‘Harrigan’ star Stephen Tompkinson at Cannes Film Festival

Television favourite Stephen Tompkinson and his partner Elaine Young used a yatch at Cannes Harbour as a stunning backdrop to promote the actor’s first starring role in a movie, the gritty crime thriller Harrigan.
By: TallTree Pictures
 
May 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Television favourite Stephen Tompkinson and his partner Elaine Young used a yatch at Cannes Harbour as a stunning backdrop to promote the actor’s first starring role in a movie, the gritty crime thriller Harrigan.

Stephen took time off from filming ITV series DCI Banks to fly into Cannes to encourage international sales of the British-made movie, which will premiere in the UK in the autumn.

Stephen said: “This is my first time in Cannes and it’s fantastic, very glamorous.  I’m very proud to be here promoting our film. The trailer is great and is getting very positive reactions. We are fine-tuning the edit for the whole film and are extremely pleased with it.  

“Harrigan’s themes are universal. It’s like a western but set in the1970s and the Harrigan character is like a sheriff taking on the bad guys in a bid to clean up the streets.”

Stephen, who returns to the UK next week to continue filming the latest DCI Banks series, says he would like to make more movies. “This is certainly a direction I would like to see my career developing in and Harrigan has been a marvellous role to play.”

The story is based on real-life Tyneside cop Arthur McKenzie who wrote the script. Harrigan follows Arthur’s experiences as he rose through the ranks of vice, beat, CID and Serious Crime Squad before retiring after 31 years as Detective Inspector in charge of the toughest division of Newcastle’s West End.

Arthur enjoyed a second career as an award-winning scriptwriter and Harrigan is his first full-length movie.

Said Stephen: “Arthur is an absolute legend. He’s an incredible character and I’m honoured to try and fill the shoes of an amazing man who was a hard but compassionate policeman during a tremendously difficult period but really respected on the streets.”

The popular actor, whose credits also include Wild at Heart, Drop the Dead Donkey and Ballykissangel, stars in the $2 million TallTree Pictures project as hardened police sergeant Barry Harrigan who returns to his patch after an 18-month secondment in Hong Kong and finds there have been massive changes while he was gone.The character is appalled by the lawlessness on the streets and saddened by the fear among the decent citizens he’s dedicated to protecting.  

Stephen said: “Harrigan sees the place he cares about has gone to rack and ruin and he needs to clean it up. He believes in a physical presence on the streets and he sets about taking on the bullies. Harrigan is a complex character and it is a fantastic role to play. The script is brilliant. The whole team involved in the project are extremely passionate about it and I am thrilled to be part of that.”  

In a twist reminiscent of a movie plot, Arthur’s daughter Kirsty Bell helped raise the $2 million needed to finance the project and make her father’s dream of seeing his name on the credits of a film come true. Stephen added: “There is no way you can emulate Arthur. He is an absolutely fascinating character and a great source of stories about policing at that time. It was wonderful to be able to talk to him and bring the era to life.

“In real life Arthur knew all the villains but he was a deeply professional copper and they respected that. In the movie Barry Harrigan is the same sort of policeman, incredibly hard but really fair. Harrigan is looking out for the underdog minority of the community and they are the people he cares about.”

Harrigan will premiere in London and Newcastle in the autumn.

Kirsty Bell set up TallTree Pictures with fellow entrepreneur Vince Woods who directs the movie. As well as investing in Harrigan themselves, TallTree Pictures raised finance for the film through private investors in the North East including former Newcastle United footballer Robbie Elliott, businessmen and a venture capital fund. The film was shot in and around the North East with cameras rolling at Swan Hunters in Newcastle before moving to other locations in the city, Gateshead and Hartlepool.
Sales agents have been appointed for Harrigan with International rights going to Michael Werner at NonStop Sales and Simon Barnes of STS Media representing the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

TallTree Pictures will be presenting two other movies at the Cannes Film Festival in their role as co-producers. They are the thoughtful comedy ‘If I Were You’ starring Oscar winning actress Marcia Gay Harden and the romantic ‘Sparks and Embers’ with Kris Marshall.

   

About TallTree Pictures:

With offices in London and North East England TallTree Pictures Limited creates and produces high-calibre – including short, feature length or standalone productions – for theatrical, DVD, TV and Internet release. Using its commercial expertise TallTree Pictures produces films with integrity and a long shelf life. Through efficient production, and utilising the very latest digital technology without compromising quality, the company aim to maximise opportunities for a healthy profit for investors. For more information visit: www.talltreepictures.co.uk


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