ET Full Monty director's new film tipped to be bigger hit By Nigel Reynolds (Filed: 16/08/2001)

THE British film industry is anticipating another worldwide hit with the low-budget romantic comedy Lucky Break after audiences at private test screenings in Hollywood rated it even better than The Full Monty.

If that is borne out, it would turn 36-year-old Peter Cattaneo, who directed both pictures - his only full-length feature films - into one of the world's most sought-after directors.

Lucky Break was rapturously received at its world premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival on Tuesday. It is released in Britain next week and distributors say that they plan to give it a huge release in America.

The Full Monty, a semi-musical about unemployed Sheffield steelworkers who take up striptease, was made four years ago and against all the odds went on to become the most commercially successful British film, grossing £222 million.

Lucky Break is a similar funny and eccentric low-key British film with a home-grown cast.

Starring the veteran actor Christopher Plummer with Olivia Williams, James Nesbitt, Bill Nighy and Timothy Spall, it is a modern Ealing comedy - a warm-hearted caper about a gang of jailbirds who stage a musical in their prison chapel as cover to make their escape.

The delighted audience reaction in Edinburgh is likely to be repeated tonight at its London premiere.

Williams, 33, is already known in America but this is her first major British film. Kevin Costner discovered her and cast her alongside him in The Postman.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2001

Answers

I wonder if they use a trash truck in their escape...

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2001

"a warm-hearted caper about a gang of jailbirds who stage a musical in their prison chapel as cover to make their escape"

I think this is a remake of the Sound of Music.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2001

Ah, but the Von Trapps weren't criminals until after they fled...

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2001

I'm the only person I know who didn't see that movie. I saw Julie Andrews on stage when she was 14 and I took an instant dislike to her. Dunno why, just one of those things.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2001