UK / 2016 / Comedy / English Language / 94 Minutes
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UK / 2016 / Comedy / English Language / 94 minutes Press: Steven Zeller | GS Entertainment Marketing Group | (323) 860-0270 | [email protected] Theatrical: Evan Saxon | Evan Saxon Productions | (323) 570-0130 | [email protected] U.S./Canada Distribution: Arnie Holland | Lightyear Entertainment | (818) 855-1318 | [email protected] “A FUN MYSTERY… BAWDY, RUDE AND TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY ENGLISH…” –Total Film SYNOPSIS Based on the seminal novel by Stephen Fry and directed by John Jencks (The Fold), THE HIPPOPOTAMUS tells the story of disgraced poet Ted Wallace (Roger Allam), who is summoned to Swafford Hall, the country manor of his friends Lord and Lady Logan (Matthew Modine and Fiona Shaw), to investigate a series of unexplained miracle healings. Ted tracks down the perpetrator of the phenomena, fifteen-year-old David Logan (Tommy Knight), whose parents believe he has healing hands. Unaware that David is using some unorthodox methods, the Logans are set on sharing their son’s gift with the world. With a poet’s passion for the truth, Ted hurries to debunk the miracles and save a young man from a lifetime of embarrassment. Roger Allam (Lady in the Van, Endeavour) leads an all-star cast including Matthew Modine (Stranger Things, Full Metal Jacket), Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter), Emily Berrington (The White Queen, The Inbetweeners 2), Tim McInnerny (Notting Hill, Game of Thrones), Geraldine Sommerville (Harry Potter, My Week with Marilyn) and Tommy Knight (Victoria). 2 CAST BIOGRAPHIES ROGER ALLAM stars as the disgruntled, cantankerous semi-famous poet Ted Wallace in the adaptation of Stephen Fry’s novel The Hippopotamus. In Roger’s illustrious career, he has starred in some of Britain’s best loved and most internationally recognized comedies. His comedic screen credits include his roles as Peter Mannion MP in The Thick of It (2007), Nicholas Hardiment in Tamara Drewe (2010), Thaddeus in The Angels’ Share (2012), and Rufus in The Lady in the Van (2015). Roger also played Douglas Richardson in the radio series Cabin Pressure (2008). His other screen credits include the roles of Lewis Prothero in V for Vendetta (2006), Robin Janvrin in The Queen (2006), Royalton in Speed Racer (2008) and Gordon Reece in The Iron Lady (2011). Roger is a three time Olivier Award winner; in 2002 he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in Privates on Parade and in 2011 he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Sir John Falstaff in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. In 2000 Roger won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Henry Graves in the play Money. Roger was particularly beloved as Inspector Javert in the original London production of Les Misérables (1985). In 2012 Roger became a part of the infamous British television series Endeavour, from seasons 1-4, playing the part of Detective Inspector Fred Thursday. 3 MATTHEW MODINE plays the role of the stupendously rich and gregarious Lord Michael Logan in the adaptation of Stephen Fry’s novel The Hippopotamus. Modine has been referred to as “one of the best, most adaptable film actors of his generation” by legendary New York Times film critic Vincent Canby. He has worked with many of the film industry’s most acclaimed directors, including Oliver Stone, Sir Alan Parker, Stanley Kubrick, Robert Altman, Alan J. Pakula, John Schlesinger, Tony Richardson, Robert Falls, Sir Peter Hall, Abel Ferrara, Spike Lee, Tom DiCillo, Mike Figgis, Jonathan Demme and John Sayles. Currently, Modine co-stars in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things (2016). Later this year, he will co-star with Mandy Moore and Claire Holt in the thriller 47 Meters Down. Earlier this year, Modine co-starred in the film The Confirmation alongside Maria Bello and Clive Owen. He also directed the short- film Super Sex (2016), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and continues to play at festivals across the country. In 2015, Modine co-starred with Jennifer Beals in the critically acclaimed TNT drama Proof. Throughout his career, Modine has been nominated for three Golden Globes and is the recipient of one (Altman’s Short Cuts). He is well remembered for the title character in Alan Parker’s Birdy (1984), which won the Cannes Film Festival’s Gran Prix Award, and for his iconic role as Private Joker in Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket (1987). His work in Alan Rudolph’s Equinox (1992) helped earn the film four Independent Spirit Award nominations, including Best Film and Best Actor. He is the recipient of a Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup and a Golden Lion Award. More recently, Matthew costarred in Christopher Nolan’s Batman epic Dark Knight Rises (2012). Modine has directed several distinguished short films including I Think I Thought (2008), Cowboy (2008), and To Kill an American (2008). Three of his short films, When I Was a Boy (1993), Smoking (1994), and Ecce Pirate (1997) debuted at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. 