The Fruit Machine
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| The Fruit Machine, a/k/a Wonderland (USA) | |
|---|---|
 DVD Cover for The Fruit Machine, a/k/a Wonderland (USA) |
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| Directed by | Philip Saville |
| Produced by | Steve Morrison |
| Written by | Frank Clarke |
| Starring | Emile Charles Tony Forsyth Robert Stephens Robbie Coltrane Bruce Payne |
| Music by | Hans Zimmer |
| Cinematography | Dick Pope |
| Editing by | Richard Bedford |
| Distributed by | Cannon Films Vestron Video |
| Release date(s) | 1988 |
| Running time | 103 min |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
- Fruit machine is also a British term for a slot machine (aka one-armed bandit).
The Fruit Machine (1988) was known as Wonderland in the United States.
The Fruit Machine is a British Film thriller directed by Philip Saville (The Gospel of John, Metroland) about two bud gay teens running from an underworld assassin and the police. This was a film made by UK TV company Granada Productions; now known as ITV Productions.
Starring Tony Forsyth, Emile Charles, Bruce Payne and Robbie Coltrane in the role of "Annabelle".
The film was released as a remastered version on DVD in the UK on 16 July 2007 and a 2008 version has recently been commissioned.
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[edit] Overview
A combination of adventure, road movie and 1980s filmmaking. The film plays out a number of social issues of the time, as seen through the eyes of two British 16-year-olds. One of the teenagers spends a lot of time at the dolphinarium. This is probably the last time footage of the Brighton Dolphinarium and the dolphins was used, before it closed down.
Young star Emile Charles is Craig Charles' younger brother (Dave Lister from Red Dwarf) and guest-starred there as the Young Lister. Symbolism notwithstanding, variations of Bruce Payne's character Echo and his machete appeared on both versions of the film's promotional materials--even though Echo was a non-speaking role.
Soundtrack by early score master Hans Zimmer (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, The Da Vinci Code, The Lion King). No "official" soundtrack was ever released, but the 20-minute The Fruit Machine Suite appears on Hans Zimmer's CD HANS ZIMMER: The British Years, a sampling of his earlier film work. Divine's songs, popular around the world and on the charts in Britain at the time, were utilized in the disco dance sequence. The film also contained the title song, sung by Paul Lekakis produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman.
The production has a growing cult following due primarily to its straight-forward portrayal of British gay youth and the rising careers of Robbie Coltrane, Bruce Payne, Philip Saville and Hans Zimmer.
[edit] Synopsis
Eddie and Michael are best friends on the brink of adulthood. Eddie likes watching old movies on video with his mum. Michael likes video games and the street. They are total opposites that argue like an old married couple. Leaving behind the grim, oppressive reality of Liverpool (In the 1980s unemployment rates in Liverpool were amongst the highest in the UK.), they stumble into the bizarre fantasy world of a transvestite nightclub called The Fruit Machine, run by "Annabelle". There, they witness a brutal gangland murder by Echo that transforms their quest for adventure into a run for their lives. Alone and afraid, yet hopeful, they wind up in Brighton with Vincent and Eve at Wonderland, where their path is strewn with manipulation, deceit and murder.
[edit] Featured cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Emile Charles | Eddie |
| Tony Forsyth | Michael |
| Robert Stephens | Vincent |
| Robbie Coltrane | "Annabelle" |
| Clare Higgins | Eve |
| Bruce Payne | Echo |
| Carsten Norgaard | Dolphin Man |
| Kim Christie | Jean |
| Louis Emerick | Billy |
| Forbes Collins | John Schlesinger |
[edit] Memorable quotes
| “ | It's...me uncle...Dick. Yeah, that's right. Me Uncle Dick. | ” |
[edit] References
- The New York Times / The Fruit Machine
- TimeOut London / The Fruit Machine
- Brighton Lesbian and Gay Switchboard Youth Project / "Are there any good films/videos/dvds I can watch?"
- Hans Zimmer: The British Years on Soundtrack.net
