PRESS NOTES MARON PICTURES

Present

STRENGTH AND HONOUR Written, Directed & Produced by

MARK MAHON Starring

MICHAEL MADSEN VINNIE JONES PATRICK BERGIN

GAIL FITZPATRICK and RICHARD CHAMBERLAINWinner – Festival Prize – 23rd Boston Film FestivalWinner – Best Feature – 23rd Boston Film Festival

Winner – Michael Madsen, Best Actor – 23rd Boston Film FestivalWinner – Best Feature – 2008 Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival

Winner – Michael Madsen, Best Actor – 2008 Downtown Los Angeles Film FestivalWinner – Best Feature – 2008 New York International Film Festival Winner – Best Director – 2008 New York International Film Festival

Winner – Michael Madsen, Best Actor – 2008 New York International Film FestivalWinner – Best Score – 2008 New York International Film Festival

Winner – 56th Annual Columbus International Film Festival (Chris Awards)Winner – Best American Independent Feature – 2008 Mount Shasta International Film

Festival Winner – Best Performance in a Feature – 2008 Mount Shasta International Film Festival

Winner – Best Foreign Feature – 2008 International Action On Film FestivalWinner – Best Director – 2008 International Action On Film Festival

Winner – Best Screenplay – 2008 Alan J. Bailey Excellence Award Winner – Best Supporting Actor – 2008 Alan J. Bailey Excellence Award

Winner – Best Soundtrack – 2008 Malibu International Film Festival Winner – Best Picture – 2008 Apra Foundation for Film, Music and Art (AFFMA)

Winner – Best Director – 2008 23rd Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (Oct ‘08)Official Selection– 2008 17th St. Louis International Film Festival (Nov ‘08)

Festival of Festival Selection – 2008 32nd Cairo International Film Festival (Nov ’08)

PREVIOUS FESTIVALS & NOMINATIONSOfficial Selection & Guest of Honour – 2008 Northridge University, California

Best Director Nomination– 2008 Apra Foundation for Film Music and Art (AFFMA)Best Picture Nomination – 2008 Malibu International Film Festival

Best Cinematography Nomination – 2008 New York International Film Festival Best Picture Nomination – 2008 International Action On Film FestivalBest Actor Nomination – 2008 International Action On Film Festival

Official Selection – 2008 Strasbourg International Film Festival – NOT COMPETITIVE Official Selection – 2008 28th Cambridge Film Festival – NOT COMPETITIVE

Panorama Selection – 2008 Shanghai International Film Festival – NOT COMPETITIVE Beijing Olympics Selection – 2008 Sports Film Screening Week – NOT COMPETITIVE

Official Selection – 2008 Celtic Heart London Film Festival – NOT COMPETITIVE Gail Fitzpatrick – Best Supporting Actress Nomination – Irish Film & Television Academy

Mark Mahon – Rising Star Nomination – Irish Film & Television Academy

www.strengthandhonourthemovie.comRunning Time: 90 minutes – Rated 15A

Contact: Maron PicturesMariners Rest, Mariners View Avenue,Passage West, Cork, IRELANDTel. +353 21 484 3550/Fax. +353 21 484 3500/Email: info@maronpictures.net

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STRENGTH AND HONOUR

Starring

MICHAEL MADSENVINNIE JONES

PATRICK BERGINGAIL FITZPATRICK

and

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN

MICHAEL RAWLEY LUKE WHELTON

SHERIDAN MAHON FINBAR FUREY

Executive ProducerOLANN KELLEHER

Director of PhotographyALAN ALMOND, B.S.C.

Production DesignerELEANOR WOOD

EditorKATE COGGINS

Costume DesignerEIMER NI MHAOLDOMHNAIGH

Music Composed byILAN ESHKERI

Music Produced ByGOHL/MCLAUGHLIN

Line ProducerHOWARD GIBBINS

Irish CastingCARMEL O’CONNOR

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CASTSean Kelleher Michael Madsen

Smasher O’Driscoll Vinnie JonesPapa Boss Patrick Bergin

Denis O’Leary Richard Chamberlain

Chaser McGrath Michael RawleyMammy McGrath Gail FitzpatrickMichael Kelleher Luke Whelton

Barry Lacey Myles HorganChosky Boss Finbar Furey

Coco McGrath Sheridan MahonBaby McGrath Krystal Mahon

Fixer Ward Michael GalvinMichael Murphy Joe O’Gorman

Mary Murphy Gerry McLoughlinWheeler Mccoy Pat Shortt

Ciara Lacey Lesley ConroyDr. Sheridan Alf McCarthy

Neiler Kevin McCormackTraveller #1 Paul ValentineTraveller #2 Liam HeffernanTraveller #3 Paul Creighton

Priest Fr. John GalvinBarman David Keelan

Cathal Murphy James BrownePostman Pascal ScottShannon Norma SheahanWaitress Hilary

O’ShaughnessyDesmond Curran Conor Dwane

District Nurse Debbie ByrneDr. McCarthy Cora Fenton

Frankie O’Neill Michael CollinsHopper O’Shea Brendan Condron

James O’Shea Denis TuohyJournalist Michelle Forde

Musher Jimmy UptonNurse – Kids ward Fiona Condon

Nurse #2 – ICU Mary MooneySurgeon Neil Prendeville

Newsreader Mark Mahon

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STRENGTH AND HONOUR

SYNOPSIS

STRENGTH AND HONOUR tells the story of an Irish-American boxer, Sean Kelleher (Michael Madsen), who accidentally kills his friend in the ring and promises his wife that he will never box again. However, years later, when he discovers that his only son is dying of the same hereditary heart disorder which has taken his wife, he is forced to break his promise in order to raise the substantial funds needed for the surgery that could save his son’s life.

