DVD 109

In Collection
#1050

Comedy, Drama

Helen Mirren	Tricia Stewart; AKA Miss October
Julie Walters	Angela Baker; AKA Miss February
John Alderton	John Clark
Linda Bassett	Cora
Annette Crosbie	Jessie
Philip Glenister	Lawrence
Ciarán Hinds	Rod
Celia Imrie	Celia
Geraldine James	Marie
Penelope Wilton	Ruth

Director	Nigel Cole
Producer	Suzanne Mackie; Nick Barton
Writer	Juliette Towhidi

Nigel Cole directs the feel-good comedy Calendar Girls , based on the true story of a group of working-class British housewives who became overnight celebrities by posing for a nude calendar in order to raise more than 500-thousand pounds for a new leukemia unit. The film follows the adventures of best friends Chris Harper ( Helen Mirren ) and Annie Clarke ( Julie Walters ), both members of the charitable Rylstone Women's Institute in North Yorkshire. After Annie's husband John ( John Alderton ) succumbs to leukemia, the friends are motivated to take some action. They convince the group to craft a tastefully nude calendar featuring the usual ladies' activities of gardening and baking, as photographed by the young amateur Lawrence ( Philip Glenister ). Despite the disapproval of the Institute's leader Marie ( Geraldine James ), the calendar quickly becomes a best-seller and leads the group to Hollywood. Ciaran Hinds appears as Chris' husband Rod Harper. — Andrea LeVasseur