What would you do if the crook you once dated came back in hopes of winning you back, claiming he has changed and matured over time since you two separated? The film titled Once Upon A Time In The Midlands portrayed the emotions of a crook trying to win his love back perfectly with the brilliant acting of Robert Carlyle.
Directed by Shane Meadows, the film did well with the audience with its unique storyline and comic timing. The screenplay for the movie Once Upon A Time In The Midlands was done by Paul Fraser and Shane Meadows.
Produced by Andrea Calderwood, the film featured Robert Carlyle playing the role of Jimmy, foster brother of Carol and ex-husband of Shirley, Vanessa Feltz as herself, Ricky Tomlinson playing the role of Charlie, estranged husband of Carol, and Kathy Burke playing the role of Carol, foster sister of Jimmy as the lead cast.
The supporting cast of the film features Vicki Patterson playing the role of guest, Shirley Henderson playing the role of Shirley, Marlene’s mother and Jimmy’s ex-wife, Finn Atkins playing the role of Marlene, Shirley and Jimmy’s daughter, Kelly Thresher playing the role of Donna, daughter of Carol, Rhys Ifans playing the role of Dek.
Andrew Shim plays the role of Donut, and Ryan Bruce plays the role of Emerson. Brian Tufano did the brilliant cinematography for Once Upon A Time In The Midlands, which was released theatrically on 6 September 2002. Once Upon A Time In The Midlands had a run time of 104 minutes.
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Once Upon A Time In The Midlands- Premise
The film focuses on Dek proposing to the love of his life Shirley on National television and her refusing his proposal. After watching Dek’s proposal to Shirley, Jimmy, the father of her child, makes a return to her life with the hopes of winning her back. This ensures the start of a duel between Dek and Jimmy as they try to win Shirley’s love.
The movie begins with a sleeping Jimmy having a television show running in the background. Jimmy wakes up from his nap to Dek proposing to Shirley on the same show he was watching. Shirley returns with a disappointed Dek and their mutual friends to Nottinghamshire.
The next day Marlene and Shirley discuss the latter refusal of the proposal because Marlene wants Dek to be her father.
Shirley and Dek get into a confrontation in front of Marlene regarding the latter’s decision to refuse Dek’s proposal and Dek feeling like he has become a laughingstock amongst people. Donna and her boyfriend get into a fight after Donna’s mother catches him in his knickers sleeping in her daughter’s room.
Dek arrives at Donut’s rescue as he picks him up from Donna’s house. Meanwhile, Jimmy begins to erratically searches for something to eat before going to meet his friends. Jimmy, alongside his friends, plans to rob another guy, and they succeed, but Jimmy leaves his friends behind on the arrival of the police. Jimmy is in the dilemma of going back to his friends or running away.
Meanwhile, at his job, Dek keeps answering people’s questions regarding Shirley and his relationship. After returning home, Dek apologizes to Shirley for his behavior, and Marlene questions Dek about his feelings.
The couple gleefully reunites with each other stating their I Love You. Shirley goes out with her friends for a drink, and people start to question her about her appearance on the television show.
Dek and Marlene spend time together, and she plays a prank on her him by giving Dek binoculars with black ink on the end. Meanwhile, Jimmy returns to Carol’s house in an attempt to get Marlene and Shirley back in his life. Dek and Carol get into a confrontation after Dek asks her to kick him out.
Dek accuses Shirley of rejecting him to keep her doors open for Jimmy to make his return to her life. After several attempts by both Dek and Jimmy to win Shirley back, Shirley tries to win back Dek’s love, but he refuses. After Jimmy runs away once again, Carol impounds Dek’s car in a fit of rage.
Jimmy tries to change and comes back to reunite with his daughter and mend their relationship, but Marlene isn’t interested in giving him a chance. The film ends with Shirley profusing her love for Dek and refusing to leave with Jimmy.
Once Upon A Time In Midlands Filming Locations
1. Nottingham, England
Nottingham, a beautiful ceremonial county in the East Midlands region of England bordering South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, was used by the production crew of Once Upon A Time In Midlands to film most of the film.
The scenes with school were filmed at Porchester Junior School in Nottingham in U.K. 92 Second Avenue in Carlton, Nottingham was used to film the scene with Dek and Shirley’s house.
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