STRENGTH AND HONOUR is a story of hope and love, sacrifice and devotion, set against the violent underground world of bare-knuckle boxing.

The film stars Michael Madsen (RESERVOIR DOGS, KILL BILL: VOLUME 1), Vinnie Jones (SNATCH, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND), Patrick Bergin (SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, PATRIOT GAMES) and Richard Chamberlain (“The Thorn Birds,” “Shogun”).

Screenwriter Mark Mahon makes his directorial debut with a film that questions people’s prejudices against other communities and how fate can play a part in one’s life, no matter how much you try to change it.

ABOUT THE FILM

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"I've played a lot of dangerous, nefarious guys over the years, and I guess I liked the idea of playing someone with heart. I want to finally play a guy who rides off into the sunset with the girl," says Michael Madsen, who brings Sean Kelleher’s character to life in Maron Pictures’ STRENGTH AND HONOUR. As a man whose life falls apart after the death of his wife, Kelleher’s showdown with fate is a perfect match for the intense and engaging well-known “tough guy,” in a rare performance displaying his sensitive side.

For director Mark Mahon, who also wrote and produced STRENGTH AND HONOUR, it was the culmination of a lifelong dream. “Despite winning an award in Hollywood a couple of years ago for one of my other projects (FREEDOM WITHIN THE HEART), nobody would give me a chance, so as a writer/director I was forced to become a producer,” says Mark.

Mahon won the coveted Hollywood ‘Best Screenplay Unproduced’ Award in 2005 at the International Action on Film Ceremony in Los Angeles and was courted by some of the major U.S. studios for a spell. One point that became very evident was that the making of FREEDOM WITHIN THE HEART was going to be expensive and the studios had reservations about the costs. Mahon knew that the only way he could make things happen was to take charge himself, so he set up his own production company, Maron Pictures.

“I discussed the project with my solicitor, friend and now Executive Producer, Olann Kelleher, as to how we could get this project off the ground.” The problem that then presented itself was how they would raise the twenty million for his first production. “Prior to setting up Maron Pictures I was developing property, where I would buy sites, get planning and build the properties. I reckoned that film producing is effectively the same thing, except instead of dealing with sites, I would be dealing with scripts,” says Mahon. After exhausting all possibilities, Mark and Olann decided with proper investigation and planning that they could make a movie for approximately half of this figure and so the writer developed a script with the budget constraints in mind. In December 2005, he started writing STRENGTH AND HONOUR. He knew initially what the underlining theme was going to be, that of overcoming the odds, a theme which has run through his own life.

After meeting Michael Madsen, Mark had a chat with him about his idea for the film. Michael wanted to see the script. After completing its ninth draft, Mark personally dropped it off to Madsen’s manager. It didn’t take long for Michael to ring the Irishman and tell him that he loved the screenplay and wanted to do it.

At first glance, the film seems to revolve around the world of boxing in Ireland but digging deeper, the feel-good movie turns into a magical experience where the audience will be left with a sense of deep satisfaction. In the film, Madsen plays Sean Kelleher, an Irish-American forced to break the last promise he made to his dying wife in order to save their son’s life. His decision to return to boxing and fight for what he knows is right is a powerful story of good overcoming all. “I was lucky to work with Quentin Tarantino in my early days, and I say the same about Mark today,” says Madsen. “So much of any picture is down to the writing, and I see in Mark the kind of talent for telling a story that's really rare to find.”

What most intrigued Madsen – in addition to playing the good guy – was his character’s internal battle with himself. It is not just about fighting the devil incarnate in Smasher O’Driscoll (Vinnie Jones), but the demon that plagues his own soul.

ABOUT THE CAST

Madsen’s fascination with the role goes beyond his love of boxing to the character’s dramatic change of life. He knew that the role was going to present certain physical challenges and

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started an intense training program twelve weeks before coming to Ireland. “I love this part because it is different from the bad guy roles that people have come to associate me with. It’s quite a shot for me to play the other side of the coin, and be the good guy in the white hat for once,” says Madsen.

Besides the physical demands, another taxing order was going to be the accent for the Irish-American character. For the perfectionist that he is, Madsen worked with a dialect coach before he even got on the plane to the Emerald Isle, but soon found that you can’t beat being on the ground. Madsen adds, “I learned a lot more about it from hanging out with the local people than I did from any books or anything of that nature. You pick it up pretty fast just being there, you know! Everybody talks a certain way and pretty soon, you start talking the same way and it just becomes part of your speech pattern after a while. And besides, I'm supposed to be Irish American, which is what John Wayne was when he did THE QUIET MAN. It was a similar story about someone who kills someone in the boxing ring and, later on, they have to come back and face the realities."

“Mike has played some great parts in his career, but I always felt that he had more to give than his usual typecast,” says Mahon. “In the environment where Sean would eventually end up, the actor playing Sean had to be a tough guy physically but with a gentle, caring soul underneath the surface. Actors who can meet these requirements are few and far between.”

Just as every fighter has a trainer, so does Sean. Mahon couldn’t believe his luck when he was waiting outside an office in a major studio for a meeting. Sitting across from him was Richard Chamberlain. He recognized the star immediately, as his grandmother was a big fan of the hit mini-series “The Thorn Birds,” “Shogun” and her favourite movie, KING SOLOMON’S MINES. The two had a pleasant conversation and Mahon explained that he was making his first film in Ireland later that autumn. He gave Mr. Chamberlain his card and they parted company. Days later, Mahon received an email from Mr. Chamberlain’s manager saying that Richard loved the outline of story, which Mark had told him about and was there any possibility that he could read the script.

