20 March 2009, 15:38
The 1984 Glasgow-based movie was Bill Forsyth’s follow-up to Local Hero (1983) and Gregory's Girl (1981), and starred Scotland’s very own Bill Paterson, who is currently appearing in Law & Order: UK.
What’s it all about?
Bill Paterson took the lead role in Comfort and Joy as Radio Clyde DJ Alan “Dicky” Bird, a man who longs for a release from the trivial reality of his daily job and who is distraught when his girlfriend Maddy walks out on him.
Alan tries to rebuild his life, but he keeps passing women who resemble Maddy, notably one serving ice cream in a Mr Bunny van. He follows it, buying an ice cream when it stops. As he's walking back to his car, two men in balaclavas smash up the van. One of them recognises Alan and demands an autograph before driving off. Alan goes back to the van and offers to help, but they're clearly in a hurry to get away. That night, he has a vivid dream about Maddy returning to him...
Poor Alan then tries to develop other interests. But his stint at investigative journalism blows the lid on corruption in the local ice-cream business, and he finds himself at the centre of a full-scale war.
Cast
Bill Paterson - Alan
Clare Grogan - Charlotte
Alex Norton - Trevor
Eleanor David - Maddy
Patrick Malahide - Colin
Rikki Fulton - Hilary
Roberto Bernardi - Mr. McCool
George Rossi - Bruno
Peter Rossi - Paulo
Trivia
Comfort and Joy had a special screening at the Mitchell Theatre for the Glasgow Film Festival 2009 - with Bill Paterson and Clare Grogan in attendance - to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary.
The film only cost around a million pound, being fairly constrained with no big famous cast.
When's it on?
Comfort and Joy is on STV on April 12.
Last updated: 05 June 2009, 16:34
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