''Tube Tales'' is a 1999 British

anthology film An anthology film (also known as an omnibus film, package film, or portmanteau film) is a single film consisting of several shorter films, each complete in itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme ...

of nine short films based on the true-life experiencesThe person who submitted the details of the experience to Time Out magazine being credited as 'Originator'. of

London Underground The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or by its nickname the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent ceremonial counties of England, counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and He ...

passengers as submitted to Time Out magazine. The stories were scripted and filmed independently of each other. Filming took place on the London Underground network in 1999 by nine directors including Stephen Hopkins,

Charles McDougall Charles McDougall is a Great Britain, British Emmy Award and BAFTA-winning television director, director. Biography McDougall has directed for popular television series which include the pilot episode of American Broadcasting Company, ABC's ''De ...

and

Bob Hoskins Robert William Hoskins (26 October 1942 – 29 April 2014) was an English actor. His work included lead roles in films and television series such as '' Pennies from Heaven'' (1978), ''The Long Good Friday'' (1980), ''Mona Lisa'' (1986), ''Who ...

, with directorial debuts by

Ewan McGregor Ewan Gordon McGregor ( ; born 31 March 1971) is a Scottish actor. His accolades include a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the BAFTA Britannia Humanitarian Award. In 2013, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British ...

and

Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He received a British Academy Film Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, two Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. In 2007, he received an Honorary Césa ...

. The film was produced by Richard Jobson and is also

Simon Pegg Simon John Pegg (né Beckingham; born 14 February 1970) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He came to prominence in the UK as the co-creator of the Channel 4 sitcom ''Spaced'' (1999–2001), directed by Edgar Wright. H ...

's film debut, in a small role.

The films

In order of screening:

''Mr Cool''

Director:

Amy Jenkins Amy Jenkins (born 1966, in London) is an English novelist and screenwriter. She is the daughter of political journalist Peter Jenkins and the stepdaughter of ''The Guardian'' columnist and author Polly Toynbee. In 2004 she married Jonathan Heaw ...

Writer: Amy Jenkins
Originator: Sue Smallwood
Starring:

Jason Flemyng Jason Iain Flemyng''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com (born 25 September 1966) is an English actor. He is known for roles in British films such as ''Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' (1998) ...

Dexter Fletcher Dexter Fletcher (born 31 January 1966) is an English film director and actor. He has appeared in Guy Ritchie's ''Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'', as well as in television shows such as the comedy drama '' Hotel Babylon'' and the HBO series ...

and

Kelly Macdonald Kelly Macdonald (born 23 February 1976) is a Scottish actress. She is known for her roles in ''Trainspotting'' (1996), ''Gosford Park'' (2001), ''Intermission'' (2003), ''Nanny McPhee'' (2005), ''No Country for Old Men'' (2007), ''Boardwalk Em ...

Synopsis: After failing to impress his dream girl, Mr Cool suffers the embarrassment of becoming trapped on a train to nowhere.
Cast: (in alphabetical order) Jason Flemyng (Luke); Dexter Fletcher (Joe); Kelly Macdonald (Emma).

''Horny''

Director: Stephen Hopkins
Writer: Stephen Hopkins
Originator: Alex Piro
Starring: Denise van Outen and Tom Bell
Synopsis: A young woman flirts with a businessman somewhere under Liverpool Street.
Cast: (in alphabetical order) Denise van Outen (Alex); Liz Smith (Old Lady); Tom Bell (Old Gent); Leah Fitzgerald (Little Girl).

''Grasshopper''

Director:

Menhaj Huda Menhaj Huda (born 20 March 1967) is a Bangladesh-born United Kingdom, British Film director, film and television director and Film producer, producer best known for the film ''Kidulthood''. Career Huda's first directing job was the 1993 televisio ...

Writer: Harsha Patel
Originator: Gary Dellaway
Starring:Dele Johnson, Ray Panthaki and Stephen Da Costa
Synopsis: Two inspectors close in on a suspected fare dodger, only to discover their target is not quite what he seemed, in a bizarre case of mistaken identity.
Cast: (in alphabetical order) Stephen Da Costa (Mr X);

Alicya Eyo Alicya Eyo (born 16 December 1975) is an English actress, best known for her roles as Denny Blood in the ITV prison drama series '' Bad Girls'' and Ruby Haswell in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. Early life Eyo was born on 16 December 1975 in ...

(Shantel);

Roger Griffiths Roger Griffiths (born 6 February 1965) is an English actor who has had several roles in television. He first rose to prominence opposite Lenny Henry as Gareth Blackstock's foil Everton Stonehead in BBC One 1990s sitcom ''Chef!''. Before starri ...

