We love John Hurt and at 76 years old he’ still going strong playing the lead in the film adaptation of the late N.J. Crisp’s renowned 1996 stage play of the same name, THAT GOOD NIGHT, which has begun principal photography alongside Sofia Helin (THE BRIDGE), Erin Richards (GOTHAM, THE QUIET ONES, BEING HUMAN) and Max Brown (AGENT CARTER, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE TUDORS).
The film will shoot for five weeks on the Algarve coastline of Portugal (nice work if you can get it!)
THAT GOOD NIGHT, which derives its name from the famous Dylan Thomas poem, follows Ralph (played by Hurt), a famed screenwriter coming to terms with his impending death. As he does so, he resolves to attempt two final missions in life; to be reconciled to his long-lost son (Brown), and to ensure he doesn’t become a burden to his wife Anna (Helin) with his slow decline, by hiring a mysterious “Visitor” to help him pass painlessly into “…that good night”. But Ralph wrecks all hope of reconciliation when he picks a fight with Michael’s girlfriend, Cassie. Later, alone, Ralph receives the sinister and mysterious “Visitor” whose services he has hired to provide the painless ending to his life. But The Visitor plays a devastating trick.
Directed by award-winning Eric Styles (DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES, RELATIVE VALUES) THAT GOOD NIGHT has been written for the screen by theatre director and writer for film, stage and television, Charles Savage.
Director Eric Styles said of the Production: “I’m looking forward to bringing this bittersweet, thought-provoking drama to the big screen. Charles Savage has crafted a beautifully nuanced script and I am very lucky to have such a brilliant cast and crew to help bring this story to life”.
John Hurt shared “I am excited to be a part of this production and very much looking forward to putting all the jigsaw pieces together that make up this fascinating and paradoxical character.”
Set in their luxury villa in the remote hilltops that surround the Algarve coastline of Portugal, this bittersweet drama bravely tackles issues of assisted dying, nature and the meaning of life and death. Based on the hugely successful stage play by NJ Crisp, its brilliant and witty arguments address issues that we traditionally avoid.
This was a cracking play and we’re looking forward to seeing this next year.
