Comedy drama starring Ned Beatty and Adrian Dunbar. Micky O'Neill's job as manager of a Liverpool nightclub is on the line because of falling attendances. To save his skin, he announces that the famous Irish tenor Josef Locke who vanished decades earlier for tax reasons will be coming out of retirement to perform at the club. But has Micky booked the real Josef Locke?
Just when you think they don't make 'em like that any more, debutant director Peter Chelsom comes along and proves that they most certainly do. This is a delicious confection, with just the right amounts of "Oirish" whimsy, scouse nous, bittersweet romance and broad comedy. Adrian Dunbar is the personification of impudent charm as the club owner seeking the tax-exiled tenor Josef Locke (played with gruff amiability by Ned Beatty). The Irish sequences get the nod over those set in Liverpool, but how could a run-in with a mystery singer hope to compete with a runaway cow? This is a treat.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Josef Locke | Ned Beatty |
| Micky O'Neill | Adrian Dunbar |
| Cathleen Doyle | Shirley Anne Field |
| Nancy Doyle | Tara FitzGerald |
| Mr X | William Hootkins |
| Benny Rose | Harold Berens |
| Jim Abbott | David McCallum (1) |
| Derek | John Dair |
| Gordon | Stephen Marcus |
| Kitty Ryan | Britta Smith |
| Grandma Ryan | Gladys Sheehan |
| Brenda Ryan | Gina Moxley |
| Norman Vaughan | Norman Vaughan |
| Fintan O'Donnell | James Nesbitt |
| Young Micky O'Neill | Brian Flanagan |
| Nurse | Constance Cowley |
| Mickey's mum | Marie Mullen |
| Ronnie Lavelle | Phil Kelly |
| Ronnie's mum | Jean Blanchflower |
| Oscar Harrison | John Neville Rufus Altman |
| Franc Cinatra | Joe Cuddy |
| Grandson Ryan | Ruaidhri Conroy |
| Barry Haden | Bill Maynard |
| Compère | Aiden Grennell |
| Young Cathleen | Donna McReady |
| Young Jo | Terry Mulligan |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Peter Chelsom |
