Comfort and Joy (1984 film)
A DJ caught in Glasgow's ice cream turf war.
Comfort and Joy is a 1984 Scottish comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth. It stars Bill Paterson as a radio disc jockey whose life is disrupted after his girlfriend leaves him, leading him into a bizarre conflict over Glasgow's ice cream market. The film received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 1985.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Bill Forsyth
- Starring
- Bill Paterson
- Eleanor David
- Clare Grogan
- Alex Norton
- Music
- Mark Knopfler
- Cinematography
- Chris Menges
- Editing
- Michael Ellis
- Studio
- Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment
- Lake Ltd.
- Scottish Television
- Kings Road Entertainment
- Distributor
- Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment
- Released
- 1984, 5, Cannes, 1984, 8, 31, London
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Days before Christmas, local radio DJ Allan "Dicky" Bird is shocked when his kleptomaniac girlfriend Maddy leaves him after four years. His friend Colin tries to console him, but Bird remains heartbroken. Driving to clear his mind, he spots Charlotte working in a "Mr. Bunny" ice cream van and stops to buy from her. Two masked men then attack the van with baseball bats; the van's crew retaliates with raspberry essence. One fleeing assailant recognizes Bird and asks for his autograph. Bird becomes entangled in a turf war between two Scottish-Italian ice cream families: the young interloper Trevor and the established "Mr. McCool", whose sons include Bruno, Paolo, and Renato. Bird mediates between them and Trevor and Charlotte, later revealed as McCool's rebellious daughter. His red BMW 323i Baur convertible suffers increasing damage. Bird broadcasts coded messages on his show to contact the combatants, worrying his boss Hilary, who sends him to a psychiatrist. Bird proposes the rivals, uncle and nephew, join forces to market ice cream fritters. Both sides are impressed, and Bird, knowing the secret ingredient, takes 30% of the gross plus car repairs. During the credits, he records a commercial for "Frosty Hots".
Production
Forsyth originally conceived a film about a local DJ, inspired by the phenomenon of local celebrities on stations like Radio Clyde. He felt the idea lacked substance, so added a love story. Peter Capaldi, from an ice cream family, told Forsyth stories of the ice cream war, though Capaldi described rivalry over quality, while the real Glasgow ice cream wars involved gangs using vans for drug dealing. Forsyth intended the film's fluffiness to mirror local radio, with the ice cream war as a metaphor for its empty-headed niceness. He raised money based on Local Hero's success, which created an impression his films were profitable. The film was announced in 1983 by Verity Lambert as part of an EMI slate. Principal photography took place in late 1983, largely on location in North Glasgow, though actual ice cream wars occurred in Glasgow's East End. The attack scene was filmed in Claddens Quadrant in Parkhouse, with other scenes in Maryhill and Summerston. The dim winter daylight contributed to the film's dark aesthetic.
Reception
The film screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1984 and had its UK premiere as the opening film at the 1984 Edinburgh Film Festival on 14 August 1984, opening in London on 31 August 1984. It was number one at the UK box office for two weeks, though its overall commercial performance was disappointing. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it charming but a disappointment compared to Forsyth's earlier films. Film4 found it less satisfying, noting Paterson's performance but lacking the belly laughs of That Sinking Feeling or the charm of Gregory's Girl. Variety concluded that after a funny opening, the film switches to a more conventional plot and does not reach its early high spots. Roger Ebert called it one of the happiest and most engaging movies of the year. Rotten Tomatoes gives a 100% rating based on ten reviews; CinemaScore audiences gave an average grade of B-.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Comfort and Joy (1984 film)?
Comfort and Joy stars Bill Paterson, Eleanor David, Clare Grogan and Alex Norton.
Who composed the music for Comfort and Joy (1984 film)?
The music for Comfort and Joy was composed by Mark Knopfler.
How long is Comfort and Joy (1984 film)?
Comfort and Joy has a running time of 106 minutes.
Who distributed Comfort and Joy (1984 film)?
Comfort and Joy was distributed by Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment.
More in Television Shows Produced by Scottish Television
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced