BS: Billy Elliott, True story?

Subject: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 12:06 PM

I watched the movie Billy Elliott on the weekend. I was wondring if it's a true story?

Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Grab
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 02:30 PM

No it isn't. It's based loosely on a lad from a North England mining town who did become a ballet dancer, but (a) this guy's family and friends were all very supportive of him becoming a dancer, and (b) he didn't instantly become the lead dancer. Also possibly (c) they weren't as deeply involved in the miners' strikes. So the real deal is that the writer heard about a working-class lad who became a ballet dancer, and thought it'd be a good basis for a fictional story.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 02:50 PM

Thanks Grab, the plot was a little obscure so I thought it may have been from the "Truth is Stranger Than Fiction" category and therefore true.

I enjoyed the movie, although I almost turned it off early on as I had a heck of a time with the accents, and I've watched Coronation Street for years.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 02:53 PM

I loved it. Thanks for letting us know whether it was true or not.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Gary T
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 03:05 PM

We just saw it this week, and really enjoyed it. The final scene, with the adult Billy making his opening leap, would have had me choked up except---it was too brief! I was all set for this great catharsis to well up, and it was over. Still a fine story.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 03:10 PM

Steve, I've just looked the film up and see it is set in County Durham. People from there speak funny - I'm English and I can't understand them half the time!

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Dorrie
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 03:13 PM

I absolutely love 'Billy Elliot' but my best mate sadi it was stupid becuase i was to made up i'll show him haahahaha(evil laugh into the distance. I love love love julie walters...sorry have to tell people that when ever i can

love dorriexxx

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Grab
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 03:32 PM

Corrie is the wrong side of the country and further south - it's set (and filmed) in Manchester which is slightly west of centre and 2/3 of the way north in England. County Durham OTOH is about as far north as you can go and not be in Scotland, and is on the east coast. Hence the different accents.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 03:34 PM

John,

I was in Durham and other parts of Northern England years ago and didn't have much difficulty with the accents. Maybe they were speaking slowly for our benefit.

Dorrie, I assume that Julie Walters was his dance instrutor. I thought she was wonderful.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Ditchdweller
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 03:50 PM

Just for interest, my nephew played one of the policemen in the film. Also, for Grab's information, There is still a bloody big chunk of England between County Durham and Scotland that is called Northumberland.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 05:36 PM

Depends which bit you want to call real. the miner's strike was real enough.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: bill\sables
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 05:48 PM

Jon , What do you mean they speak funny in County Durham. I can understand it very well.
Bill

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Dorrie
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 06:37 PM

Yep your right+she was rita in educating rita one of my favourite plays

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Auxiris
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 03:36 AM

Great film, I agree; it was on the silver screens here in France early this year. I don't know if I would have had any trouble understanding the accents or not, though, as it was the French version. Here in what they call "the province" (anything not in the Parisian region) we don't often get original version films. I, too, was wondering if it was a true story; thanks, Graham.

cheers,

Aux

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Grab
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 02:32 PM

Right Sapper, but there's not much there apart from sheep and forests. ;-) To be more accurate, it's about as far north as you'll find a major centre of population and still be in England.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 03:00 PM

Is Billy Elliott better than Angella's Ashes???

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 10:58 AM

Clinton,

I would say it's a better movie, however I thought that the movie version of Angela's missed the point of the book, which I thought was wonderful.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: GUEST,jayohjo
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 02:55 PM

Hmmm, will risk some wrath here and say I actually didn't think it was that great- relying on the usual north-south stereotypes. Yes it was fun to watch, but much of it I didn't find believable. Sorrreeee!
Jayohjo (Yorkshire, family from Sunderland way)

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:36 PM

I only ask for a comparison, because I know lots of people who loved A'a. Ashes, and recommended it to me and I was absolutely bored to tears...

Life in poverty sucks... Big d'uh!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:43 PM

The book "Angela's Ashes" was excellent and was more about how he didn't let poverty and its circumstances hold him back. I found really inspiring. I have not seen the movie of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:44 PM

To add my twopennorth, having watched Jez Lowe last night- I would just like to say that the County Durham accent makes me go positively weak at the knees!

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Ritchie
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 05:15 AM

Ok grab if it's not a true story how come if you wander around the streets of Gateshead late at night after a night 'on the toon' at either the 'Bigg Market' or on the 'Quayside' you can see hundreds of people, all various shapes and sizes dancing aroond with hardly any clothes on just waiting to be discovered.

Thank goodness the 'Get Carter' phase is now over !

regards ricardo.

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 05:44 AM

I don't think this has anything to do with Billy Elliot but there is a parallel if you listen to Lionel Blair telling of his early life. His (Mr B's) comment that tickled me most was that he went into tap dancing because he would be considered a 'poofter' if he went into ballet!

If I remember rightly he was from from the North of England but I dunno exactlty where.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: Billy Elliot, Where was it filmed.
From: Oldringer
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 01:33 AM

I know one street scene was filmed on Alnwick Street in Easington Colliery, County Durham.
And I think that some of the film was filmed in Gateshead. Is that right?
Was any of the film made in Seaham (Seaham Harbour)?
What other northern England / County Durham coal mining towns were used to make the movie?

Subject: RE: Billy Elliot, Where was it filmed.
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 03:36 AM

Billy Elliot Filming Locations

Subject: RE: Billy Elliot, Where was it filmed.
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 12:37 PM

Billy lived at about 5 Alnwick Street, Easington Colliery, in the movie. All the shots relating to his home were taken in this street. I know because I lived in this street up to age 5. Number one at the bottom left.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 09:32 PM

I guess I'm not on the cusp of cultural enlightenment, because I didn't see this terrific movie until last night. I was fascinated by the Tees Transporter Bridge which was featured in one scene. I thought I was going to have to ask about that bridge, but this thread led me right to it.

I also wondered about the police actions during the coal strikes of the Thatcher age in the 1980s. The police are depicted in the hundreds, beating on their shields aggressively and pursuing strikers in ways that would seem to be illegal in the United States nowadays (but common US practice in the 19th century). Were the police really that aggressive in controlling strikes, or is the movie overstated?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: GUEST,livelylass
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 02:43 AM

Others will answer for Billy Elliot's version of police brutality during the strikes, but here's an example of what else they were getting up to during the same period:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3YtmBD_thM

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Penny S.
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 03:05 AM

I remember watching the news and realising that the police were basing their tactics on medieval battle plans. Shocking. And it continues in other contexts.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Billy Elliott, True story?
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 12:24 PM

The adult Billy at the end of the film is Adam Cooper, who used to be a principal with the Royal Ballet. My daughter was quite chuffed to find herself on the same stage as Adam a few years ago!