| Plunkett & Macleane | |
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DVD cover of Plunkett & Macleane |
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| Directed by | Jake Scott |
| Produced by | Tim Bevan Eric Fellner Rupert Harvey Gary Oldman |
| Starring | Jonny Lee Miller Robert Carlyle Liv Tyler Ken Stott Alan Cumming Michael Gambon Tommy Flanagan David Walliams Matt Lucas |
| Music by | Craig Armstrong |
| Cinematography | John Mathieson |
| Studio | USA Films Arts Council of England Working Title Films |
| Distributed by | Gramercy Pictures Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 2 April 1999 |
| Running time | 93 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom Czech Republic |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $474,900 (limited release) |
Plunkett & Macleane is a 1999 British historical action comedy film directed by Jake Scott, and starring Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Liv Tyler. It follows the story of Captain James Macleane (Miller), and Will Plunkett (Carlyle), two men in eighteenth century Britain who are both struggling to survive. The characters are loosely based on two genuine highwaymen of the eighteenth century, James MacLaine and William Plunkett although the story bears little relation to their actual lives.
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In 1748, England is infested with highwaymen, such as Will Plunkett, a London-based criminal working with a partner. However, very soon into the film his partner is killed by Thief Taker General Chance, and Plunkett finds himself on the run from the local constabulary.
This incident was witnessed by Captain James Macleane, who was being taken to a debtor's prison. He also sees Plunkett's partner swallow a ruby, which he sees as his ticket out of debt, and, after narrowly escaping discovery by Chance, he goes to the cemetery and tries to exhume the body and retrieve the ruby.
Unknown to him, Plunkett is also waiting there, and he forces Macleane to give the ruby to him. He then also swallows it, as they are both found by Chance's men. They go together to Newgate Prison, and Plunkett realises that, because of Macleane's social rank (he's a member of the gentry class), he can give the ruby to Macleane and he can use his influence to buy them both out of prison. This, despite protests from Macleane, starts a partnership which could be very successful, where they use Macleane's title to get to know the rich, and Plunkett's brains and planning to rob them later on. However, this all goes haywire when Macleane falls for the beautiful Lady Rebecca and lets their secret slip.
Eventually, Plunkett's plans to escape the country to America are spoiled by Macleane's uncontrollable spending, and Plunkett leaves him to the gallows. However, Plunkett comes back at the very last minute to save his friend, and all three leave for America. At the very end Plunkett gets his own back on Chance as he shoots him in the head in the sewer.
Plunkett & Macleane opened on October 1, 1999 in 475 U.S. theaters, taking in US$244,765 during its first three days; total domestic earnings stand at US$474,900.[1]
The film received negative reviews. Rotten Tomatoes lists a 26% rating (with an average score of 4.7/10),[2] while Metacritic's metascore is 44 (indicating "mixed or average reviews").[3]