well. It's the second part that doesn't work quite so well. A trip to star on the "Tonight" show with Jay Leno sows some seeds of martial and familial discord, and this all rather slows the pace down. Though doubtless faithful to this true story, I just felt we could have done without it and just focussed on the joy - and there is plenty of that - of the thing. There's a good dynamic between Mirren and Walters and even now, twenty years later, this has a potency that has to question whether anyone would do it at all nowadays. It's good fun, this.