The Pride of Britain Awards last night hosted some truly courageous and inspirational people; among those receiving the awards were the real Calendar Girls the Women’s Institute of Rylstone & Cracoe Great Britain.
In the late 1990’s a remarkable eleven women from this institute bared there nude bodies and I say nude not naked to form the Women’s Institute Charity calendar, in aid of Leukaemia Research.
Little did they know that their actions who be the inspiration to the 2003 film The Calendar Girls, staring the likes of Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.
STORYLINE
Who says that life ends at 50? Surely the final phase is the best phase.
This film based on the true story of the Rylstone WI and is not only heart breaking but also heart warming.
Set in the village of Ripton in Yorkshire, the film focuses on the local members of the WI and their families.
Annie played by Julie Walters and Chris played by Helen Miran, are the rebels of the group, always bored by the normal knitwear and jam
making and after the traumatic death of Annies husband John, their rebellious nature comes in to full play with Chris’s idea of creating a nude WI calendar in aid of charity.
Instead of being totally appalled by the idea, other members of the group soon come around and see the calendar as art not pornography, nude and not naked.
With no front bottoms involved they set to work finding a photographer that not only has talent, but that can also handle a handful of naked over 50’s women. This person comes in the form of Lawrence a porter/struggling photographer from the hospital where John sadly died.
With the ladies getting slowly intoxicated and the scenes set and one by one they loosen their robes and go before the camera in a variety of shots, from gardening to cake making, from making lemonade to singing Christmas carols all tastefully nude.
The calendar is a success and they become the highlight of a media frenzie and Hollywood beckons……..and so the story continues to tell you the end would only spoil it for you.
THE GIRLS
HELEN MIRREN (Chris) Miss January
My favourite character has to be Chris, she is everything that I would like to aspire to be when I am in my 50’s. I do not wish to be listening to craft talks and cake baking, give me the Vodka tasting anytime.
JULIE WALTERS (Annie) Miss February
An acclaimed actress, she able to adapt to any role no matter how demanding. Julie Walters is not only a credit to this film , but the film industry in general.
LINDA BASSETT (Cora) Miss October
Linda came across as the most forgettable of the members, the only scene I really remember in is when Annie is asking her to commit to the project and she said if she can’t get her tits out now when will she be able to.
ANNETTE CROSBIE (Jessie) Miss September
I love this woman in whatever role she plays, I thought she could not top her part in One Foot in The Grave oh how I was wrong. She is sweet and loveable and her naked figure any woman would be proud of.
CELIA IMRIE (Celia) Miss November
She never makes me fail to laugh, from her bumbling role in dinner ladies to this, a remarkable actress with true potential
PENELOPE WILTON (Ruth) Miss July
Penelope is amazing woman, but I think this role made her look flat, and I am not referring to her chest size, the character itself was that of a rather pathetic woman, that if I was in a group with I would tend to avoid.
SETTINGS
All the scenes were fitting to that of the storyline, however I wish they has left out the trip to Hollywood, as I think it spoilt the film.
I purchased my copy from asda for £10.99 and it was money well spent.
OVERALL
An excellent film that you can watch over and over again, and still laugh.
My favourite part has to be the actual taking of the photos and that is not for a perverted reason, it's just where you can really relate to their feelings/emotions.
The only down fall of the film I believe was the trip to Hollywood, where the story began to drag, this in my point of view could have been left out.
This is def one to watch and I would recommend to all potential buyers
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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This wa a pretty good film, with a good review to go with it - Many thanks - Chris
super_stevo 26.03.2004 09:51
I was expecting this to be really cack but it was pretty good :0) stevo!!
Benniash 21.03.2004 21:46
I loved this film, but remember it was a true story so really leaving that bit out about Hollywood would have taken away one of the most significant part of the events. Benn
In the sensible yet elegant hands of actresses Helen Mirren and Julie Walters,Calendar ... more
Girlswalks a fine line between sappiness and snickering and ends up both wonderfully funny and gently touching. When her best friend Annie (Walters) loses her husban...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
In the sensible yet elegant hands of actresses Helen Mirren and Julie Walters,Calendar ... more
Girlswalks a fine line between sappiness and snickering and ends up both wonderfully funny and gently touching. When her best friend Annie (Walters) loses her husban...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
CALENDAR GIRLS is the hilariously quirky comedy starring Golden Globe winners Helen Mirren ... more
and Julie Walters and directed by Nigel Cole. When twelve extraordinary members of the Women's Institute, a proper local charity, decide they need to find a new ...
![Calendar Girls [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78498835.jpg "Calendar Girls [DVD] [2003]")
Mar 17th, 2004
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