“I remember thinking after the phone call that the only character that I could see him playing was the Denis O’ Leary character (Madsen’s boxing coach) but he was written as a ‘small, balding man in mid-seventies.’ A quick second later, the character took on a new life as ‘DENIS O'LEARY, late fifties, slim and good-looking for his age,’ says Mahon. Despite being retired for several years and having looked for a script that he would make a comeback with, Chamberlain seized the opportunity. “It was always going to take a special script to tempt me back to work again. When I read STRENGTH AND HONOR I knew straight away it was the right one for me,” says Richard. “I think the very human nature of the script is what attracted me to it in the first place.”

With the boxer and coach taken care of, Mahon turned his attention to casting Smasher O’Driscoll, Sean’s nemesis. The director found himself with a new dilemma. With the underground world of bare-knuckle fighting being as tough as what it is, who could he possibly get as an antagonist, especially when the character would have to make the 6’2” Madsen appear intimidated? Mickey Rourke’s name was mentioned but Mahon knew that visually if wouldn’t work with Rourke standing at 5’ 11.” Always being a great fan of Vinnie Jones and reckoning that his talents as an actor were underappreciated, Mahon sent the script to Mr. Jones. A week later, Vinnie signed up.

“Smasher O Driscoll’s brilliant for me. He’s a character who really takes over when you put the gear on…,” says Vinnie. Part of his deal with Mahon though, was the British bad-boy had to play an Irish traveller accent, as the director knew that he had it in him. Vinnie adds, “Brad Pitt used a special voice coach to prepare for his part as a traveller in the film SNATCH. He suggested that I use the same person. I already knew a few travellers and also enlisted their help.” On set, Mahon’s training as an actor really came into being, as he would personally go

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over lines with Vinnie before delivery. “I trained solidly for six weeks for this role and after seeing it, it was all worth it,” says Jones. “To me, this is one of the best fight movies ever made.” Mahon adds, “Vinnie got so into the character, one night we went out for a few drinks and he started doing his traveller accent in a bar. Minutes later, the manager came up and asked us to leave. When I asked why, he said that he had trouble in his establishment before with travellers and wasn’t going to have it a second time. We both couldn’t stop laughing and when we explained who Vinnie was, he nearly died of embarrassment.”

Looking for a strong female lead, the director scoured Ireland in open auditions to cast ‘Mammy.’ “For me, every actor in every movie has a scene that is theirs. Mammy’s scene is when she confronts the travellers in her camp and I knew that if an actor could nail that, they would nail the ‘Mammy’ character. Gail Fitzpatrick auditioned for me and I asked her to do the scene. I gave her some notes and the second time, Mammy came to life in front of me. I got up, shook her hand and told her that I had met Mammy in the flesh,” says Mahon. Gail has over eleven years of experience as an actor and loved the whole experience. “I have worked with writer/directors, producer/directors, writer/producers, etc. many times before. But never have I experienced one who could do all three (write, produce and direct) with the same level of skill and passion. I was fortunate to be part of a rare and unique experience,” says Fitzpatrick.

For the key supporting roles of ‘Papa Boss’ and ‘Chaser McGrath,’ the filmmaker turned to one veteran actor and one newcomer: Patrick Bergin and Michael Rawley.

“Patrick read the script and loved the part. Less than 48 hours later Mahon’s phone rang with Mr. Bergin on the phone. A cool voice said to him, “I heard that you’re looking for a Papa Boss,” recalls Mark. “I couldn’t believe it, as I was a big fan of SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY. I immediately jumped on a plane to Patrick’s summer house in Brighton and Papa Boss was cast.”

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Very conscious that STRENGTH AND HONOUR was his directorial debut, Mahon storyboarded the entire script, something which is unheard of in the industry. “In reality, I did it so there would be no miscommunication with what I was trying to achieve visually. Even my opening shot could have proved difficult, as the inside of the ring is well lit and darkness magically touches the ropes but remains outside, so I wanted the camera to crane up, over and around the ring. The hidden message in the shot is that there is a fine line between good and evil, right and wrong, darkness and light. By handing storyboards to each department head, everybody knew what I wanted to achieve.”

It fell to Production Designer Eleanor Wood to turn Mahon’s vision into a reality. Wood loved the idea of creating the travellers world. “She was amazing,” says Mahon. “When we found the gym in Passage, Cork, it was a derelict building. Afterwards I realized that Ele must have been delighted, as she was effectively given a clean canvass. The first time that we turned up on the set after she was finished, every one of the cast and crew just stopped and stared in amazement.”

Wood and her team utilized everything to its fullest capacity like the warehouse, which saw the opening of the ‘Puck Fight.’ The building was to hold over six hundred extras, with four fights going off simultaneously.

Financing for the movie was raised privately, with the assistance of Ireland’s S481 tax incentive. The film was shot on location in Cork in Southern Ireland over seven weeks in the autumn of 2006. Mahon says that making his film debut in his hometown really worked to their advantage. “The people of Cork knew that it was my first feature and really got behind me. Police, the local council, everybody did whatever they could to help, which made the shoot a

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dream.” Madsen couldn’t believe how the cast and crew were treated. “The fact that Mark chose to film in Cork using so many local actors, was a brave decision that has worked. It would have been impossible to generate the sense of reality on set had the film been shot in Hollywood,” says Madsen.

Adds Executive Producer Olann Kelleher: “All the places we filmed in the city and county were within a 20-block radius of each other, so it was very compact and very economical. Cork really embraced us filming there.”

The man charged with capturing Mahon’s vision was Director of Photography Alan Almond. “Mark always wanted to get Michael on the right side of the screen, which is an old Hollywood tradition about the goodie always being on the right and the baddie always being on the left. So that was an added complication in terms of choreography and camera position, and camera position in relation to where the sun was,” says Almond.

