| Handel's Last Chance | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Milan Cheylov |
| Produced by | David Devine Richard Mozer |
| Written by | David Devine (story) Marlene Matthews (writer) |
| Starring | Leon Pownall Tod Fennell Gerard Parkes |
| Cinematography | David Perrault |
| Editing by | Michael Pacek |
| Studio | Devine Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | 1996 |
| Running time | 51 minutes |
| Country | Canada & Slovakia |
| Language | English |
Handel's Last Chance is a 1996 film that was created by David Devine and Richard Mozer for HBO Original Films of New York. The film was directed by Milan Cheylov
It stars Leon Pownall as George Frideric Handel, Tod Fennell as Jamie, Gerard Parkes as Jonathan Swift, Seana McKenna as Mary, and Cody Jones as Wee Hugh Brannigan.
Devine Entertainment's Handel's Last Chance is set in 1742 Dublin, where 10 year old Jamie O'Flaherty and the brilliant composer George Frideric Handel live. Jamie comes from a very poor family and has been caught stealing and he is in jail when the film opens. Handel, whose career is failing, needs his newest composition to be a big hit. By a stroke of destiny, the young boy and composer become unlikely allies. Handel gets Jamie out of jail and the boy lends his golden voice to the premiere performance of The Messiah.
This production is filled with many of Handel's most glorious works from a soundtrack produced by David Devine and Richard Mozer for SONY MUSIC of New York with the 88 member Slovak Phiharmonic conducted by Ondrej Leonard. The captivating story reminds us that when you believe in yourself, you can make a comeback and . . . may even get one last chance. The film has been seen in numerous languages in over 100 countries on broadcast television and dvd and is used extensively in U.S. and Canadian elementary and middle school music classes.