Home / Vera Drake

Vera Drake

Year:

2004

Duration:

125 min

Genres:

Crime | Drama

IMDB rate:

7.7

Director:

Mike Leigh

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 42 wins & 30 nominations

Details

Country: UK

Release Date: 2004-10-22

Filming Locations: UK

Earnings

Budget: $11,000,000

Opening Weekend: $13,207 (USA) (10 October 2004)

Gross: $3,753,806 (USA) (27 March 2005)

Cast

Actor

Character

Daniel Mays

Vera Drake

Imelda Staunton

Vera

Richard Graham

George

Eddie Marsan

Reg

Anna Keaveney

Nellie

Alex Kelly

Ethel

Philip Davis

Stan

Lesley Manville

Mrs. Wells

Sally Hawkins

Susan

Simon Chandler

Mr. Wells

Sam Troughton

David

Marion Bailey

Mrs. Fowler

Sandra Voe

Vera's Mother

Chris O'Dowd

Sid's Customer

Adrian Scarborough

Frank

Heather Craney

Joyce

Sinead Matthews

Very Young Woman

Sid Mitchell

Very Young Man

Leo Bill

Ronny

Gerard Monaco

Kenny

Ruth Sheen

Lily

Tilly Vosburgh

Mother of Seven

Alan Williams

Sick Husband

Heather Cameron-McLintock

Child (as Heather Cameron)

Billie Cook

Child

Billy Seymour

Child

Nina Fry

Dance Hall Girl

Lauren Holden

Dance Hall Girl

Elizabeth Berrington

Cynical Lady

Emma Amos

Cynical Lady

Fenella Woolgar

Susan's Confidante

Joanna Griffiths

Peggy

Wendy Nottingham

Ivy

Nicky Henson

Private Doctor

Allan Corduner

Psychiatrist

Angie Wallis

Nurse Willoughby

Judith Scott

Sister Beech

Vinette Robinson

Jamaican Girl

Rosie Cavaliero

Married Woman

Lesley Sharp

Jessie Barnes

Liz White

Pamela Barnes

Anthony O'Donnell

Mr. Walsh

Lucy Pleasance

Sister Coombes

Tracy O'Flaherty

Nurse

Peter Wight

Det. Inspector Webster

Martin Savage

Det. Sergeant Vickers

Helen Coker

WPC Best

Tom Ellis

Police Constable

Robert Putt

Station Sergeant

Craig Conway

Station Constable

Jake Wood

Ruffian

Vincent Franklin

Mr. Lewis

Michael Gunn

Gaoler

Paul Jesson

Magistrate

Paul Raffield

Magistrate's Clerk

Jim Broadbent

Judge

Philip Childs

Clerk

Jeffry Wickham

Prosecution Barrister

Nicholas Jones

Defence Barrister

Stephan Dunbar

Usher

Angela Curran

Prisoner

Jane Wood

Prisoner

Eileen Davies

Prison Officer

Daniel Hatkoff

Dancer (uncredited)

David House

Dancer (uncredited)

James Payton

Court Reporter (uncredited)

Georgie Smith

Dancer (uncredited)

Sarah Strachan

Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)

Ulla Virtanen

Visitor at the hospital (uncredited)

John Warman

Policeman in Court (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

The film process took about a year; the actors all met individually with Mike Leigh, discussing their characters' lives (from birth up until the moment the film starts), and began to rehearse together when their characters met one another.

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Except for Imelda Staunton, none of the actors knew that the film was about abortion until their characters find out. Each actors only knew what concerned their characters.

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Mike Leigh asked the actors to hum in the movie. Because they couldn't afford to buy rights to songs, the actors had to hum something generic.

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Goofs

When the young girl visits the psychiatrist, he asks her what her father does. She replies that "He works for the Ministry of Defence". However, the Ministry of Defence was not created until 1968 with the amalgamation of The War Office (Army), The Air Ministry (Royal Air Force) and The Admiralty (Royal Navy).

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Vera's sister-in-law Joyce says she wants a washing machine which costs "twenty five pounds". Until decimalization in 1971, most luxury goods (such as washing machines and men's suits) were priced in guineas not pounds. Interestingly, in the film the cost of the abortion is expressed as two guineas. (One guinea = one pound one shilling, equivalent to one pound five pence in decimal.) This was true for some outlets, particularly those wishing to appeal to the middle class or those aspiring to a degree of 'poshness'. Throughout the 1960s most domestic items were priced in £.s.d or Pounds, shillings and pence. Services and professions continued to charge in guineas as an affectation until much later.

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In the dancing scene with Sid and his friends, the music played features blaring trumpets. However, at the same time it shows the band and the only ones playing are the saxophone and trombone players. The trumpet player is just tapping his toes here. Also, the music would have to be played by a large band, not a group of a couple musicians due to the harmonies heard.

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Quotes

Stan: Whatever she done, she done it out of the goodness of her heart!

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Det. Inspector Webster: You perform abortions, don't you?

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Vera: Right dear, you're gonna have to take your knickers off.

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