24 Hour Party People is a 2002 film about Manchester's popular music community from 1977 to 1997, and specifically about Factory Records. It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom.

It begins with the punk rock era, and moves through the 1980s into the "Madchester" scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The main character is Tony Wilson, the head of Factory Records (played by comedian Steve Coogan), and the narrative largely follows his career, while also covering the major Factory artists, especially Joy Division and New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, and the Happy Mondays.

The movie is a dramatisation based on a combination of real events, rumours, urban legends and the imaginations of the scriptwriter - as the movie makes clear. In one scene featuring Howard Devoto (played by Martin Hancock), the real Devoto, an extra in the scene, turns to the camera and says "I definitely don't remember this happening". The actors are often intercut with real contemporary concert footage, including the famous Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall.

Cast

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The ensemble cast includes:

• Steve Coogan - Tony Wilson
• Shirley Henderson - Lindsay Wilson (Tony's first wife)
• Paddy Considine - Rob Gretton (Joy Division/New Order manager)
• Lennie James - Alan Erasmus (co-founder of Factory)
• Andy Serkis - Martin Hannett (producer)
• Sean Harris - Ian Curtis (Joy Division singer)
• John Simm - Bernard Sumner (Joy Division/New Order guitarist)
• Danny Cunningham - Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays' singer)
• Chris Coghill - Bez (Happy Mondays' dancer and percussionist)
• Dave Gorman - John The Postman
• Peter Kay - Don Tonay

plus cameos by:

• Smug Roberts
• Clint Boon
• Martin Coogan
• Rowetta
• Simon Pegg
• Rob Brydon
• Mark E. Smith
• Gary Mounfield
• Vini Reilly
• Paul Ryder
• Christopher Eccleston
• Howard Devoto

Trivia

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A novelization, 24 Hour Party People, based on the screenplay for the film, was written by Tony Wilson and released in 2003. The title (and opening theme) for the film comes from the song "Twenty Four Hour Party People" by the Happy Mondays, from their album Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out).

• Tony Wilson states on the commentary on the dvd that he attempted to get some scenes removed from the film (his potrayal as a bad father etc.) and wanted the gold discs removed from the factory headquarters set as they never had any on the walls.

• Tony Wilson also had to apologise to Mick Hucknall for the comments made at the end of the film about him (he's ginger)

• The "staged" last night of The Haçienda was in fact the real last night as the club never officially closed due to police problems.

Soundtrack

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1. "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols (3:33)
2. "24 Hour Party People" (Jon Carter Mix) - Happy Mondays (4:30)
3. "Transmission" - Joy Division (3:36)
4. "Ever Fallen in Love?" - Buzzcocks (2:42)
5. "Janie Jones" - The Clash (2:06)
6. "New Dawn Fades" - Moby with New Order (4:52)
7. "Atmosphere" - Joy Division (4:09)
8. "Otis" - Durutti Column (4:16)
9. "Voodoo Ray" - A Guy Called Gerald (2:43)
10. "Temptation" - New Order (5:44)
11. "Loose Fit" - Happy Mondays (4:17)
12. "Pacific State" - 808 State (3:53)
13. "Blue Monday" - New Order (7:30)
14. "Move Your Body" - Marshall Jefferson (0:44)
15. "She's Lost Control" - Joy Division (4:44)
16. "Hallelujah (Club Mix)" - Happy Mondays (5:40)
17. "Here To Stay" - New Order (4:58)
18. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" - Joy Division (3:24)

External links

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• Official site
• Unofficial site at Joy Division Central
• Unofficial fan site of the Happy Mondays

2002 films | Camcorder films | Music from Manchester, England | Films directed by Michael Winterbottom

24 Hour Party People | Twenty Four Hour Party People | 24 Hour Party People