Lighting wise, the D.P. says that he worked with Mahon’s suggestion of using the darkness and light with Madsen’s character. He adds, “one of the key features of the lighting plan was to keep Michael’s character in the dark for much of the film. We would light an area and then have him come near the light rather than right in it.”

Coming from a musical background, Mahon knew the importance of getting a great score to enhance the drama. He met with Ilan Eshkeri and the two immediately hit it off. “I loved every step of the process but one of the highlights had to be recording the score in the world famous Studio One, Abbey Road. I’ll never forget walking down the corridor and looking at the posters of the amazing movie scores that were recorded there. In my heart, I knew something magical was about to happen,” says Mahon.

ABOUT THE CAST

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MICHAEL MADSEN (Sean Kelleher)

There is no simple way to describe Madsen. You can try “piercing green eyes…the trademark raspy voice…a real man’s man.” But that’s where the simplicity begins and ends. Just as his credits run the gamut from the hippest of cult films to the biggest studio blockbusters, his characters transcend both ends of the spectrum. He is the ear-slicing “Mr. Blonde” in Quentin Tarantino’s RESERVOIR DOGS, dancing and humming to the tune “Stuck in the Middle with You;” the deviant killer in THE GETAWAY with Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger; the psycho killer in John Dahl’s KILL ME AGAIN; the Mafia family captain Sonny Black in DONNIE BRASCO with Al Pacino and Johnny Depp; the tough-guy cop in MULHOLLAND FALLS; and the hard-core government operative in SPECIES. Yet, Madsen is also the lovable and caring father in FREE WILLY; Susan Sarandon’s supportive, understanding boyfriend in THELMA & LOUISE; the gentle Virgil Earp opposite Kevin Costner in WYATT EARP and Halle Berry’s CIA boss in the James Bond film DIE ANOTHER DAY.

Madsen reunited with Quentin Tarantino for the first time in over ten years as “Budd” (aka Sidewinder) in Tarantino’s KILL BILL: VOLUME 1 with Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, and Lucy Liu. Madsen also appeared in SIN CITY, Robert Rodriguez’s adaptation of Frank Miller’s stories, alongside Bruce Willis, Josh Hartnett, Brittany Murphy, and many others. He co-starred in the USA TV movie “Frankenstein” from Executive Producer Martin Scorsese, author Dean Koontz and director Marcus Nispel. Madsen plans to finish shooting the film RED LIGHT RUNNERS in which he stars and co-produces. Madsen plays “Killian” who works for the government in their Special Ops department in this spy thriller with Harvey Keitel, Peter O’Toole and Crispin Glover. From there, the busy actor will join Tarantino and Larry Bishop as the star of the biker film HELL RIDE.

Madsen’s compilation of short stories and poems entitled Burning in Paradise further proves his capabilities as an artist. Burning in Paradise, winner of the Independent Book Publisher’s “Firecracker Poetry Book of the Year” Award, explores the intense and gritty experiences of a man living on the edge. Dennis Hopper, who composed the book’s foreword, says Madsen is “Better than Kerouac.” And in 2002, Michael’s book of poetry, Blessing of the Hounds, was released by 12 Gage Press. Both books are available at www.michaelmadsen.com, along with Madsen’s recently released third book of prose entitled 46 Down.

Born in Chicago, Madsen and his two siblings, including actress Virginia Madsen, were reared in a close-knit family environment. Michael entered the world of acting after seeing the production Of Mice and Men at the Steppenwolf Theatre. It wasn’t long before Madsen wound up performing at the theatre himself. When director Sergio Leone saw Madsen in a theatrical production of Carnal Knowledge, he was so taken with Madsen’s performance that he insisted on meeting the young performer, only to encourage Madsen to pursue an acting career.

After painting houses, repairing cars, working as an orderly in a hospital and pumping gas in his late teens and early twenties, Madsen took Leone’s advice and moved to Los Angeles. It wasn’t long before he landed guest-starring roles on “Miami Vice,” “Cagney and Lacey,” and “St. Elsewhere,” to name a few, only to make his film debut in the hit feature WAR GAMES. After roles in RACING WITH THE MOON, THE NATURAL, KILL ME AGAIN and the mini-series “War and Remembrance,” Ridley Scott cast him in THELMA & LOUISE opposite Susan Sarandon, and Madsen became an “overnight success.”

With a long list of features including THE DOORS, MONEY FOR NOTHING, LAST DAYS OF FRANKIE THE FLY, and THE FLORENTINE, Michael also starred in his own series “Vengeance Unlimited,” a one-hour drama on ABC where he played Mr. Chapel, vigilante extraordinaire.

When Michael isn’t working, he relaxes in Malibu at home with his wife, De Anna, and his five children. A dedicated husband and father, Michael loves to ride his Harleys as well as restore

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and race old American classic cars. There’s simply only one way to describe Michael Madsen. He personifies the word “cool.”

VINNIE JONES (Smasher O’ Driscoll)

An English born ex-footballer and former captain of the Wales national football team, Jones retired from football in 1999 and, despite a lack of formal training in acting, has since found success in front of the cameras. He has particularly profited from both his 'hard man' image (appearing in crime and action films) and his football experience, appearing in films such as Guy Ritchie’s LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS and SNATCH, as well as GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS, MEAN MACHINE, SWORDFISH, EUROTRIP, A NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN EAGLE, SLIPSTREAM, and SHE’S THE MAN. He also had a part in an episode of the BBC show “Extras” and appeared recently opposite “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the WWE Films production THE CONDEMNED.