(Charlie); Dele Johnson (Stevie); Preeya Kalidas (Reena); Peter McNamara (Roy); Mazhar Munir (Mazaar); Raiyo Panthaki (Mo); Ashish Raja (Bulla); Marcia Rose (Miss Clinique); Jake Wood (James).

''My Father the Liar''

Director:

Writer: Paul Fraser
Originator: Christine Barry
Starring:

Ray Winstone Raymond Andrew Winstone (; born 19 February 1957) is an English television, stage and film actor with a career spanning five decades. Having worked with many prominent directors, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, Winstone is perha ...

and Tom Watson
Synopsis: A young boy and his father witness an incident that causes the father to lie to his son.
Cast: (in alphabetical order)

Edna Doré Edna Lillian Doré (née Gorring; 31 May 1921 – 11 April 2014) was a British actress. She was known for her bit-part roles in sitcoms and for playing the character of Mo Butcher in '' EastEnders'' from 1988 to 1990. Career Doré began her c ...

(Bag Lady);

Frank Harper Frank Harper (born 12 December 1962) is an English actor and film producer. He is best known for his "hard man" roles, such as Billy Bright in '' The Football Factory'' (2004) and Dog in ''Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' (1998). Career F ...

(Ticket Inspector); William Hoyland (Suicide Victim); Richard Jobson (Vendor); Tom Watson (The Son); Ray Winstone (The Father).

''Bone''

Director:

Writer:

Mark Greig William Mark Greig (born January 25, 1970) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers ...

Originator: Sam Taggart
Starring: Nicholas Tennant and Kay Curram
Synopsis: A musician invents a fantasy world surrounding the owner of a lost travel card displayed in the window of the ticket office.
Cast: (in alphabetical order) Corrinne Charton (Pot Plant Lady); Kay Curram (Louise); Joe Duttine (Flamboyant Soloist); Douglas L. Mellor (Concert Hall Manager); Nicholas Tennant (Gordon).

''Mouth''

Director:

Armando Iannucci Armando Giovanni Iannucci (; born 28 November 1963) is a Scottish satirist, writer, director, producer, performer, and panellist. Born in Glasgow to Italian parents, Iannucci studied at the University of Glasgow followed by the University of ...

Writer: Armando Iannucci
Originator: Peter Hart
Starring:

Daniela Nardini Daniela Nardini (born 26 April 1968, Largs) is a Scottish actress who played Anna Forbes in the BBC Two television series ''This Life''. The role earned her a BAFTA Best Actress award in 1998 and also earned her a Scottish BAFTA. She won a sec ...

Synopsis: A crowded compartment's attentions are drawn to an attractive well-groomed woman, but she doesn't quite live up to their individual expectations.
Cast: (in alphabetical order) Buster Bevis (Father); Helen Coker (Bride To Be);

Mark Frost Mark Frost (born November 25, 1953) is an American novelist, screenwriter, film-and-television producer and director. He is the co-creator of the mystery television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991; 2017) and was a writer and executive story ...

(Dude); Sky Glover (Girlfriend);

Simon Greenall Simon James Greenall (born 3 January 1958) is an English actor, producer, writer and voice artist. He has portrayed Michael in the BBC television series '' I'm Alan Partridge'', as well as in '' Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa,'' the Caretaker in ...

(Business Man);

Dominic Holland Dominic Anthony Holland (born 6 May 1967) is an English comedian, author, actor and broadcaster. He won the 1993 Perrier Best Newcomer Award in Edinburgh. His BBC Radio 4 series, ''The Small World of Dominic Holland'' (a reference to his 5'6" h ...

(Cello Player); Daniela Nardini (Heroine);

Matthew Xia Matthew Xia (born 1982) is a British theatre director, DJ (under the name DJ Excalibah), composer, broadcaster and journalist. Early life Xia was born to a Scottish and English mother and Jamaican father in Waltham Forest, London, and was ra ...

(Boyfriend).

''A Bird in the Hand''

Director:

Writer: Ed Allen
Originator: Jim Sillavan
Starring: Alan Miller
Synopsis: When a trapped bird stuns itself on a window, a couple of passengers debate the bird's fate before an elderly man liberates it above ground.
Cast: (in alphabetical order) Ed Allen (Youth 2);

(Station Guard); Morgan Jones (Youth 1); Alan Miller (Old Man);

Cleo Sylvestre Cleopatra Mary Palmer (née Sylvestre; born 19 April 1945), known professionally as Cleo Sylvestre, is an English actress in film, stage and television. She was the first black woman ever to play a leading role at the National Theatre in Lond ...

(Woman).

''Rosebud''

Director:

Gaby Dellal Gaby Dellal (born 1961) is a British actress, film director and writer. She was born in London. Career In 2015, Dellal directed '' 3 Generations'', a movie about a transgender teen boy played by Elle Fanning whose decision to start hormone t ...

