''Soft Top Hard Shoulder'' is a 1992 British

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by Stefan Schwartz, produced by Richard Holmes, written by and starring

Peter Capaldi Peter Dougan Capaldi (; born 14 April 1958) is a Scottish actor, director, writer and musician. He portrayed the Twelfth Doctor, twelfth incarnation of The Doctor (Doctor Who), the Doctor in ''Doctor Who'' (2013–2017) and Malcolm Tucker in ' ...

and also starring Elaine Collins (Capaldi's future wife),

Frances Barber Frances Barber (née Brookes, born 13 May 1958) is an English actress. She received Olivier Award nominations for her work in the plays '' Camille'' (1985), and ''Uncle Vanya'' (1997). Her film appearances include three collaborations with Gar ...

Jeremy Northam Jeremy Philip Northam (born 1 December 1961) is an English actor and singer. After a number of television roles, he earned attention as Mr. Knightley in the 1996 film adaptation of Jane Austen's '' Emma''. He has appeared in the films ''An Idea ...

Phyllis Logan Phyllis Logan (born 11 January 1956) is a Scottish actress, known for playing Lady Jane Felsham in ''Lovejoy'' (1986–1993) and Mrs Hughes (later Carson) in ''Downton Abbey'' (2010–2015). She won the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer f ...

and Richard Wilson.

Plot

Gavin Bellini is a Glaswegian artist who left home to live in London seeking his fortune as a children's illustrator. Seven years later, he has not found the success he desired, but lives on the brink of starvation with a friend who is too kind to insist on the rent being paid. As his fortunes have declined, Gavin has been avoiding phone calls from his family back home in Glasgow. Gavin's family were ice-cream makers who had a factory in Glasgow and have recently sold it as Gavin's father is in poor health. By chance, his Uncle Salvatore - the head of the Bellini family - is down in London for the Ice Cream awards, and happens across Gavin in an Italian restaurant. He sits Gavin down to talk to him about his absence and gives him the ultimatum that he needs to be in Glasgow in 2 days time at 7:30pm sharp for his father's 60th birthday party. Gavin is reluctant, but Salvatore lets him know that the recent sale of the ice-cream factory has netted a profit which is to be shared amongst the children of the family - and if Gavin fails to show up, he will not receive his share of the profits. Salvatore gives him £30 to cover the petrol. Emboldened by the prospect of some much-needed cash, Gavin decides to drive up to Glasgow in his 1971

Triumph Herald The Triumph Herald is a small two-door car introduced by Standard-Triumph of Coventry in 1959 and made through to 1971. The body design was by the Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti, and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, ...

, a car given to him by a Country & Western group for doing the graphics for their album. With just the £30 given to him by his uncle, Gavin begins a road trip from London to Glasgow, picking up a mysterious female hitchhiker named Yvonne along the way. They face numerous setbacks — Gavin loses his wallet, the car breaks down, they board the wrong bus, and others — before ultimately reaching their destination. Only there, after being mistaken by the police for a van thief, does Gavin discover that Yvonne has been fleeing her wedding to a man she did not love and realize that he loves her himself, and loves her less-cynical view of life. He brings her to his father's party where he refuses the cash offered by his uncle.

Cast

... Gavin Bellini *

... Miss Trumble * Catherine Russell ... Animal Rights Activist *

... John * Richard Wilson ... Uncle Salvatore * Elaine Collins ... Yvonne *

Peter Ferdinando Peter Ferdinando is a British character actor, known for his varied performances. He has collaborated extensively with director and cousin Gerard Johnson, playing the title role in the critically acclaimed ''Tony'' and the lead role in their m ...

... Homeless Youth * Sophie Hall ... Nancy * Scott Hall ... Mr. Young *

Simon Callow Simon Phillip Hugh Callow (born 15 June 1949) is an English film, television and voice actor, director, narrator and writer. He was twice nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his roles in ''A Room with a View (1985 ...

... Eddie Cherdowski *

... Karla * Robert James ... Campbell *

Andrew Downie Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is frequently shortened to "Andy" or "Drew". The word is derived ...

... Brodie * Ann Scott-Jones ... Mrs. Tutty * Lindy Whiteford ... Peggy *

Bill Gavin Bill Gavin (November 6, 1907 – January 27, 1985) was an American radio personality and publisher of the influential ''Gavin Report''. Life and education Gavin was born in Chetek, Wisconsin in 1907. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Cla ...

... Man in Tiny Car *

Michael Nardone Michael Nardone (born 20 January 1967) is a Scottish actor. He was raised in Ballingry, Fife and trained in Drama at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. He starred as Mascius in the BBC/ HBO/RAI TV series Rome and appeared as DCI Richard ...

... Stevie * Billy McColl ... Kevin the Guru *

Clive Russell Clive Russell (born 7 December 1945) is a Scottish actor. He is known for his roles as Chief Inspector Frederick Abberline in ''Ripper Street'', Angus O'Connor in ''Happiness'' and Brynden Tully in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones''. He also a ...

... Clegg * Jeremy Lee ... Radio Voices *

Kate Harding Kate Harding (born c. 1975) is an American feminist and fat-acceptance writer. She was founding editor of the Shapely Prose blog, author of ''Asking For It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture—and What We Can Do About It,'' co-author of ''Lessons ...

... Radio Voices

Music

The score and title track, " Soft Top, Hard Shoulder", were composed by

Chris Rea Christopher Anton Rea ( ; born 4 March 1951) is an English rock and blues singer and guitarist from Middlesbrough. A "gravel-voiced guitar stalwart" known for his slide guitar playing, Rea has recorded twenty five solo albums, two of which t ...

Reception

The film was a surprise hit, and won two Scottish BAFTAS. Critics noted its similarities to Bill Forsyth films. A re-mastered version was released in December 2013 on Vimeo On Demand.

Awards

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0105437
Capaldiwatching: Soft Top, Hard Shoulder and Strictly Sinatra
*http://vimeo.com/ondemand/softtop 1993 films 1990s road comedy-drama films Films directed by Stefan Schwartz British road comedy-drama films 1992 comedy films 1992 films 1993 comedy films 1992 drama films 1993 drama films 1990s English-language films 1990s British films