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Jackboots on Whitehall

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Jackboots on Whitehall
Image
UK theatrical release poster
Directed byThe McHenry Brothers
Written byThe McHenry Brothers
Story byThe McHenry Brothers
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMichael Connor
Edited byChris Blunden
Music byGuy Michelmore
Production
companies
  • Vertigo Films
  • Matador Pictures
  • Entertainment Motion Pictures (E-MOTION)
  • McHenry Pictures
Distributed byVertigo Films
Release dates
  • 20 June 2010 (2010-06-20) (EIFF)
  • 8 October 2010 (2010-10-08)
Running time
91 minutes[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6 million
Box office$20,776[2]

Jackboots on Whitehall (a.k.a. Nazi Invasion: Team Europe) is a 2010 British adult animated/puppet satirical action comedy film set in an alternative history Second World War, in which Nazi Germany has seized London. The British must band together at Hadrian's Wall if they are to thwart the German invasion.[3] Conceived by Edward and Rory McHenry, it is the first of its kind to feature animatronic puppets and the voices of well-known British actors including Ewan McGregor, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Timothy Spall, Richard O'Brien and Richard Griffiths.[4] The film was executive produced by Frank Mannion.[5]

The film premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on 20 June 2010 and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 8 October 2010 by Vertigo Films.[6] It received mixed reviews from critics. The cast, set design and voice acting received praised but The Guardian described the film as "desperately weak in terms of script".[7]

Plot

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In 1940, Nazi Germany invades Great Britain by drilling under the English Channel and up through the cobblestones on Whitehall, London. From his bunker under Downing Street, 200 yards (180 m) away, Prime Minister Winston Churchill issues a call to arms for all of Britain to band together to resist the invaders. In a small village, Chris, a young everyman, rallies the residents to fight back. Joining forces with Churchill's small group of soldiers, the resistance movement retreats to Hadrian's Wall, where the unlikely saviours of the country come from the Scottish Highlands.

Cast

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As appearing in Jackboots on Whitehall, (main speaking roles and screen credits identified):[8]

In using real-life characters to embody a more accurate portrayal, some characters are easily recognizable.[9] While Battle of Britain hero and American pilot Billy Fiske appears, he embodies the characteristics of screen legend Clark Gable.[citation needed] Spall had previously portrayed Churchill in The King's Speech (2010).

Production

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Image
Image
The characters were sculpted accurately to portray real historical figures and the models of military equipment and weapons were likewise realistic.

Writer-directors Edward and Rory McHenry created several supermarionation puppets that featured accurately rendered period uniforms, architecture and military equipment.[7]

Theatrical release and premiere

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Jackboots on Whitehall was released in cinemas on 8 October 2010 in the United Kingdom by Vertigo Films and premiered on 20 June 2010 at the EIFF.

Critical reception

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Image
Richard E. Grant was praised for his performance.[10]

Robbie Collin, of the News of the World, gave the film 4 stars summarising it as "Stupid, throwaway nonsense – and that's the whole idea".[11]Total Film magazine also gave the film 4 stars stating "Jackboots wittily merges war flick iconography, Inglorious revisionism and Team America silliness to create a hilarious, endearing one-off".[12]

The Guardian praised the "impressive all-star vocal cast" in Jackboots on Whitehall, and called it a "labour of love" by its writer-directors, but concluded it was "amiably intentioned but desperately weak in terms of script" comparing it unfavourably with Wallace and Gromit and Team America: World Police.[7] Other reviews were of a similar nature;[13] the review in The Telegraph characterized the film as "an enterprising comedy but ultimately a boorish overkill."[14]

Box office

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The film grossed $20,776[2] worldwide.

Home media

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Jackboots on Whitehall was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 26 July 2011 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Awards

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List of awards and nominations
Award Category Nominee
British Independent Film Awards 2010 Raindance Award[15]Nominated

Soundtrack

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Jackboots on Whitehall
Soundtrack album by
Guy Michelmore
Released10 August 2010
Recorded2010
GenreFilm score
Length64:45
LabelMovieScore Media
ProducerMikael Carlsson

All music was composed by Guy Michelmore.

  • Battle Of Britain
  • Harvest And Village
  • Nazi Airship Attack
  • Punjabi's Last Stand
  • Light The Beacons
  • Last Of The Few
  • Retreat To Scotland
  • Battle Of Downing Street
  • Chris To The Rescue
  • Freedom
  • Nazis In London
  • Travelling North
  • Punjabi's Escape From London
  • Hadrian's Wall
  • Aurora Borealis
  • Where Is Herr Churchill?
  • The Morning After
  • A Highland Morning
  • Chris' Mission
  • Facing The Enemy
  • Jerusalem - Performed by Rosamund Pike, Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Merchant, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Pam Ferris and Cast
  • Defending The Wall
  • The Battle
  • Facing Defeat
  • Scottish Attack
  • You're A Scotsman
  • The Fallen
  • Rule Britannia
  • Scots Revenge
  • Whitehall March
  • Scotland The Brave
  • Jackboots Demo

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Jackboots on Whitehall (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 27 September 2010. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 "'Jackboots on Whitehall'." Box Office Mojo. Retrieved: 29 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Chapman, Matt (21 February 2011). "Jackboots On Whitehall review". Total Film. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Puppet love for Jackboots On Whitehall". Total Film. 8 December 2006. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Jackboots On Whitehall Set Visit". Screenrush.com. 14 August 2009. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Vertigo Films production notes
  7. 1 2 3 Bradshaw, Peter (7 October 2010). "Jackboots on Whitehall - review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Jackboots-On-Whitehall - Cast, Crew, Director and Awards". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Etier, Bob (31 August 2011). "Barbie vs. Hitler: Jackboots on Whitehall (2010)". Technorati. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  10. ↑ Bennett, Ray (20 June 2010). "Jackboots on Whitehall -- Film Review". Hollywood Reporter. with Grant a standout as the foul-mouthed vicar.
  11. ↑ Collin, Robbie. "Jackboots On Whitehall (12A)." News of the World, 3 October 2010.
  12. ↑ Smith, Neil (11 October 2010). "Jackboots On Whitehall review". Total Film. Archived from the original on 14 October 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  13. ↑ Gant, Charles (24 June 2010). "Review: 'Jackboots on Whitehall'". Variety. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  14. ↑ Tim, Robey (7 October 2010). "Jackboots on Whitehall, review By Tim". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Jackboots on Whitehall · BIFA · British Independent Film Awards". BIFA · British Independent Film Awards. 11 October 2010. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
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