Angels in Notting Hill

Angels in Notting Hill is a 2016 independent fantasy film written and directed by Michael Pakleppa. An international co-production of the United Kingdom and Germany,[1] it stars Selma Brook, Ryan Mercier, Tina Gray and Stefanie Wallis; it also features the voice of Christopher Lee, in one of his last film roles following his death in 2015.[2][3] The film's plot follows an angel named Joy (Brook) who falls in love with a lonely human widower, Geoffrey (Mercier).[2]

Angels in Notting Hill
Promotional release poster
Directed byMichael Pakleppa
Written byMichael Pakleppa
Starring
  • Selma Brook
  • Ryan Mercier
  • Tina Gray
  • Stefanie Wallis
  • Christopher Lee
  • Renée Castle
  • Vadim Kosmos
  • Angus Brown
Production
company
Continent Film
Release date
  • 29 October 2016 (2016-10-29) (London)
Running time
99 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
LanguageEnglish

Cast

edit
  • Christopher Lee as The Boss / Mr. President[2]
  • Selma Brook as Joy[2]
  • Ryan Mercier as Geoffrey[2]
  • Renée Castle as Rebecca[2]
  • Tina Gray as Miss Maple[2]
  • Angus Brown as Good Waiter[2]
  • Vadim Kosmos as Bob[2]
  • Stefanie Wallis as Suzie[2]

Production

edit

Prior to the production of Angels in Notting Hill, actor Christopher Lee was attached to appear in a live-action film adaptation of the 1968 novel The Last Unicorn.[4] According to director Michael Pakleppa, the adaptation, which was to be produced by Continental Film, "didn't work out in time".[4] Instead, Lee and Pakleppa collaborated on the Continental Film-produced Angels in Notting Hill, in which Lee has a dual voice role as The Boss, an off-screen character, and Mr. President, a plush toy dog.[2][4] For the latter character, puppeteer Mark Jefferis performed to Lee's pre-recorded voice lines.[4] Pakleppa later stated:[4]

It surely wasn't meant as a farewell [for Lee], but as a funny little intermezzo between his next big jobs. But I always wanted to see, or at least hear, him in roles that were not the usual villain horror stuff, but as ironical, sarcastic, warm-hearted, philosophical, and in many ways deep and wise as he really was. So, I took the chance to have in the film, since he was incredibly wide and open for experiments.

Angels in Notting Hill was filmed in London, England, between 2012 and 2015.[5] Shooting took place in Notting Hill, Bayswater, Little Venice, the Grand Union Canal, Hackney, Brighton and Abney Park.[6]

Release

edit

Angels in Notting Hill premiered in London on 29 October 2016.[2]

Home media

edit

The film was made available on video-on-demand (VOD) services in the United Kingdom, United States and Germany.[7] A "collector's edition" DVD release, featuring an extended director's cut of the film that runs 11 minutes longer than its theatrical cut, was released by Absolut Medien.[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ Pohle Jr., Hart & Baldwin 2017, p. 5.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Pohle Jr., Hart & Baldwin 2017, p. 6.
  3. ^ Rosser, Michael (11 June 2015). "Christopher Lee dies aged 93". Screen International. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Mosley, Stephen (2022). Christopher Lee: The Loneliness of Evil. Midnight Marquee Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1644301289.
  5. ^ "Film". Angels in Notting Hill. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  6. ^ "The Making of Angels in Notting Hill". Angels in Notting Hill. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  7. ^ a b "News About Angels in Notting Hill". Angels in Notting Hill. Retrieved 21 March 2023.

Bibliography

edit
edit