In 2006, Jones portrayed “Juggernaut” in X-MEN: THE LAST STAND. In an interview he stated that he is signed for move movies: “I’ve signed for X-MEN 3, 4 and 5…that’s my contract…yes.” There is also a possibility that he may revive his “Juggernaut” role in the X-Men spin-off film WOLVERINE to star Hugh Jackman.

His first "sensitive" - hard-man role was in JOHNNY WAS, which premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2006. In the drama he acted alongside another sportsman-actor, former undisputed Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, Lennox Lewis, as well as Eriq La Salle (ER), Roger Daltrey of The Who, and Patrick Bergin.

Last year, Jones made his musical theatre debut performing in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods at the Royal Albert Hall, alongside Anita Dobson.

The busy actor’s upcoming films include THE RIDDLE with Derek Jacobi and Vanessa Redgrave, MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, based on a short story by Clive Barker, starring Bradley Cooper and Brooke Shields, and TOOTH & NAIL and HELL RIDE, both re-teaming him with STRENGTH AND HONOUR co-star Michael Madsen.

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN (Denis O’Leary)

A veteran of film, theatre and television, Chamberlain has created a unique position with the world of mini-series, having starred in some of the most dramatic and powerful productions in the history of television. Over the last three decades the actor has starred in six of the most acclaimed mini-series: “Shogun,” “The Thorn Birds,” “Wallenberg,” “Centennial,” “Dream West,” and “The Bourne Identity.”

“Shogun,” based on the James Clavell best-seller, earned Chamberlain a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor, as well as an Emmy nomination. The actor received another Golden Globe Award, Emmy nomination, and a People’s Choice Award for his work as ‘Father Ralph’ in the Australian-set forbidden love story “The Thorn Birds.”

Born in Los Angeles, Chamberlain first wanted to become an artist but switched gears when he scored successfully in theatrical productions at Pomona College. After this, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he gained his sergeant’s stripes in Korea.

Returning to Los Angeles, Chamberlain furthered his acting ambitions. He was featured in a dozen American television programs in minor roles until he landed the lead in the TV series “Dr. Kildare,” which made him a household name, virtually overnight. He played the popular

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physician for five years, and at the height of his fame was receiving over 12,000 fan letters a week, far more than even Clark Gable ever received.

After “Dr. Kildare” ended, Chamberlain decided to try his luck in England with British repertory theatres and made a name for himself as a classical stage actor. He became the first American actor to play Hamlet on stage in England since the great John Barrymore in 1929. Chamberlain repeated his original stage triumph in a subsequent TV production of “Hamlet” for Hallmark Hall of Fame, co-starring Sir John Gielgud and Michael Redgrave. His other stage credits include Richard II, Cyrano de Bergerac and Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit.

While in England, director James Cellan Jones thought the California-born actor right for the role of “Ralph Touchett” in the six-part BBC TV serial adaptation of Henry James’ “Portrait of a Lady.” Chamberlain’s numerous mini-series and movies for television also include portraying King Edward VIII, with Faye Dunaway as Wallis Simpson, in “The Woman I Love;” “F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Last of the Belles,” playing opposite Blythe Danner and Susan Sarandon; the remake of the Dumas’ classic “The Count of Monte Cristo,” for which he received an Emmy nomination; “The Man in the Iron Mask;” the epic mini-series “Centennial;” and “Dream West.”

Chamberlain’s more than 20 feature films include Richard Lester’s PETULIA as Julie Christie’s brutal husband, THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT opposite Katharine Hepburn, JULIUS CAESAR as the cunning Octavius, and Ken Russell’s THE MUSIC LOVERS playing the tormented Russian composer Tchaikovsky. In 1973, he starred in the swashbuckling extravaganza based on Dumas’ classic THE THREE MUSKETEERS. Chamberlain reprised his role as the womanizing, priestly musketeer Aramis in the films’ two sequels, THE FOUR MUSKETEERS and THE RETURN OF THE MUSKETEERS, which reunited him with Michael York and Oliver Reed. In the box office blockbuster THE TOWERING INFERNO, he was part of an all-star cast headed by Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, playing William Holden’s villainous son-in-law. It was followed by raves for his performance in Peter Weir’s fascinating Australian feature THE LAST WAVE. He later spent a year in Zimbabwe filming KING SOLOMON’S MINES and the sequel ALLAN QUATERMAIN AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD, both with Sharon Stone.

In the mid-nineties, “the King of the Mini-Series” filmed the sequel to the acclaimed “Thorn Birds” called “The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years.” In another multi-parter entitled “Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke,” with Lauren Bacall, he plays the infamous butler who was purported to have hastened the billionairess’ death. And last year, Chamberlain co-starred in The Hallmark Channel’s “Blackbeard,” featuring his “Thorn Birds” co-star Rachel Ward. He most recently appeared in the feature film comedy I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James.

Aside from acting, Chamberlain has long been known for his interest in environmental affairs. He lobbied long and hard in Sacramento, California, as well as Washington D.C., to save the Tuolomne River flowing from Yosemite National Park in California. He also narrated a widely acclaimed Audubon TV special about the poaching of animals in National forests, as well as a special about Hawaii’s precious ecology and the film “The Grand Canyon, Its History, and Fragile Ecology.”

His most recent adventures away from acting have been his first public art show in Lahaina, Maui and the publication of his autobiography Shattered Love in 2003.

PATRICK BERGIN (Papa Boss)

The son of a theatre owner and younger brother of an actor, Bergin was born and raised in Dublin. He worked in the theatre throughout his school years and at age seventeen, moved to

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London and created an experimental theatre group, Mum’s Underground, serving as director, producer and actor. Patrick also worked in the National Central Library and educated himself by night. At age 21, Bergin was accepted to the North London Polytechnic, graduating with a degree in Education. He soon discovered that he disliked traditional teaching and turned to alternative education in his desire to help habitual truants. He pioneered a program that is still used today for children who refuse to attend school.

