107 minutes
8/24/2001
Half-way through his 12-year prison sentence for an incompetent armed robbery, Jimmy Hands gets a lucky break: he's transferred to a prison from which he can probably escape. He convinces the governor to stage a musical in an old chapel next to the prison's outer wall. He rounds up volunteer actors and puts his escape plan into production. Two other barriers, besides the wall, confront him: the arrival of a nasty inmate, John Toombes, who insists on joining the escape, and Jimmy's feelings of attraction for Anabel, a social worker who agrees to appear in the play. Opening night approaches: is this Jimmy's breakout performance?
James Nesbitt
as James 'Jimmy' Hands
Olivia Williams
as Annabel
Timothy Spall
as Cliff
Christopher Plummer
as Graham Mortimer
Bill Nighy
as Roger
Lennie James
as Rudy
Ron Cook
as Perry
Peter Wight
as George Barratt
Celia Imrie
as Amy
Raymond Waring
as Darren
John Pierce Jones
as Mad Lenny
Peter McNamara
as Ward
Ram John Holder
as Old Billy Morris
Julian Barratt
as Paul Dean
Frank Harper
as John Toombes
Desmond McNamara
as Arthur
Andy Linden
as Kenny
Annette Bentley
as Julie Gumbell
William Howe
as Ritchie Gumbell
Ofo Uhiara
as Wayne Wayne
Brian Abbott
as Phillips
Georgie Glen
as Audience Member