Fish and chips

The drawing of a penis with a foreskin that Saleem shows his brothers and sister proved unexpectedly difficult. Chris Bisson can't draw so an artist was commissioned to sketch the object in question, but upon seeing the finished result, it was quickly decided that it looked too odd. It transpired that the artist was in fact circumcised and had no familiarity with foreskins, so the cast and crew were asked if anyone could draw and would like to volunteer his penis. Fortunately, one of the set photographers fit both requirements.

In the film they constantly use the term "shillings" when referring to prices and money. Britain adopted the pounds and pence decimal system on 15 February 1971, and over the next year or two ditched the shilling and pence currency. In the film's opening scene the caption reads "Salford, Manchester, 1971," and after the eldest brother runs out on his wedding a second caption, in the second or third scene, then reads "six months later," meaning that Britain had changed over the currency, so when one of the brothers keeps begging his mum for 10 shillings, etc., it might sound factually incorrect, but there was a changeover period and use of both currencies was permitted. Shilling coins remained legal tender and in circulation for many years; the sixpence remained in circulation until 1980 for machines, but was removed from general use after 1973; conversely the 50 New Pence coin (worth 10 shillings) was introduced two years before decimalisation. People didn't stop using the word "shilling" for many years although by 1974, the use of old money had gone.

Special thanks to ... and all the residents of Openshaw.

Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Instinct/The Loss of Sexual Innocence/Limbo (1999)