In 1980, he decided to pursue his love for the arts full-time. Soon after, he began appearing in repertory theatre and in the English television film “Those Glory, Glory Days.” He made his film debut in THE COURIER, starring Gabriel Byrne about drug-running in Dublin. He then landed a featured role in the Irish drama TAFFIN starring Pierce Brosnan.

His first major screen role came as the charismatic English explorer Sir Richard Burton in Bob Rafelson’s MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON. Bergin soon co-starred with Julia Roberts, playing her obsessive husband in the thriller SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, followed by the title role opposite Uma Thurman in John Irvin’s ROBIN HOOD, Phillip Noyce’s PATRIOT GAMES with Harrison Ford, MAP OF THE HUMAN HEART, LOVE CRIMES, HIGHWAY TO HELL, LAWNMOWER MAN 2, and TREASURE ISLAND with Jack Palance.

Bergin’s other film credits include ONE MAN’S HERO with Tom Berenger, which tells the story of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion’s struggle during the Mexican-American War, THE LOST WORLD, based on the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, EYE OF THE BEHOLDER with Ewan McGregor and Ashley Judd, MERLIN: THE RETURN, the title role in “St. Patrick” for the Fox Channel, WHEN THE SKY FALLS opposite Joan Allen, INVISIBLE CIRCUS with Cameron Diaz, “Jewel,” a CBS TV Movie with Farrah Fawcett, and ELLA ENCHANTED. In recent years Patrick has played the guest lead in the TV series “Smallville,” and the Hallmark mini-series “Icon” opposite Patrick Swayze and Michael York. His upcoming films include GALLOWWALKER, opposite Wesley Snipes, shot in Namibia.

When he is not working, Bergin divides his time between Dublin, Ireland, Brighton, England and Los Angeles, California. He has produced SOME OTHER PLACE – a trilogy of films adapted from three poems by W.B. Yeats – The Cat & the Moon, Calvary and The Countess Cathleen – all directed by his wife Paula Fraser-Bergin.

GAIL FITZPATRICK (Mammy McGrath)

A veteran of more than 30 stage productions, Fitzpatrick has worked in all the main theatres from The Abbey and The Gate in Dublin to The Opera House in Cork, Ireland. She was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre award in 2000. As well as numerous short films, she has appeared in “Father Ted,” “The Clinic,” “Pure Mule” and many other TV productions. Of the six feature films she has been in, Bruce Beresford’s EVELYN starring Pierce Brosnan, and HOW HARRY BECAME A TREE with Colm Meaney and Cillian Murphy, were amongst them. Gail was nominated for an Irish Film and Television Academy Award for her role, as Mammy in STRENGTH AND HONOUR.

MICHAEL RAWLEY (Chaser McGrath)

Rawley is a native of Cork, Ireland. At the age of 16, he played the role of “Foxy” in his film debut DISCO PIGS, getting the opportunity to work alongside Cillian Murphy and Elaine Cassidy.

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Michael later joined the drama group Boomerang, expanding his interest in acting. It spurred him on to numerous plays such as Deeply Regretted and a couple of short films including DIRT and JANE BY THE SEA by Anspach Solveig. He was featured in the RTE TV series "Pure Mule" and "Stardust" and also worked on the ongoing soap "Fair City."

FINBAR FUREY (Chosky Boss)

A native of Dublin, Furey had a love of music from an early age. In the 60’s, Finbar and his brother Eddie toured the folk clubs and universities throughout the U.K. and Europe. ‘The Fureys’ became folk legends across the continent and introduced a whole new generation to Irish folk music, playing to thousands of people across Europe, particularly in Germany. In 1993, Finbar decided to go solo and has since gone on to explore new pastures with phenomenal success as a singer, producer, writer and actor. He previously appeared in Martin Scorsese’s GANGS OF NEW YORK.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

MARK MAHON (Writer/Producer/Director)

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A native of Cork City, Ireland, Mahon started out at a young age as a singer/songwriter and wrote over forty songs, several of which were recorded. At the age of eighteen, he trained to be an actor. During this time, he successfully completed his L.A.M.D.A (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) acting examinations with distinction.

At the age of 22, Mark was severely injured in an accident and had to spend several months in hospital recovering. Confined to a wheelchair for three years, he turned his love of acting and his passion for the industry to writing feature films to stay involved in his chosen career. Left with a permanent disability, he has completed five scripts and one novel.

In 2005, he won the 'Best Screenplay Unproduced' Award at the International Action on Film Ceremony in Los Angeles for FREEDOM WITHIN THE HEART, which was launched in conjunction with Atlantis Studios in late 2007, as a four edition, full colour comic book series. Later the same year, he set up his production company ‘Maron Pictures,’ which now has offices in Ireland and Los Angeles.

Always wanting to direct and not being able to find a director who shared his vision, Mark decided that he would helm his first project himself. So in early 2006, he went to London and received his Director's Diploma from the Raindance Organization. Then, Mark directed his first feature STRENGTH AND HONOUR.

In 2007, he made the cover of the April edition of ‘Hollywood Scriptwriter’ and was recently honoured by the Action on Film Awards by having ‘The Mark Mahon Award of Excellence in Writing’ named after him. Now 35, his first feature has taken over nineteen wins, twenty nominations and official selections, including an Irish Film and Television Academy Award nomination. A member of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and the Irish Film and Television Academy, Mark is now planning on shooting his next project, FREEDOM WITHIN THE HEART in 2009.

