PRESS RELEASE
CAPTAIN CORELLIıS MANDOLIN, AN EPIC LOVE STORY STARRING NICOLAS CAGE AND PENELOPE CRUZ, BEGINS PRODUCTION ON GREEK ISLAND OF CEPHALLONIA FOR WORKING TITLE
Greece, Cephallonia, May, 2000 - Captain Corelliıs Mandolin, starring Academy Award³ winner Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas) and Penelope Cruz (All About My Mother), began principal photography on May 18 for a 12-week shoot on the island of Cephallonia, Greece.
An epic tale about the enduring hope of love and the devastating brutality of war, set amid the Italian occupation of Greece during World War II, the film also stars John Hurt (The Elephant Man), Christian Bale (American Psycho), David Morrissey (Hilary and Jackie) and Irene Pappas (Zorba the Greek).
John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) directs from a screenplay by Shawn Slovo (A World Apart), based on the classic novel by Louis de Bernieres. Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Kevin Loader and Mark Huffam will produce the film, which will be released by Universal Pictures in the U.S. and Canada and internationally by UIP, STUDIOCANAL and Miramax Films.
The idyllic beauty of Greeceıs Mediterranean coast has been invaded by Italy, bringing legions of soldiers to the once tranquil island of Cephallonia. Captain Corelli (Cage), an officer with an irrepressibly jovial personality and passion for his mandolin, initially alienates a number of villagers. In particular, he infuriates the village doctor, Iannis (Hurt) and his beautiful and educated, strong-willed daughter Pelagia (Cruz) whose home he shares during the occupation. Corelliıs charm and decency, together with his desire to have a quiet and peaceful war, eventually wins over their friendship. When Pelagiaıs fiancee, local fisherman Mandras (Bale) heads off to battle, the relationship between Corelli and Pelagia grows stronger.
As the war advances ever closer, Corelli and Pelagia are forced to choose between their allegiance to their countries and the love they feel for one another -a love which must overcome tremendous odds, and endure the inevitable sacrifice which accompanies eternal devotion.
Madden is best known for the multi-award winning Shakespeare in Love, which received three Golden Globe Awards, four BAFTAıs and seven Academy Awards³ including Best Picture, and Mrs. Brown which received two Oscar³ and eight BAFTA nominations, including Best Film.
To bring Maddenıs vision to the screen he has assembled an impressive creative team which includes: two-time Academy Award³ winning cinematographer John Toll, who won an Oscar for Braveheart and Legends of the Fall and was nominated for The Thin Red Line; Academy Award³ winning make up artist Lois Burwell who won an Oscar for Braveheart and was nominated for Saving Private Ryan; Academy Award³ winning composer Stephen Warbeck (Mrs. Brown, Quills) who won an Oscar³ for Maddenıs Shakespeare in Love; costume designer Alexandra Byrne who was nominated for Elizabeth and Hamlet; and production designer Jim Clay (Feliciaıs Journey, Circle of Friends).
Working Title Films is Britainıs leading film production company. Together, co-chairmen Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner have over 40 films to their credit, including the most successful British film of all time, Notting Hill; Elizabeth (which garnered seven 1999 Academy Award³ nominations, including Best Picture); Four Weddings and a Funeral; the Oscar³-winning success Dead Man Walking; the Coen Brothersı Fargo; and the international hit Bean.
Working Titleıs forthcoming movies include the highly-anticipated new film from the Coen Brothers O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Stephen Daldryıs directorial debut Dancer, and production has begun on the international best-seller Bridget Jonesı Diary starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant.
Captain Corelliıs Mandolin will be released by Universal Pictures in the United States and Canada, and internationally by UIP, STUDIOCANAL and Miramax Films.
Universal Pictures is part of Universal Studios, which is a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd, a global entertainment and beverage company.
2nd release:-
PRESS RELEASE
CAPTAIN CORELLIıS MANDOLIN
HELLENIC FORCES ARRIVE ON CEPHALLONIA
GREECE, CEPHALLONIA, May 2000 - 100 men from the Hellenic Army, 90 from the Hellenic Navy and 50 men from the Hellenic Air Force will be featuring alongside the cast in the motion picture CAPTAIN CORELLIıS MANDOLIN on Cephallonia.
100 artillery and infantry serving with the 8th Epirus Division of the Hellenic Army were selected in early May for fittings for original Italian military costumes and for drill and arms training of the period by the military advisory team from the film. Their officer staffs have given unstintingly their time and practical expertise in the planning of this Corelli exercise, down to organization of medical staff, tents and sleeping bags.
The Hellenic Air Force training base in Tripoli was the source from which associate producer Susie Tasios selected 50 volunteers from over 300 who applied to play the Italian troops. The producers greatly appreciate the fact that the Air Force personnel is being recalled from their secondary training units all over Greece to form the Corelli squadron to travel together to Cephallonia on May 25th.
The Air Force troops will be arriving in Sami on May 25th for a monthıs Corelli exercise, followed by the Army troops on June 3rd for two weeks. Rehearsals with Richard Smedley, the specialist military advisor on the film, will begin immediately, prior to the major disembarkation and invasion scenes of occupying forces between 1941 and 1943.
With the help of the Hellenic Navy the designers of the film went to view operational vessels closest to the period of World War II. The Naval ships for these scenes include two minesweepers and two landing craft which will arrive June 1st for 3 weeks with their complement of 90 men. The ships will be dressed by the filmıs Art Department to depict both Italian and German war craft for different scenes to be shot in mid June in Sami. German soldiers will be played by British professional film extras.
"The support weıve received from the Ministry of Defence and all branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces has made an enormous contribution to the production of CAPTAIN CORELLIıS MANDOLIN, and was a key factor in persuading us to make the film in Greece" says producer Kevin Loader. "We hope that the officers and men involved will enjoy their first taste of film-making, and that taking part in this ambitious film will provide them with an interesting change from their normal military duties".
CAPTAIN CORELLIıS MANDOLIN starring Academy Award³ winner Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas) and Penelope Cruz (All About My Mother), began principal photography on May 18 for a 12-week shoot on the island of Cephallonia, Greece. John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) directs from a screenplay by Shawn Slovo (A World Apart), based on the classic novel by Louis de Bernieres. Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Kevin Loader and Mark Huffam will produce the film.
An epic tale about the enduring hope of love and the devastating brutality of war, set amid the Italian and German occupation of Greece during World War II, the film also stars John Hurt (The Elephant Man), Christian Bale (American Psycho), David Morrissey (Hilary and Jackie) and Irene Pappas (Zorba the Greek). Other Greek cast members include Gerasimos Skiadaresis, Aspasia Krali, Mihalis Giannatos, Dimitri Kamperidis, Viki Maragaki, and George Kotanidis.
To bring Maddenıs vision to the screen he has assembled an impressive creative team which includes: director of photography John Toll, make up artist Lois Burwell, costume designer Alexandra Byrne, and production designer Jim Clay. Greek crew members working alongside the British crew include associate producer Susie Tasios, assistant director Takis Yiannopoulos, production manager Nikos Nikolettos, location manager Elena Restaki, casting director Makis Gazis and crowd casting Stavros Kaplanides.
CAPTAIN CORELLIıS MANDOLIN will be released by Universal Pictures in the United States and Canada, and internationally by UIP, STUDIOCANAL and Miramax Films.
Universal Pictures is part of Universal Studios, which is a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd, a global entertainment and beverage company.
Internet Movie Database (IMDB) Link for Further Captain Corelli's Mandolin Production Information
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