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Barrytown is an Irish comedy-drama media franchise centred on the Rabbittes, a working-class family from the fictional suburb of Barrytown, in Dublin. It began in 1988 when Beacon Pictures and 20th Century Fox bought the rights to the 1987 novel The Commitments by Roddy Doyle shortly after it was published. The book was successful, as was Alan Parker's 1991 film adaptation. The film received cult status,[1] and is regarded as one of the best Irish films ever made.[2][3] In 1999, the British Film Institute ranked the film at number 38 on its list of the "100 best British films of the century", based on votes from 1,000 leading figures of the film industry.[2]
| Barrytown | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Roddy Doyle |
| Original work | The Commitments (1987) |
| Owners | Beacon Pictures 20th Century Fox Deadly Films BBC Film |
| Years | 1987–present |
| Print publications | |
| Novel(s) |
|
| Short stories |
|
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) |
|
| Television series | Screen Two (1993) |
| Theatrical presentations | |
| Play(s) | The Snapper (2018–present) |
| Musical(s) | The Commitments (2013–present) |
| Audio | |
| Soundtrack(s) |
|
| Official website | |
| TheCommitments.co.uk | |
A sequel novel, The Snapper, was published in 1990, followed by a film adaptation in 1993. A third novel, The Van, was published and shortlisted for the 1991 Booker Prize,[4] followed by a film adaptation in 1996. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, a spin-off published in 1993 by Secker and Warburg, won the Booker Prize for that year, with an epilogue novel, The Guts, published in 2013. A musical and stage play based on the first two installments of the series have also been produced, ongoing from 2013 and 2018.
The Commitments (1988)
Following the 1988 publication of Roddy Doyle's novel The Commitments (1987) in the United Kingdom,[5] producers Lynda Myles and Roger Randall-Cutler acquired the film rights, and asked Doyle to write an adaptation.[6][7][8] Doyle, an inexperienced screenwriter, spent one year drafting the script,[6] accompanied by Myles and Randall-Cutler.[9] Although a script was completed, Myles felt it needed improvement, and passed the book on to Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais,[9] hoping that they would suggest a more experienced writer.[6] Upon reading the novel, Clement and La Frenais agreed to help write the script themselves.[9]
The Snapper (1990)
The Snapper revolves around unmarried twenty-year-old Sharon Rabbitte's pregnancy, and the unexpected effects this has on her conservative, working class Dublin family.[10]
The Van (1991)
The Van focuses on the elder Jimmy Rabbitte and his efforts at going into business with his best friend Bimbo, after both lose their jobs. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize (1991).[11]
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (1993)
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha is a novel written by Roddy Doyle.[12] It is a spin-off following one year in the life of a Dublin ten-year-old, Patrick "Paddy" Clarke, as he explores Barrytown through his parents' divorce, encountering various characters from the Barrytown series of novels.[13]
The Guts (2013)
Set thirty years later, The Guts follows the younger Jimmy Rabbitte as he is suffering from bowel cancer. The novel was named Novel of the Year at the 2013 Irish Book Awards.[14][15]
Short stories
Throughout the early 2010s, Doyle frequently posted short comic dialogues on his Facebook page between two older men in a Barrytown pub, often relating to current events in Ireland (such as the 2015 marriage referendum[16]) and further afield. These developed into the novella short story collection Two Pints in 2012 and Two More Pints in 2014.[17]
Rabitte family members
- James "Jimmy" Rabbitte, Sr. – the patriarch and protagonist of the third Barrytown novel, The Van, in which he and a friend, Brendan "Bimbo" Reeves, buy a chipper van as a business opportunity during the 1990 World Cup.
- Veronica Rabbitte – the matriarch of the family who tries to keep the peace and is often known to have a laugh at her family's antics.
- Sharon Rabbitte – the eldest daughter and the protagonist of the second novel, The Snapper, in which she comes to terms with her pregnancy and later gives birth to a daughter, Georgina (whom the family call "Gina" for short).
- Georgina "Gina" Rabbitte – Sharon's daughter, born in The Snapper and featured as a toddler in The Van, often repeating in baby talk the profanity used by family members.
