BURKE & HARE
Year: 2010
USA: IFC Films
UK: Entertainment Film Distributors
Cast: Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Christopher Lee, Tim Curry, Tom Wilkinson, Isla Fisher, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Merchant, Jenny Agutter, Hugh Bonneville, Bill Bailey, Ronnie Corbett, David Schofield, Allan Corduner, Georgia King, Pollyanna McIntosh, Bill Bailey,
Director: John Landis
Country: UK
USA & UK: 91 mins
USA Rated: Unrated
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong sex and medical gore
USA Release Date: 9 September 2011 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 29 October 2010
Synopsis
An award-winning international cast has joined BURKE & HARE, the new film from legendary director John Landis (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, BLUES BROTHERS, Michael Jackson's THRILLER). According to Landis: "BURKE & HARE is a very black romantic comedy in the classic tradition of the Ealing Studios' KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS and THE LADYKILLERS".
Simon Pegg (SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ, STAR TREK, SPACED) stars as William Burke and recent BAFTA-nominee Andy Serkis (SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL, LORD OF THE RINGS, KING KONG) as William Hare, the notorious Edinburgh murderers. Isla Fisher (WEDDING CRASHERS, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC) takes on the role of Ginny, an ambitious young actress and the object of Burke's affections and Jessica Hynes nee Stevenson (SPACED, SON OF RAMBOW, SHAUN OF THE DEAD) as Hare's long suffering wife Lucky.
BURKE & HARE is a comedic take on the true story of the 1828 Edinburgh body snatchers William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis). These two Irish entrepreneurs discover that a dead body can fetch a hefty price when the demands of the leading medical professors Dr Knox (Tom Wilkinson) and D. Monroe (Tim Curry) reach beyond that of the local supply.
BURKE & HARE is written by Piers Ashworth and Nick Moorcroft (ST TRINIAN'S 1&2). Director of photography is Oscar® Nominee John Mathieson (GLADIATOR), production designer is Simon Elliott (BLEAK HOUSE), costume designer is Oscar® Nominee Deborah Nadoolman (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, TRADING PLACES, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK) and hair & make up design is by Oscar® Winner Christine Blundell (SHERLOCK HOLMES, TOPSY TURVY).
The supporting cast consists of the cream of British acting and comedy talent including: Oscar-nominee Tom Wilkinson (THE FULL MONTY, MICHAEL CLAYTON), Tim Curry (ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW), Ronnie Corbett (EXTRAS), Reece Shearsmith (LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN), David Schofield (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN), Allan Corduner (TOPSY TURVEY), BAFTA Award-winner Bill Bailey (NANNY MCPHEE & THE BIG BANG, BLACK BOOKS), Hugh Bonneville (NOTTING HILL), Michael Smiley (SPACED) and Sir Christopher Lee (LORD OF THE RINGS).
Principal photography commenced on 31 January 2010 around London, Edinburgh and Ealing Studios. The film is produced by Barnaby Thompson (DORIAN GRAY, ST TRINIAN'S 1+2), and the executive producers are Nigel Green, James Spring, Paul Brett and Tim Smith.