Jackboots on Whitehall (a.k.a. Nazi Invasion: Team Europe) is a 2010 British adult animated/puppet satirical action comedy film set in an alternative history Second World War, in which Nazi Germany has seized London. The British must band together at Hadrian's Wall if they are to thwart the German invasion. Conceived by Edward and Rory McHenry, it is the first of its kind to feature animatronic puppets and the voices of well-known British actors including Ewan McGregor, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Timothy Spall, Richard O'Brien and Richard Griffiths. The film was executive produced by Frank Mannion.
The film premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on 20 June 2010 and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 8 October 2010 by Vertigo Films.Vertigo Films production notes It received mixed reviews from critics. The cast, set design and voice acting received praised but The Guardian described the film as "desperately weak in terms of script".
Plot
In 1940, Nazi Germany invades Great Britain by drilling under the English Channel and up through the cobblestones on Whitehall, London. From his bunker under Downing Street, away, Prime Minister Winston Churchill issues a call to arms for all of Britain to band together to resist the invaders. In a small village, Chris, a young everyman, rallies the residents to fight back. Joining forces with Churchill's small group of soldiers, the resistance movement retreats to Hadrian's Wall, where the unlikely saviours of the country come from the Scottish Highlands.
Cast As appearing in Jackboots on Whitehall, (main speaking roles and screen credits identified):
Ewan McGregor as Chris Rosamund Pike as Daisy Richard E. Grant as The Vicar Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill Tom Wilkinson as Albert and Joseph Goebbels Dominic West as Billy Fiske Alan Cumming as Adolf Hitler and Braveheart Sanjeev Bhaskar as Major Rupee Richard Griffiths as Hermann Göring Richard O'Brien as Heinrich Himmler Stephen Merchant as Tom Pam Ferris as Matron Rutty Hugh Fraser as Gaston and the Newsreader Tobias Menzies as Captain English and Bernard Montgomery Martyn Ellis as Zeppelin Captain Alexander Armstrong as Red Leader Rory McHenry as Johnny Caroline Duff as F.A.N.Y Girl 1 Charlotte Moore as F.A.N.Y Girl 2 James Hicks as Igor / Joseph Kaplinsky / Farmer 1 / Skinny Guard / Scottish Savages Brian Conley as Zeppelin Crewman / Farmer 2 / Stupid Farmer / Erummel / Squire / Hereford Farmer Jimmy Boyle as Pinkypoo Edward McHenry as Charlie/Rat Catcher Benedick Blythe as German Soldiers Stephen Lord as Yorkshire Farmer Jonathan Barlow as Scottish Savages Jana Agnew as Nazi Girls Karl Richards as Camp Nazis Mark Taylor as Camp Nazis Neil Newbon as Tank Driver
In using real-life characters to embody a more accurate portrayal, some characters are easily recognizable. While Battle of Britain hero and American pilot Billy Fiske appears, he embodies the characteristics of screen legend Clark Gable. Spall had previously portrayed Churchill in The King's Speech (2010).
Production
Writer-directors Edward and Rory McHenry created several supermarionation puppets that featured accurately rendered period uniforms, architecture and military equipment.
Theatrical release and premiere Jackboots on Whitehall was released in cinemas on 8 October 2010 in the United Kingdom by Vertigo Films and premiered on 20 June 2010 at the EIFF.
Critical reception
Robbie Collin, of the News of the World, gave the film 4 stars summarising it as "Stupid, throwaway nonsense – and that's the whole idea".Collin, Robbie. "Jackboots On Whitehall (12A)." News of the World, 3 October 2010.Total Film magazine also gave the film 4 stars stating "Jackboots wittily merges war flick iconography, Inglorious revisionism and Team America silliness to create a hilarious, endearing one-off".
The Guardian praised the "impressive all-star vocal cast" in Jackboots on Whitehall, and called it a "labour of love" by its writer-directors, but concluded it was "amiably intentioned but desperately weak in terms of script" comparing it unfavourably with Wallace and Gromit and Team America: World Police. Other reviews were of a similar nature; the review in The Telegraph characterized the film as "an enterprising comedy but ultimately a boorish overkill."
Box office The film grossed $20,776 worldwide.
Home media Jackboots on Whitehall was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 26 July 2011 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Awards + List of awards and nominations Award Category Nominee British Independent Film Awards 2010 Raindance Award
Soundtrack
All music was composed by Guy Michelmore.
Battle Of Britain Harvest And Village Nazi Airship Attack Punjabi's Last Stand Light The Beacons Last Of The Few Retreat To Scotland Battle Of Downing Street Chris To The Rescue Freedom Nazis In London Travelling North Punjabi's Escape From London Hadrian's Wall Aurora Borealis Where Is Herr Churchill? The Morning After A Highland Morning Chris' Mission Facing The Enemy Jerusalem - Performed by Rosamund Pike, Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Merchant, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Pam Ferris and Cast Defending The Wall The Battle Facing Defeat Scottish Attack You're A Scotsman The Fallen Rule Britannia Scots Revenge Whitehall March Scotland The Brave Jackboots Demo
See also Hypothetical Axis victory in World War II Operation Sea Lion One Hundred Years of Evil
References
External links
Behind the scenes on Netribution Jackboots on Whitehall reviews at Best For Film