- James "Jimmy" Rabbitte, Jr. – the eldest son and protagonist of the first novel, The Commitments, in which he and several friends form an Irish soul band. In The Snapper, Jimmy frequently practices being a DJ, much to the predictable annoyance of his father. In the third novel, he has moved out of home and is living with his girlfriend, Aoife but still makes frequent visits home. In The Guts, Jimmy has since married Aoife and they have four children, and he is suffering from bowel cancer.
- Leslie Rabbitte – the second-born son of Jimmy Sr. and Veronica. The least prominent of the children, he is almost never at home in the trilogy. Leslie is frequently in trouble and clashes with his father. In The Guts, He reconnects with Jimmy Jr. through Social Media and attends a festival with him.
- Darren Rabbitte – the youngest son, still at school. He decides to become a vegetarian in The Van yet helps Jimmy Sr. with his business.
- Tracy and Linda Rabbitte – the two youngest children, twin girls, who frequently behave mischievously, provoking the ire of the parents.
- Larrygogan – a dog who becomes the family's pet in The Snapper.
| Film | U.S. release date | Director(s) | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Commitments | August 6, 1991 | Alan Parker | Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais, & Roddy Doyle | Roddy Doyle | Roger Randall-Cutler | Lynda Myles |
| The Snapper | April 4, 1993 | Stephen Frears | Roddy Doyle | Ian Hopkins | ||
| The Van | May 11, 1996 | Mark Shivas | ||||
The Commitments (1991)
Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), a self-proclaimed promoter, decides to organise an R&B group to fill the musical void in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland. The band comes together but ends up consisting entirely of white musicians who have little experience with the genre. Even though their raw talent and lofty aspirations gain the group notoriety, the pitfalls of fame began to tear at their newfound friendships as they prepare for their big show. The film also stars Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle, Bronagh Gallagher, Glen Hansard, Andrew Strong, Colm Meaney, and Andrea Corr.
Many of the actors involved in The Commitments went on to pursue various acting and musical careers.[18] Robert Arkins signed a record deal with MCA Records in 1993,[19] although he did not finish recording the consequent album.[20] He has produced work for a number of commercial clients, television projects, and composed music for two short films.[18] Andrew Strong went on to produce several albums, which he described as having elements of R&B and rock. He has performed alongside The Rolling Stones, Elton John and Ray Charles, and formed his own band, The Bone Yard Boys, in 2003.[21] In 1993, two of the film's cast members, Kenneth McCluskey and Dick Massey, formed their own tribute act band, The Stars from the Commitments. The 9-piece band has since played more than 1,000 shows worldwide, and has played with B.B. King, James Brown and Wilson Pickett.[18][22]
The Commitments underperformed at the North American box office, grossing $14.9 million during its theatrical run. Reviewers praised the music, performances and humour, while criticism was occasionally aimed at the pacing and Parker's direction. The film resulted in two soundtrack albums released by MCA Records; the first reached #8 on the Billboard 200 album chart and achieved triple-platinum status, while the second album achieved gold sales status. At the 1992 British Academy Film Awards, the film won four of six BAFTA Awards for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing.
The Snapper (1993)
Doyle was given creative freedom by the BBC over the adaptation of The Snapper, for which he wrote the screenplay.[23] Lynda Myles returned to produce the film and hired Stephen Frears as its director.[24] Colm Meaney also returned. The adaptation was originally planned as a television film, as an episode of the British television anthology drama series Screen Two, before Frears suggested that it be transferred to film.[25] Doyle disagreed with the change, saying that he never liked to be made for the big screen, which he thought was grainy.[24] The Snapper (1993) premiered at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation.[24] It was a critical success, receiving largely positive reviews.[26]
The sequel again features the Rabbitte family, but due to rights problems, the family surname in The Snapper was changed from 'Rabbitte' to 'Curley'. The film centres on Sharon Curley, the eldest daughter of the family, and her experience of unplanned teen pregnancy. The film also stars Brendan Gleeson, Pat Laffan, Ronan Wilmot, and Stanley Townsend.
