From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
The Last of the Blonde Bombshells The film was a joint project of BBC Films and HBO.
It premiered in the US on August 26 and in the UK on
September 3.
Plot synopsis
After her husband’s death, Elizabeth decides to return
to her musical roots and begins busking with young gui-
tarist Paul in a plaza overlooking a London ice rink, much
to the dismay of her daughter Patricia and son Edward.
One day she is spotted by Patrick, who attempted to
avoid enlistment during World War II by dressing as a
woman and playing drums with the Blonde Bombshells,
a supposedly all-female band with which Elizabeth per-
formed when she was only fifteen years old.
The two reminisce, prompting them to begin search-
ing for other band members for a reunion concert at
a school dance organized by Elizabeth’s granddaughter
Joanna. At first they have little success - one has died, an-
other is suffering from dementia, a third is serving time -
but eventually they locate piano player Betty working in
a seaside saloon, singer Gwen performing in a nightclub,
British DVD cover trombonist Annie dedicated to the Salvation Army, and
trumpeter Dinah, an alcoholic living in a secluded manor
Directed by Gillies MacKinnon
in Scotland.
Produced by Su Armstrong Early rehearsals prove to be disastrous, but encour-
aged by Joanna and determined to shine in the limelight
Written by Alan Plater
one more time, the group steadily improves. On the night
Starring Judi Dench of the dance, they are joined by double bass player
Ian Holm Madeleine, who had left the band to join the French Re-
Music by John Keane sistance and finally was tracked down by Joanna. Em-
braced by the younger generation, they relive their for-
Cinematography Richard Greatrex
mer glory.
Editing by Pia Di Ciaula The present-day story is interspersed with flashbacks
to the band in its wartime heyday that capture the music
Release date(s) August 26, 2000 and atmosphere of the period.
3 September 2000
Running time 84 minutes
Principal cast
Country United Kingdom/United States
• Judi Dench ..... Elizabeth
Language English • Romola Garai ..... Young Elizabeth
• Ian Holm ..... Patrick
The Last of the Blonde Bombshells is a 2000 British-American • Joan Sims ..... Betty
television film directed by Gillies MacKinnon. The script • Olympia Dukakis ..... Dinah
by Alan Plater focuses on the efforts of a recently wid- • Cleo Laine ..... Gwen
owed woman to reunite the members of the World War • Leslie Caron ..... Madeleine
II-era swing band with which she played saxophone. • Billie Whitelaw ..... Evelyn
It features Carry On actress Joan Sims in her final act- • June Whitfield ..... Annie
ing performance before her death in 2001, and Romola • Valentine Pelka ....Leslie
Garai in her first professional role.[1] • Millie Findlay ..... Joanna
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
• Felicity Dean ..... Patricia • Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting - Miniseries,
• Nicholas Palliser ..... Edward Movie, or a Special (nominee)
• Dom Chapman ..... Paul • Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a
Miniseries, Movie or a Special (nominee)
Critical reception • Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a
Miniseries, Movie or a Special (nominee)
Steven Oxman of Variety observed that "despite delight- • Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding
ful performances from a star-studded cast, the film’s Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or
thoroughly predictable storyline and low-key charm are Television Movie (Judi Dench, nominee)
ultimately more a sedative than a tonic." He added, "Alan • American Comedy Award for Funniest Female
Plater’s screenplay is pretty thin ... and director Gillies Performer in a TV Special (Judi Dench, nominee)
Mackinnon can’t manage to make the finish as feel-good
as it needs to be ... The soundtrack’s nice, Richard
Greatrex’s cinematography is nice and the acting is quite
References
nice. But taken together, these niceties wind up as mem- [1] Lakhani, Nina (15 November 2009). "Romola Garai:
bers of the bland."[2] An actor’s life for me – at least for now". The
Independent (London).
Awards and nominations http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/
profiles/romola-garai-an-actors-life-for-me-ndash-
• British Academy Television Award for Best Actress at-least-for-now-1820967.html. Retrieved 15
winner)
(Judi Dench, winner November 2009.
• Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an [2] Variety review
Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for
winner)
Television (Judi Dench, winner
• Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress -
External links
Miniseries or a Movie (Judi Dench, nominee) • The Last of the Blonde Bombshells at the Internet Movie
• Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Database
Miniseries or a Movie (Ian Holm, nominee)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Last_of_the_Blonde_Bombshells&oldid=443971103"
Categories:
• 2000 television films
• BBC television dramas
• HBO original films
• Cross-dressing in film and television
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