Angela's Ashes

***Angela's Ashes*** is a 1999 drama film based on the memoir of the same name by Frank McCourt. An international co-production between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, it was co-written and directed by Alan Parker, and stars Emily Watson, Robert Carlyle, Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, and Michael Legge, the latter three playing the Young, Middle and Older Frank McCourt respectively.

## Storyline

### Plot

Based on the best-selling autobiography by Irish expatriate Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty endemic in the slums of pre-war Limerick. The film opens with the family in Brooklyn, but following the death of one of Frankie's siblings, they return home, only to find the situation there even worse. Prejudice against Frankie's Northern Irish father makes his search for employment in the Republic difficult despite his having fought for the I.R.A., and when he does find money, he spends it on drink.

### Motion Picture Rating

* **16** (Argentina)
* **M** (Australia)
* **A** (Denmark)
* **K-10** (Finland)
* **Tous publics** (France)
* **6** (Germany)
* **L** (Iceland)
* **U** (India)
* **12** (Netherlands)
* **M** (New Zealand)
* **14** (Peru)
* **M/12** (Portugal)
* **M18** (Singapore)
* **15** (South Korea)
* **11** (Sweden)
* **12** (Switzerland)
* **15** (UK)
* **R** (USA)

## Images

UK VHS coverUK DVD cover (2000)USA VHS coverUSA DVD cover (2000)UK DVD cover (2007)UK Blu-Ray coverUSA DVD cover (2017)UK DVD cover (2020)
## Cast and Crew

### Writing Credits (WGA)

* Frank McCourt (book)
* Laura Jones (screenplay) and
* Alan Parker (screenplay)

### Cast

* Emily Watson - Angela McCourt
* Robert Carlyle - Malachy McCourt
* Devon Murray - Middle Malachy
* Joe Breen - Young Frank
* Ciaran Owens - Middle Frank
* Michael Legge - Older Frank
* Kerry Condon - Theresa Carmody
* Ronnie Masterson - Grandma Sheehan
* Pauline McLynn - Aunt Aggie
* Liam Carney - Uncle Pa Keating
* Eanna McLiam - Uncle Pat
* Susan Fitzgerald - Sister Rita
* Eamonn Owens - Quasimodo
* Eileen Colgan - Philomena
* Martin Benson - Christian Brother
* Andrew Bennett - Narrator (voice)
* Alan Parker - Dr. Campbell
* Brendan O'Carroll - Man in Pub

### Producers

* David Brown (producer)
* James Flynn (co-producer)
* Kit Golden (associate producer)
* Doochy Moult (associate producer)
* Morgan O'Sullivan (co-producer)
* Alan Parker (producer)
* Scott Rudin (producer)
* Adam Schroeder (executive producer)
* Eric Steel (executive producer)
* David Wimbury (line producer)

## Details

### Countries

* USA
* Ireland

### Release Dates

* December 25, 1999 (USA) (Los Angeles, California)
* December 25, 1999 (USA) (New York City, New York)
* January 14, 2000 (UK)
* January 14, 2000 (Ireland)
* January 14, 2000 (USA) (limited)
* January 21, 2000 (Canada)
* January 21, 2000 (Spain)
* January 21, 2000 (USA)
* January 28, 2000 (Austria)
* February 3, 2000 (Switzerland) (German speaking region)
* February 3, 2000 (Singapore)
* February 4, 2000 (Israel) (premiere)
* February 11, 2000 (Italy)
* February 17, 2000 (Israel)
* February 17, 2000 (Netherlands)
* February 18, 2000 (Switzerland) (Italian speaking region)
* February 24, 2000 (Peru)
* February 25, 2000 (Portugal)
* March 2, 2000 (Germany)
* March 3, 2000 (Panama)
* March 4, 2000 (Hungary) (Irish Film Week)
* March 10, 2000 (Brazil)
* March 10, 2000 (Poland)
* March 17, 2000 (Colombia)
* March 17, 2000 (Finland)
* March 22, 2000 (Belgium)
* March 22, 2000 (Switzerland) (French speaking region)
* March 22, 2000 (France)
* March 23, 2000 (Croatia)
* April 7, 2000 (Sweden)
* April 14, 2000 (Turkey)
* April 20, 2000 (New Zealand)
* April 28, 2000 (Iceland)
* May 18, 2000 (Australia)
* July 8, 2000 (Czech Republic) (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)
* August 3, 2000 (Argentina)
* September 7, 2000 (Czech Republic)
* September 15, 2000 (Denmark)
* October 20, 2000 (Norway) (Bergen International Film Festival)
* October 28, 2000 (Japan) (Tokyo)
* November 10, 2000 (Indonesia) (Jakarta International Film Festival)
* November 11, 2000 (Japan)

### Home Media Release Dates

* July 17, 2000 (UK) (VHS)
* July 17, 2000 (UK) (DVD)
* July 18, 2000 (USA) (VHS)
* July 18, 2000 (USA) (DVD)
* July 23, 2007 (UK) (DVD re-release)
* October 31, 2016 (UK) (Blu-Ray)
* August 1, 2017 (USA) (DVD re-release)
* May 26, 2020 (USA) (Blu-Ray)
* September 21, 2020 (UK) (DVD re-release)

## Reception

### Box office

*Angela's Ashes* grossed $13,042,112 worldwide on a $25 million budget.

### Critical response

The film has a 7.3 rating on IMDb and a 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

## Company Credits

### Production Companies

* Paramount Pictures
* Universal Pictures
* Scott Rudin Productions
* David Brown Productions
* Dirty Hands Productions

### Distributors

* Paramount Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
* Universal Pictures (2000) (Non-US) (theatrical)
* United International Pictures (2000) (Non-US) (theatrical)
* Universal Studios Home Video (2000) (UK) (VHS)
* Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (UK) (DVD)
* Paramount Home Media Distribution (2000) (USA) (VHS)
* Paramount Home Media Distribution (2000) (USA) (DVD)
* Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (UK) (DVD)
* Final Cut Entertainment (2016) (UK) (Blu-Ray)
* Paramount Home Media Distribution (2017) (USA) (DVD)
* Paramount Home Media Distribution (2020) (USA) (Blu-Ray)
* Final Cut Entertainment (2020) (UK) (DVD)

### Special Effects

* Peerless Camera Company (visual effects) (as Peerless Camera Company, London)
* ReelEye Company (special effects contact lenses) (uncredited)