The Van (1996)
For the film adaptation of The Van, Doyle and Myles formed their own production company, Deadly Films, and the author was given creative control over the selection of its cast and director.[27] Frears returned as director, and Meaney was cast in the lead role. Although The Van (1996) premiered at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival to some favorable reviews, critical reaction was negative upon release; reviewers criticised the film for its thin material and lack of strong characterisation.[28]
The film deals with themes of unemployment and self-worth, as Brendan "Bimbo" Reeves (Donal O'Kelly) and Larry (Colm Meaney) cope with losing their jobs and embark on a partnership to sell fried food from the eponymous van. The film also stars Ger Ryan, Rúaidhrí Conroy, Brendan O'Carroll, Stuart Dunne, Marie Mullen, and Jon Kenny.
Mooted sequel
In January 2000, Harvey Weinstein acquired the film rights to The Commitments for Miramax[29] and commissioned playwright Warren Leight to write a direct sequel to the film, with Cathy Konrad attached as a producer. The premise involved several members of The Commitments pairing with new band members before going on tour in the United States.[30] The project subsequently entered development hell.[31]
Cast and crew
Principal cast
List indicator(s)
- A dark gray cell indicates the character was not featured in the film.
- A P indicates an appearance through a photographic still.
- An L indicates an appearance through the use of an actor or actress's facial likeness.
- A V indicates a performance through voice-over work.
- A C indicates a cameo appearance.
| Characters | The Commitments | The Snapper | The Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1993 | 1996 | |
| Mr. Rabbitte | Colm Meaney[a] | ||
| Missis Twix | Sheila Flitton | ||
| Barrytown Nightclub Bouncer | Seán O'Donovan | ||
| Mrs. Rabbitte | Anne Kent | Ruth McCabe[b] | Caroline Rothwell[b] |
| Roddy the Reporter | Phelim Drew | Roddy DoyleC | |
| Jimmy Rabbitte | Robert Arkins | Rúaidhrí Conroy[c] | |
| Maggie the Pawnbroker | Ger Ryan | Ger Ryan | |
| Greg the Arsenal Supporter | Michael O'Reilly | Michael O'Reilly | |
| Sonny Rabbitte | Peter Rowen | ||
| Craig Rabbitte | Eanna MacLiam | ||
| Bernie's Mother | Rynagh O'Grady | ||
| Sharon Rabbitte | Andrea Corr | Tina Kellegher | Neilí Conroy[d] |
| Darren Rabbitte | Gerard Cassoni | Colm O'Byrne | |
| Tracy Rabbitte | Ruth Fairclough | Deirdre O'Brien[e] | |
| Linda Rabbitte | Lindsay Fairclough | Dierdre O'Brien[e] | |
| Cancer Policeman | Jack Lynch | ||
| Paddy the Bald Man | Ronan Wilmot | ||
| Des Health Inspector Anaesthetist | Stanley Townsend | ||
| Jackie O'Keefe | Fionnuala Murphy | ||
| Sam Bertie | Stuart Dunne | ||
| Dawn | Barbara Bergin | ||
| Baby Curley | Aisling Conlan and Alannagh McMullen | ||
| Brendan "Bimbo" Reeves | Donal O'Kelly | ||
| Steven Clifford | Michael Aherne | ||
| Imelda Quirke | Angeline Ball | ||
| Natalie Murphy | Maria Doyle | ||
| Mickah Wallace | Dave Finnegan | ||
| Bernie McGloughlin | Bronagh Gallagher | ||
| Dean Fay | Félim Gormley | ||
| Outspan Foster | Glen Hansard | ||
| Billy Mooney | Dick Massey | ||
| Joey "The Lips" Fagan | Johnny Murphy | ||
| Derek Scully | Kenneth McCluskey | ||
| Deco Cuffe | Andrew Strong | ||
| Duffy | Liam Carney | ||
| Father Molloy | Mark O'Regan | ||
| Dave from Eejit Records | Sean Hughes | ||
| Ray | Philip Bredin | ||
| Imelda's Sister | Aoife Lawless | ||
| Kid with Harmonica | Lance Daly | ||
| Protest Song Singer | Conor Malone | ||
| Heavy Metal Singer | Jezz Bell | ||
| Fiddler Auditioner | Colm Mac Con Iomaire | ||
