The Fruit Machine

The Fruit Machine Wonderland (USA)
German DVD Cover for The Fruit Machine, a/k/a Wonderland (USA)
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
Edited by	Richard Bedford
Distributed by	Cannon Films Vestron Video Pro-Fun Media
Release dates	1988 (1988)
Running time	103 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Fruit Machine, also known as Wonderland in the United States, is a 1988 British film thriller directed by BAFTA-winner Philip Saville (The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, The Gospel of John, Metroland) about two friends, 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 production has a growing cult following due primarily to its straightforward portrayal of British gay youth and the rising careers of Coltrane, Payne, Saville and Hans Zimmer.

The film has had two DVD releases. In the UK on 16 July 2007 and on 9 April 2009, the German-based Pro-Fun Media released a region free digitally remastered edition in Anamorphic widescreen (1.66:1), including booklet and trailer. A North American Region 1 DVD version has still not materialised.

Overview

A combination of adventure, buddy film, 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 is played by Emile Charles (younger brother of Craig Charles). He spends a lot of time at the dolphinarium at the Wonderland theme park.

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.

Synopsis

Eddie and Michael are best friends on the brink of adulthood. They are both gay, but hold diametrically opposed outlooks on life. 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.

Featured cast

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

External links

• The Fruit Machine (1988) at the Internet Movie Database
• Multi-media trailer for The Fruit Machine at Pro-Fun Media (German)