OLANN KELLEHER (Executive Producer)

Kelleher is a Law Graduate from University College Cork and qualified as a solicitor in 1977. He is the founding partner of the firm, Comyn, Kelleher, Tobin, one of the most prestigious law firms in Cork City. He specializes in litigation, sports and entertainment law.

He has represented many famous sportsmen over the years, the most notable of whom is probably Roy Keane, former Manchester United Captain and now manager of Sunderland F.C.  He acts as solicitor to Cork City Football Club and Munster Rugby. An accomplished sportsman himself he has represented Munster in both Rugby and Cricket.  He is also the Rugby Analyst for Cork Radio. 

Central to raising necessary finance for the making of STRENGTH AND HONOUR, Kelleher is also a partner, lawyer and negotiator for Maron Pictures.

ALAN ALMOND (Director of Photography)

After growing up in both India and Africa, Almond is now based in London. As a young boy he wanted to be an actor. He studied photography at the Nottingham College of Art, acquiring skills that later became the foundations on which he has built a successful career as a D.P. Alan has been involved in many feature films including BROTHERS IN TROUBLE and MY SON THE FANATIC, both directed by Udayan Prasad. He has worked extensively in television drama. Among his many credits are “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Jericho,” “Miss Marple,” and “Foyle’s

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War.” He recently completed “A Room with a View,” a film for ITV, starring Timothy Spall and Sinead Cusack. Alan is a member of the British Society of Cinematographers.

ELEANOR WOOD (Production Designer)

Educated in Manchester, Wood began her career as a furniture designer for leading furniture chain Habitat. After winning a designing award for her work, Ele then toured India. Following this, she joined a visual theatre group called Horse and Bamboo, which toured the West and North of Ireland. During this time, Eleanor fell in love with Ireland. She then started designing for television and feature films, which has given her a fifteen year career. In 2005, Eleanor picked up an Irish Film and Television Academy award for her production design work on the feature film SHORT ORDER. More recently, she was Production Designer of BOTCHED, which was a cult hit at the German Fantasy Film Festival.

KATE COGGINS (Editor)

Coggins grew up in Oxford and attended Cambridge University where she read English Literature, ran the Film Society and directed several plays. On finishing her degree, she first gained an internship at the Royal Court Theatre, and then moved on to working in a casting studio, filming screen tests for films such as ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, STAGE BEAUTY and Roman Polanski's OLIVER TWIST. While there she also began cutting show reels and promos, which sparked her love of editing. Her previous work includes I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN, a romantic comedy starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd, directed by Amy Heckerling. Her credits, as an assistant are the British TV movies "Friends and Crocodiles" and "Gideon's Daughter" which won two Golden Globes for Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt, directed by Stephen Poliakoff, and LAND OF THE BLIND by Bob Edwards starring Ralph Fiennes and Donald Sutherland.

ILAN ESHKERI (Composer)

The British composer lives and works in London. He recently composed the score for STARDUST, Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel, starring Claire Danes, Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer. His relationship with Vaughn began when he composed the score for the box office hit LAYER CAKE, starring Daniel Craig. For this score, he was nominated in the category of “Discovery of the Year” at the World Soundtrack Awards.

Other recent feature film scores include HANNIBAL RISING, the Hannibal Lecter prequel, STRAIGHTHEADS starring Gillian Anderson, and VIRGIN TERRITORY, a romantic comedy starring Hayden Christensen, Mischa Barton and Tim Roth.

Ilan has also worked with various songwriters and is currently working on string arrangements with Annie Lennox for her broadcast special and forthcoming tour. He has also written string arrangements for Badly Drawn Boy’s songs in Nancy Meyers' SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE and co-wrote a song with Take That for STARDUST. Ilan has been on tour supporting David Gilmour and more recently programmed and arranged strings on Gilmour’s hit solo album “On An Island.”

CREW

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Stunt Coordinator Roger YuanAssistant fight Arranger Norman Kelly

Stunt Men / Boxing Doubles Taylor LanePaul CumminsStephen ByrnePat WalshGreg LoeskinCiaran O’NeillTrevor KearneyLee CairnesNiall O’SullivanGary O’SullivanKevin PowerDan Connors

First Assistant Director Charlie Watson

Second Assistant Director Catherine DunneThird Assistant Director Henry Forsyth

Extras Coordinator Oonagh KearneyMarie Celine O Reilly

Assistant Extras Coordinator Kevin O’LearyTrainee Assistant Director Damien Coughlan

Niall OwensProduction Coordinator Bettina Lyster

Asst. Production Coordinator Michelle CarewProduction Runner Lisa Fleming

Assistant to Mark Mahon Siobhan FlynnProduction Accountant Stephen McGillen

Assistant Accountant James Murray

Camera Operator Alan AlmondFocus Puller Ray Moore

Clapper Loader Anthony MeadeGrip Adam Tsan

Assistant Grip David O’ConnorCamera Trainee Mary Crowley

Danny FordeFergus Long

2nd Unit Camera Operator Matt Skinner2nd Unit Focus Puller Paul Shanahan

2nd Unit Clapper Loader Cris Ayoub

Script Supervisor Caroline Sax G.B.C.T

Trainee Script Supervisor Alice O'Sullivan

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Location Sound Mixer Simon WillisBoom Operator Andrew FeltonSound Trainee Enda Callan

Location Manager Kieran HennessyLocation Assistant Gillian Morrison

Wardrobe Supervisor Colette JacksonWardrobe Assistant Valarie Kelly

Eimer O Laoghaire Costume Trainee Catherine Dalton

Make-Up Designer Morna FergusonHair Designer Lorraine Glynn

Make-Up Assistant Niamh O’Loan

Art Director Owen PowerArt Department Trainee Derek Nagle

Storyboard Artist Steve WerblunCaravan Wrangler Paul Liengaard

Assistant Caravan Wrangler Denise MalcolmProduction Buyer Anne Fitzsimons

Trainee Buyer Dearbhal ConnanProp Master Seth Turner

Dressing Props Jerome McDonnellDressing Props Kieran ShellardStandby Props Pat Mckane