| Punk Girl Singer | Emily Dawson | ||
| Coconuts Trio | Dave Kane | ||
| Kristel Harris | |||
| Maria Place | |||
| Uileann Pipe Player | Brian MacAodha | ||
| Les Miserables Singer | Tricia Smith | ||
| Smiths' Song Singer | Canice William | ||
| Cajun Trio | Patrick Foy | ||
| Alan Murray | |||
| Jody Campbell | |||
| Rabbittes' Neighbour | Philomena Kavanagh | ||
| Only De Lonely Singer | Eamon O'Connor | ||
| Joey's Mother | Maura O'Malley | ||
| Pool Hall Manager | Blaise Smith | ||
| Duffy's Sidekicks | Derek Herbert Owen O'Gorman |
||
| Unemployment Official | Pat Leavy | ||
| Kid with Horse | John Cronin | ||
| Community Centre Kid | Michael Bolger | ||
| Imelda's Father | Mick Nolan | ||
| Imelda's Mother | Eileen Reid | ||
| Regency Pub Barman | Bob Navan | ||
| Photographer | Derek Duggan | ||
| Rock Salmon Man | Paddy O'Connor | ||
| Avant-Garde-A-Clue Band / Eejit Engineer | Paul Bushnell | ||
| Avant-Garde-A-Clue Band | Jim Corr | ||
| Larry Hogan | |||
| Bernard Keelan | |||
| Dance Hall Manager | Ronan Hardiman | ||
| Music Journalist | Mikel Murfi | ||
| Deco's Fan | Josylen Lyons | ||
| Man in Limousine | Winston Dennis | ||
| Eejit Record Producer | Alan Parker | ||
| James Brown | James BrownA | ||
| Extra | Caroline Corr | ||
| Fiddle Player | Sharon Corr | ||
| Photographer | Alan Howley | ||
| Wedding Guest | Mark Leahy | ||
| Auditioning Guitarist | Ralph G. Morse | ||
| Young Priest | Martin O'Malley | ||
| Lisa Rabbitte | Joanne Gerrard | ||
| Kimberley Rabbitte | Ciara Duffy | ||
| Yvonne Burgess | Karen Woodley | ||
| George Burgess | Pat Laffan | ||
| Doris Burgess | Virginia Cole | ||
| Pat Burgess | Denis Menton | ||
| Lester | Brendan Gleeson | ||
| Boy #1 | Dylan Tighe | ||
| Girl #1 | Caroline Boyle | ||
| Checkout Woman | Jennifer Kelly | ||
| Customer, Neighbour #3 | Audrey Corr | ||
| Desk Nurse | Cathy Belton | ||
| Doctor | Miriam Kelly | ||
| Dr. Cook | Eleanor Methven | ||
| Loner | Birdie Sweeney | ||
| Midwife | Billie Morton | ||
| Woman in Hospital | Joan Sheehy | ||
| Oul'One | Cathleen Delaney | ||
| Nurse | Ailish Connolly | ||
| Supermarket Trainee Manager | Stephen Kennedy | ||
| Woman in Police Station | Britta Smith | ||
| Barrytown Neighbours | Conor Evans Helen Roche Marie Conmee Jimmy Keogh |
||
| Pal #1 | Tom Murphy | ||
| Pal #2 | Robbie Doolin | ||
| Young Lad / Dad | Matthew Devereux | ||
| Famine | Sandy | ||
| Diane | Neilí Conroy | ||
| Weslie | Brendan O'Carroll | ||
| Maggie's Mum | Laurie Morton | ||
| Vera | Marie Mullen | ||
| Gerry McCarthy | Jon Kenny | ||
| Glenn | Moses Rowen | ||
| Jessica | Linda McGovern | ||
| Wayne | Eoin Chaney | ||
| Wally | Frank O'Sullivan | ||
| Mona | Jill Doyle | ||
| Anne Marie | Charlotte Bradley | ||
| Mechanic | Alan King | ||
| Pregnant Woman | Bernie Downes | ||
| Garda Sergeant | Martin Dunne | ||
| Nightclub Barman | Tommy O'Neill | ||
| Bingo Woman | Eilish Moore | ||
| Pitch & Putt Man | Paul Raynor | ||
| Crushed Girl | Eileen Walsh | ||
| Complaining Woman | Sandra Bagnall | ||
| Boy with Choc Ice | David Kelly | ||
| Crying Boy | Lee Bagnall | ||
| Other Kid | Jamie Bagnall | ||
| Barry | David Byrne | ||
| World Peace | Gavin Keilty | ||
| Leo the Barman | Claude Clancy | ||
| Girl | Michelle Gallagher | ||
| Nightclub Bouncer | Arthur Napper | ||
| Kerrie | Jessie O'Gorman | ||
| Country Club Lunch Guest | Phil Parlapiano | ||
The surname of the Rabbitte family was changed to the maiden name of Curley for the film adaptations of The Snapper and The Van, as 20th Century Fox owns the rights to the Rabbitte name from The Commitments, who were not involved in the adaptations of subsequent works in the trilogy.
