Black Jack (1979 film)

Black Jack is a 1979 British period adventure drama film directed by Ken Loach and based on the Leon Garfield novel. It is set in Yorkshire in 1750 and follows a young boy, Tolly (Stephen Hirst) and his adventures with a large French man (Jean Franval), the Black Jack of the title, and Belle, a young English girl (Louise Cooper). It was awarded the Critics’ Award at the Cannes Film Festival (1979).[2][3]

Black Jack
Video cover
Directed byKen Loach
Written byKen Loach
Based ona novel
by Leon Garfield
Produced byTony Garnett
Starring
  • Stephen Hirst
  • Louise Cooper
  • Jean Franval
  • Phil Askham
  • Pat Wallis
CinematographyChris Menges
Edited byBill Shapter
Music byBob Pegg
Production
companies
Kestrel Films
National Film Finance Consortium
Distributed byEnterprise (theatrical)
BFI Video
Release dates
Running time
110 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget~£450,000[1]

Plot edit

Cast edit

Production edit

Financing edit

Black Jack was the first film investment by Goldcrest Pictures, who provided £11,250 for initial development. Goldcrest recouped this when the film went into production. The bulk of financing came from the National Film Finance Corporation.[4]

Filming edit

The film was shot on location in North Yorkshire, England.

Release edit

Awards edit

Black Jack won the FIPRESCI Award at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.[5] The film was also nominated for the "Gold Hugo" at the 1979 Chicago International Film Festival.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ Eberts p 29
  2. ^ "Black Jack". British Film Institute. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Ken Loach: Black Jack (UK/France 1979)". In The Picture. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  4. ^ Eberts p 29
  5. ^ "FIPRESCI Prizes". fipresci.org. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Black Jack (1979) Awards". IMDB. Retrieved 9 June 2019.

Notes edit

  • Eberts, Jake; Illott, Terry (1990). My Indecision is Final. Faber and Faber.

External links edit