Trainee Standby Props John SneeConstruction Manager Andy harris

Stage Hand Aaron HarrisGoat Wrangler Ulli Wolfe

Dog Handler Tom O’Reilly

Gaffer Steve SwannellBest Boy Ian Madden

Electrician Addo GallagherElectrician Peter O’Toole

Genny Operator Eugene O’Sullivan

Stills Photographer Bernard WalshDialogue Coach Poll Moussoulides

Cathal QuinnSFX Supervisor Gerry Johnson

Catering Peter McEvoyJennifer McvoyRuth SmithDebbie FitzgeraldTed Jones

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Transport Captain Paul CullenDrivers Dermot Moore

Gary FosterAlan BevanStephen FearonJohn FearonWilliam KenefickLloyd CreaghJimmy DevlinJohnny FortuneMervyn EwingPatrick FisherTony TroyNoel Molloy

Post Production Supervisor Phil BrownPost Production Coordinator Moira Brophy

Assembly Editor Richard Smither

ADR mixer Peter GleavesFX Sound Editor Adrian Rhodes

Foley Editor Ben NorringtionSupervising sound/Dialogue Editor Tim Hands

Foley Recordist Peter GleavesRe-recording Mixer Adrian Rhodes

Assistant Re-recording Mixer Phil JenkinsSound Post Production De Lane Lea Post

Production LtdSound Facility Coordinator Collette Boyle

Asst. FX Editor Phil FreudenfeldAsst. Dialogue Editor Gavin Rose

Foley Artist Ruth SullivanPaula Boram

Studio Assistant Dave Wren

ADR Studios Los Angeles Pop SoundADR Mixers Los Angeles Michael Miller

ADR Studios Dublin Screen SceneADR Mixers Dublin Mark Fitzpatrick

ADR Studio Coordinator Suzanne McKenzie

Digital Film Facility Prime Focus/VTRDI Film Consultant Mike Fraser

DI Manager David Clarke

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Film Colourist Duncan RussellOnline Editor Alan Maiden

DI Producer Danny PaganDI Technical Supervisor James Tillett

ARRI Laser Recordist Reuben GoodyearDI Film Scanner Richard FearonCGI Supervisor Alan Maiden

Special Effects Design Faye Greenwood

MUSIC

“Bring Me Down” (Mark Mahon)

Performed by Mark Mahon Courtesy of Mark Mahon

“Shannonside”

Music Performed by London Metropolitan Orchestra

Conducted by Teese Gohl

Featured Singer Pauline ScalonFeatured Musicians Mike Taylor

Jill TinglayFinbar Furey

Music Recorded at Abbey RoadMusic Mixed at North Pole

Mixed by Steve McLaughlinMixed by Richard Lancaster

Additional Music Teese GohlScott ShieldsChad HobsonPauline ScanlonFinbar Furey

Orchestrations by Julian KershawMark Baechle

Arranging/Programming Christoph Bauschinger

Music Preparation by Bob LowdellMusic Production Coordinator Elisa Kustow

Music Editor Tom Chichester-ClarkAdditional Music Editing Arthur Jeffes

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(Finbar Furey) Performed by Finbar Furey Published by Banshee Music Ltd. Courtesy of Banshee Music Ltd.

“No Farewell, No Goodbye” (Finbar Furey)

Performed by Finbar Furey Published by Banshee Music Ltd. Courtesy of Banshee Music Ltd.

“Wild Horses” (Andrew Frampton, Natasha Bedingfield, Wayne Wilkins)

Performed by Natasha Bedingfield Published by EMI Publishing Ltd & In Genius Songs Ltd (P) 2004 Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) Limited

Licensed courtesy of Sony BMG Commercial Markets

“The Riverboat Song” (Minchella, Fowler, Harrison, Cradock) Performed by Ocean Colour Scene Published by Universal/Island Music Ltd. Courtesy of Universal-Island Records Ltd.

Under Licence from Universal Music Operations

Produced with the support of investment incentives for the Irish Film Industry provided by the Government of Ireland.

WITH THANKS

Dee and Maya

Morgan Freeman

Aer Lingus

Financial Services HLB NathansCorporate Financial Advisor Trevor Leacy

Project Tax Adviser Mark BarrettLegal Services Comyn, Kelleher and Tobin

U.S.A. Legal Services Paul S. LevineInsurance Media Insurance

Laboratory Deluxe LondonTelecine Facilities Arion Facilities

Film Stock Fujifilm (Ireland)Camera & Lighting

Equipment The Production DepotFacility Vehicles Irish Film Location Facilities

Couriers Aerfast InternationalWalkie Talkiies TVF CommunicationsTravel Agency Flair Travel

Media Correspondent Billy MacGill

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Bank of Ireland

Cork Airport Authority

Cork City Council

Cork County Council

Cork University Hospital

Everlast

Fedex

Dermalogica Skincare

Dane Lane and the Rylane Boxing Club

Keary’s of Cork Ltd

Mahon Point Shopping Centre

OPW Charles Fort, Kinsale

St. Colemans Boxing Club

St. Mary’s Parish Passage West

Strand Security Services

The Health Service Executive

Wilton Shopping Centre

Arnaud Disant

Claire Cunningham

Councillor John O’Shea

Councillor Michael Ahern

David & Pam Kearney

Donna Eperon

Niall and Debbie Byrne

Nigel Douglas

Pat O’Halloran

and

THE PEOPLE OF CORK

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