Additional crew
| Role | The Commitments | The Snapper | The Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1993 | 1996 | |
| Composer | G. Marq Roswell | Stanley Myers | Eric Clapton Richard Hartley |
| Editor | Gerry Hambling | Mick Audsley | |
| Cinematographer | Gale Tattersall | Oliver Stapleton | |
| Production companies | Beacon Pictures The First Film Company Dirty Hands Productions |
BBC | Beacon Pictures Deadly Films BBC Films |
| Distributor | 20th Century Fox | Miramax | 20th Century Fox |
Reception
Box office performance
| Film | North American release date |
Budget | Box office gross | Box office ranking | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other territories | Worldwide | All-time North America |
All-time worldwide | ||||
| The Commitments | August 6, 1991 | $12–15 million | $14,919,570 | £8,285,701 | $26,679,175.40 | #37 | #40 | [32] |
| The Van | November 29, 1996 | — | — | $712,095 | $712,095 | #155 | #156 | [33] |
| Total | $12–15 million | $14,919,570 | $8,997,796 | $2,668,629,635 | ||||
Critical and public response
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| The Commitments | 89% (44 reviews)[34] | 73 (23 critics)[35] |
| The Snapper | 97% (33 reviews)[36] | 83 (18 critics)[37] |
| The Van | 38% (21 reviews)[38] | — |
Accolades
| Award | Category | Film | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Commitments | The Snapper | ||
| Academy Award | Film Editing | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Award | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| BAFTA Award | Best Film | Won | |
| Best Direction | Won | ||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Best Editing | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound | Nominated | ||
| AFI Award | Best Foreign Film | Nominated | |
| Brit Award | Best Soundtrack | Won | |
| Evening Standard British Film Award | Peter Sellers Award for Comedy | Won | |
| London Film Critics Circle Award | British Producer of the Year | Won | |
| British Director of the Year | Won | ||
| British or Irish Screenwriter of the Year | Won | ||
| Writers Guild of America Award | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | |
| Tokyo International Film Festival | Tokyo Grand Prix Award | Nominated | |
| Best Director Award | Won | ||
| Goya Award | Best European Film | Won | |
| Golden Globe Award | Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
Legacy
An image of four of the actors of the original film, in character, was featured on an Irish postage stamp as part of the Ireland 1996: Irish Cinema Centenary series issued by An Post; the image includes lead singer Deco Cuffe (Andrew Strong), along with the three "Commitmentettes" – Imelda Quirke (Angeline Ball), Natalie Murphy (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and Bernie McGloughlin (Bronagh Gallagher).[39]
Music
Soundtracks
| Title | U.S. release date | Length | Composer(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Commitments (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | August 13, 1991 | 46:16 | Paul Bushnell, Kevin Killen, and Alan Parker | MCA |
| The Commitments, Vol. 2: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | March 17, 1992 | 35:53 | Paul Bushnell and Kevin Killen |
Doyle's novel The Commitments and its 1991 film adaptation inspired a 2013 musical stage production, directed by British theatre director Jamie Lloyd.[40][41] Following the film's success, Doyle had previously turned down offers to adapt his novel into a stage production.[42][43] The Commitments began previews on 21 September 2013 in London's West End at the Palace Theatre, before its official opening night on 8 October.[44] The show had more than 1,000 performances before officially closing in London on 1 November 2015. The United Kingdom and Ireland tour commenced in 2017.[45]
In 2018, the Gate Theatre commissioned Doyle to write a stage adaptation of The Snapper.[46] The show was directed by Róisín McBrinn and was revived in 2019.[47]
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