Writers: Gaby Dellal and Atalanta Goulandris
Originator: Tracey Finch
Starring:

Rachel Weisz Rachel Hannah Weisz (; born 7 March 1970 ) is an English actress. She is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Rachel Weisz, various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, and a BAFTA Award. We ...

Synopsis: A mother is separated from her daughter and experiences agonising panic as she searches for her, whilst the child discovers a surreal wonderland.
Cast: (in alphabetical order) Joao Costa Menezes (?);

Doña Croll Doña Croll (born 29 August 1953) is a Jamaican-born British actress. She is best known for her roles in British television soap opera playing Pearl McHugh in Channel 5's ''Family Affairs'', Vera Corrigan in the BBC Vera Corrigan ''Doctors'', a ...

(Elizabeth);

Leonie Elliott Leonie Samantha Elliott is an English actress, best known for her role as Lucille Anderson in the BBC series ''Call the Midwife''. She also starred as Cherry Patterson in the Lenny Henry comedy-drama '' Danny and the Human Zoo''. Early life Ell ...

(Rosebud); Danny Cerqueira (Station Guard);

(Station Guard);

Ian Puleston-Davies Ian Puleston-Davies (born 6 September 1958) is a Welsh actor and writer. He is best known for his role as builder Owen Armstrong in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 2010 to 2015. In November 2014, ITV announced that Puleston-Davi ...

(Typewriter Man); Rachel Weisz (Angela).

''Steal Away''

Director:

Writer: Nick Perry
Originator: TJ Austin
Starring:

Hans Matheson Hans Matheson (born 7 August 1975) is a Scottish actor and musician. In a wide-ranging film and television career he has taken lead roles in diverse films such as '' Doctor Zhivago'', '' Sherlock Holmes'', '' The Tudors'', '' Tess of the d'Urb ...

and

Carmen Ejogo Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo (; born 22 October 1973)

Synopsis: Two young opportunists steal a briefcase, which turns out to contain wads of money. Their victim shoots at them, but they seem to escape unscathed onto an unused platform where they board a mysterious train. A preacher reads from the bible and a young boy washes passengers' feet. Leaving the train the couple leave the money with a tramp before heading to the exit where only one of their tickets is valid.
Cast: (in alphabetical order)

Tim Barlow Michael John Leigh Barlow (born 18 January 1936), whose stage name is Tim Barlow or sometimes Timothy Barlow, is an English actor who has performed many small roles in a variety of films, television programmes and plays. Barlow left the army i ...

(Elderly Drunk);

Darren Carr Darren Carr (born 4 September 1968) is an English retired football defender. In the 1996–97 season, he was part of Chesterfield's historic run to the FA Cup semi final, coming on as a substitute in both the semi-final and semi final replay a ...

(Black Boy); Jim Carter (Ticket Inspector);

Emma Cunniffe Emma Cunniffe (born 3 July 1973) is an English film, stage and television actress. Early life Cunniffe was raised in Frodsham, Cheshire and attended Frodsham High School. She was in the local Frodsham panto group whilst growing up and was onc ...

(Drained Young Woman); Clint Dyer (Walkman Boy); Jello Edwards (Middle Aged Woman);

Annette Ekblom Annette Kate Ekblom (born 1956)''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916-2005.''; at ancestry.com is an English actress. She is the mother of actress Amelia Warner. She starred as Linda in Willy Russell's musical ''Blood Brot ...

(Boy's Mum); Carmen Ejogo (Girl); Simon Kunz (White Pinstripe Suit Man); Hans Matheson (Michael);

(Clerk);

Sean Pertwee Sean Carl Roland Pertwee''England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007'' (born 4 June 1964) is an English actor, narrator and producer with an extensive career since the 1980s in television and cinema productions. He is known ...

(Driver);

Lee Ross Lee David Ross (August 25, 1942 – May 14, 2021) was a Canadian-American professor. He held the title of the Stanford Federal Credit Union Professor of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University and was an influential social psychologist wh ...

(Male Reveller);

Don Warrington Don Warrington MBE (born Donald Williams, 23 May 1951) is a Trinidadian-born British actor. He is best known for playing Philip Smith in the ITV sitcom ''Rising Damp'' (1974–78), and Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in the BBC detective series ...

(Preacher).

References and notes

External links

Tube Tales Official Site
* * {{Stephen Hopkins 1999 films 1999 drama films British anthology films British drama films Films directed by Gaby Dellal Films directed by Stephen Hopkins Films directed by Bob Hoskins Films directed by Jude Law Works set on the London Underground Works about underground railways Films directed by Armando Iannucci Films with screenplays by Armando Iannucci 1999 directorial debut films Films directed by Menhaj Huda 1990s English-language films 1990s British films