- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: 'FEVER PITCH' PREMIERES IN LONDON
- Date: 26th March 1997
- Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 26, 1997) (RTV - AVAILABLE ALL) (NIGHT SCENES) EXTERIOR EMPIRE CINEMA SIGN FOR FEVER PITCH ON SYNTHETIC GRASS AUTHOR AND SCREENPLAY WRITER NICK HORNBY (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) SAYING THE FILM COVERS ONE PARTICULAR SEASON AT THE END OF THE EIGHTIES WHEN ARSENAL WON THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP IN A VERY DRAMATIC FASHION, AND THAT'S PLAYED OUT AGAINST A MALE-FEMALE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAD ARSENAL FAN AND A WOMAN WHO REALLY ISN'T VERY SYMPATHETIC AT ALL. ANY FOOTBALL FAN WHO CARES A LOT ABOUT A TEAM IS GOING TO HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY RUB PEOPLE UP THE WRONG WAY, WHO ARE NOT SYMPATHETIC AND DON'T UNDERSTAND BRITISH ACTORS NEIL MORRISSEY AND MARTIN CLUNES ARRIVING AT PREMIERE FOOTBALLER JOHN FASHANU (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) SAYING THAT FOOTBALL IS ALWAYS A SEXY GAME, EVERYBODY LIKES FOOTBALL, THE WOMEN FOR THEIR REASONS THE MEN FOR THEIRS, PUTTING IT ON THE BIG SCREEN IS FANTASTIC FOOTBALLERS MICKY THOMAS LEFT, AND DAVID ROCASTLE ARRIVING AT CINEMA
- Embargoed: 10th April 1997 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA9T8CCW3YIWU0304MA2S3J11GP
- Story Text: Some of Britain's top footballers rubbed shoulders with the world of cinema on Wednesday (March 26) night at the premiere of "Fever Pitch", a film about soccer obsession and love.
Adapted from the book of the same name by Nick Hornby, "Fever Pitch" is a romantic comedy about a man, a woman and a football team - London's Arsenal.
The film is set against the backdrop of the 1988-1989 season, Arsenal's most successful for eighteen years, which culminated in winning the English League Championship. As the team progresses, obsessive fan Paul Ashworth (played by Colin Firth) tries to concentrate on his courtship with Sarah Hughes (Ruth Gemmell).
They meet at the school where they both work and find themselves in the midst of a stormy relationship, as Sarah competes with Arsenal for Paul's affections.
But whilst the team battles its way to the top of the League, Paul starts to question his own obsession and Sarah begins to understand what Paul sees in the game.
The film also features performances from Ken Stott (Shallow Grave), the British television actor Neil Pearson (Drop the Dead Donkey) and child actor Luke Aikman, who plays the young Paul.
Although Aikman is a keen soccer fan, his loyalties lie with a rival London team to Arsenal - Watford. Since making the film, both Firth and Gemmell have grown to enjoy the game more. But it is Hornby who most resembles the main character in the film.
"If there there was a Betty Ford clinic for football supporters," said Pearson, "he'd be in it all his life".
"Fever Pitch" is a feature debut for director David Evans, whose previous credits include two award-winning short films for British television.
"Fever Pitch" will go on general release in the United Kingdom on April 4. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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