The Ballroom of Romance
| The Ballroom of Romance | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Pat O'Connor |
| Starring |
|
Release date |
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Running time | 65 minutes |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
The Ballroom of Romance is a 1982 film directed by Pat O'Connor, based on a short story by William Trevor.
Plot
Set in rural Ireland in the 1950s, Bridie has been attending the local dance hall for years in the hope of finding a good husband who can help work her family's farm. Now surrounded by younger prettier women at the dances, she comes to the realization that all the good men of her generation have emigrated or have been spoken for; and her only remaining hope for marriage is with the alcoholic and unreliable Bowser Egan.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Brenda Fricker | Bridie |
| John Kavanagh | Bowser Egan |
| Mick Lally | Dano Ryan |
| Niall Toibin | Eyes Horgan |
| Joe Pilkington | Tim Daly |
| Brid Brennan | Patty Byrne |
| Ingrid Craigie | Eenie Mackie |
| Cyril Cusack | Mr. Dwyer |
Background and production
- The film was based on a short story by William Trevor set in County Leitrim, Ireland.
- The film was shot on location in Ballycroy, County Mayo as by 1982 the ballroom which William Trevor had originally written about had been modernized and no longer resembled a dance hall typical of 1950s Ireland.
Almost all of the production personnel involved in the BBC/RTÉ co-production ‘Ballroom of Romance’ came from the BBC, along with Producer Kenith Trodd.
The RTÉ participation in the production consisted of Director Pat O’Connor and Editor Maurice Healy. The post-production (Editing) was carried out at RTÉ in Dublin, in late 1981 and early 1982.
Sound mixing was done at BBC Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd’s Bush, London. Rank Film Laboratories in Denham supplied the film prints for the television broadcasts.
Extras were from the locals from within the Ballycroy area.