4 FIONA SHAW plays doting mother and Lady of the Manor, Anne Logan, in the adaptation of Stephen Fry’s novel The Hippopotamus. As she said herself; this is the first time that she has been presented with such a nice character to play. Fiona is an Irish actress whose work has spanned across acting and directing for film, television and theater. Fiona is most well known for her dramatic performances as Dr. Eileen Cole in My Left Foot (1989), Ramona Linscott in The Black Dahlia (2006) and Petunia Dursley in five of the Harry Potter films (2001-2011). Some of her theatrical roles include: Young Woman in Machinal (1993), for which she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress, and Winnie in Happy Days (2007), for which she was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play and the Olivier Award for Best Actress. Her title theater roles include her appearances in Electra (1988), and Medea (2000), for which she was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. Her television acting career is most notably exhibited by her featured role in the HBO series True Blood (2008). EMILY BERRINGTON plays Jane Swann in The Hippopotamus; a brittle beauty whose intervention acts as the catalyst in the film. Emily’s acting career was preceded by an interest in politics. She then went on to win a place to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2009 and has not turned back. Emily’s film career was rooted with her performance as Clare in The Look of Love (2013). She then went on to play Allie in the Last Showing (2014). In the same year she landed her first leading film role as Kate in The Inbetweeners 2. She is best known for her performances as Jane Shore in the period drama The White Queen (2013), Stacey in the BBC sitcom Outnumbered (2014), Simone Al-Harazi in the thriller series 24: Live Another Day (2014), Niska in the Channel 4 and AMC TV series Humans (2015) and Margaret Kemble Gage in the TV miniseries Sons of Liberty (2014). 5 TIM MCINNERNY plays the flamboyant theater director Oliver Mills in the adaptation of Stephen Fry’s novel The Hippopotamus. Tim is an English actor who is well known for his many roles across film, television and theater. He is best known for his performance as Dustin Target in Eddie the Eagle; Dexter Fletcher’s 2016 biographical sports comedy drama. Tim’s earlier film roles include John Morgan in Wetherby (1985), Alonzo in 101 Dalmations (1996) and Max in Notting Hill (1999), where he played alongside Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. His work in theater includes being cast alongside Anthony Hopkins in the satirical play Pravda (1985). Other performances include Dr. Frank-NFurter in the 1990 West End production of The Rocky Horror Show, and Lago in Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe in London (2007). He is famously known for his performances as Lord Percy Percy and Captain Darling in the Blackadder television series (1983-1999). He was a part of all four of the seasons playing alongside the likes of Stephen Fry and Rowan Atkinson in the fourth. Most recently Tim has joined the cast of the HBO series Game of Thrones as Lord Robett Glover (2016). GERALDINE SOMERVILLE plays Jane Swann’s sharp-tongued mother – and our hero’s nemesis and former flame – Rebecca Logan, in the adaptation of Stephen Fry’s novel The Hippopotamus. Geraldine is an Irish-born actress whose career was kicked off with her performance as Detective Sergeant Jane Penhaligon in Cracker (1993-95), for which she was nominated for the 1995 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress. Her film appearances include her roles as Lady Stockbridge in Gosford Park (2001) which went on to win multiple awards, Lady Jane Clark in my Week with Marilyn (2011), and Princess Antoinette of Monaco in Grace of Monaco (2014). In addition to this she is also well-known for playing Lily Potter in the Harry Potter film series (2001-2011). Geraldine’s theatre performances were most notable as Henriette d’Angleterre in Power (2003) at the National Theatre and Mary in Serenading Louis (2010) at the Donmar Theatre. In May 2007 she played the author Daphne du Maurier in the BBC drama Daphne. Other television roles include a leading role as Louisa, Countess of Manton in the 2012 ITV mini-series Titanic. In 2014 she played Sarah Griffin in the BBC One mini- series Quirke. 6 TOMMY KNIGHT stars as David Logan – the sparkly eyed, strikingly beautiful, yet woefully misguided teenager – in a breakthrough performance in the adaptation of Stephen Fry’s novel The Hippopotamus.