The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain
Christopher Monger
United Kingdom
Director Christopher Monger (Just Like a Woman) was 10-years-old when he asked his Welsh grandfather why a village local was known as The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill, But Came Down a Mountain. The story that his grandfather told him, about an English mapmaker who decreed that a local landmark fell short of being recognised as a mountain - much to the fury of the villagers - was the basis of the screenplay Monger began writing in 1991.
The Englishman- is a reminiscence of Monger's Welsh childhood. The director relied on memories of characters he had known in his home village of Taff's Well near Cardiff when writing the script. «Some are composite characters,» says Monger, «but I think people will recognise themselves.» Monger and producer Sarah Curtis then spent two years polishing the script; Monger had always had Hugh Grant (Four Weddings and a Funeral) in mind to play the lead. In 1993 Monger gave Grant a final draft of the script; Grant loved it and signed on immediately.
With Grant attached the project came together quickly. Monger and Curtis decided to cast 150 locals as the village's eccentric inhabitants. «The villagers were very easy to direct - probably because drama and song have a long tradition in most Welsh villages,» says the director.
Indeed, using local talent became the norm on the production. A paved road had to be laid to bring the crew's equipment into the village. Then the equipment, catering facilities and production supplies all had to be hauled to the top of the hill to join the 255-strong cast and crew. «There were times when I stood on top of the mountain and thought ‘What the hell are we doing?'» says Curtis. Tim Adler
Prod cos: Parallax Pictures
Scr/Dir: Christopher Monger
Prod: Sarah Curtis
Exec prod: Robert Jones
Ass prod: Paul Sarony
Ph: Vernon Layton
Ed: David Martin
Prod des: Charles Garrad
Music: Stephan Endelman
Cast: Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald, Colm Meaney
The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain
