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Glenn Close will be this year's recipient of the Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at the 59th San Sebastian International Film Festival, which runs September 16 to 24. The Sept. 18 award ceremony will help to publicize the European premiere of the Close's latest project, the period drama Albert Nobbs. Directed by Colombian filmmaker Rodrigo García (son of Gabriel García Márquez), Albert Nobbs stars Close as a 19th-century female Dubliner who passes herself off as a man in order to eke out a living. Based on a short story by George Moore, Albert Nobbs was adapted for the screen by Close, Gabriella Prekop, and novelist John Banville. Albert Nobbs' world premiere will be held at the Toronto Film Festival in early September. Also in the film's cast: Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Janet McTeer, Pauline Collins, Brenda Fricker, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Brendan Gleeson. Glenn Close has been nominated for five Academy Awards, but she has never won.

Bob White (Moore Marriott) has been driving the Flying Scotsman on the London to Edinburgh route for decades. The day before his final voyage he reports his stoker, Crow, for being drunk on the job. Crow is sacked and decides to board the train, vowing to take his revenge on White. Meanwhile, Crow’s replacement, a jack the lad by the name of Jim (Ray Milland) has been romancing Jean, not realising that she is White’s daughter. Jean gets wind of Crow’s plan and boards the train as well, hoping to avert disaster.

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The Flying Scotsman is something of a historical artifact, being the first full-length British film to feature sound. It was made by British International Pictures, though distributed by Warner Bros, who had of course made and released 1927′s The Jazz Singer, which was the first talkie to make its way onto the big screen. In...

It’s 82 years since it was committed to film and The Flying Scotsman (1929) finally sees a DVD release! This very early British experiment into sound cinema (it was originally a silent picture, with sound added in March 1930) is an interesting glimpse at the power of both silent and ‘talkie’ productions, combining some fantastic elements from both into one classic picture. A movie that also sees the screen debut of Ray Milland, who would go on to have starring roles in The Lost Weekend (1945), Dial M for Murder (1954) and the television series Meet Mr. McNutley (1953-55).

Along with Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail (1929), The Flying Scotsman symbolises a benchmark in British filmmaking and is both a fascinating watch for fans of historical cinema from the UK and those who are interested in the industry’s transition to sound.

Bob White (Moore Marriott) is the driver of the high-speed steam train The Flying Scotsman.

Last year, Optimum Releasing's remastered versions of The Railway Children (1970), Breathless (1960) and Peeping Tom (1960) were released as part of their continuing efforts to preserve a vast catalogue of classic titles. Castleton Knight's The Flying Scotsman (1929) is the latest feature to receive extensive digital restoration and is now available to own for the first time on DVD.

The Flying Scotsman tells the story of the imminently retiring Bob White (Moore Marriott), an engine driver of the elite Flying Scotsman express that has run daily between London and Edinburgh since 1862. On the day before his last run, White reports his stoker Crow (Alec Hurley) for drinking on duty, an action that results in Crow's instant dismissal. The film's momentum is built through anticipation of Crow's explicitly declared vengeance against White and replacement stoker Jim Edwards (Ray Milland).

Meanwhile, a chance encounter at a party leads to a blossoming relationship between...

Optimum Releasing are releasing The Flying Scotsman which has made it’s way to DVD 82 years after it was released back in 1929! It’s being released on DVD on 28th February and we’ve been given three copies to give away to you.

Synopsis: Arguably the first full length British feature film to use sound (most likely this was added later, in 1930), The Flying Scotsman features daredevil stunts performed on the real eponymous locomotive (that serviced the London to Edinburgh route), and the screen debut of Ray Milland (The Lost Weekend, Dial M For Murder, Markham).

The day before he is due to retire an old engine-driver (Moore Marriott) reports his stoker, Crow (Alec Hurley), for drunkenness. The man is discharged and threatens to make trouble. As the train is leaving on the driver’s last run, Crow boards it, followed by the driver’s daughter Joan (Pauline Johnson). During...

Actor with great stage presence who found his metier in comic and satirical roles

There was something extra-terrestrial about the character actor Graham Crowden, who has died aged 87 – a mix of the ethereal eccentricity of Ralph Richardson and the Scottish lunacy and skewiff authoritarianism of Alastair Sim. He specialised in portraying doctors, lawyers or teachers in a satirical way.

Crowden was a tall, red-haired, serious and sometimes professionally diffident man – he turned down the opportunity of succeeding Jon Pertwee as the fourth Doctor Who, remarking that working with a lot of Daleks did not sound like much fun. He had a tremendous stage presence, always moving with an emphatic, loping gait.

Despite his eminence in plays at the Royal Court and the National Theatre, where he introduced roles in works by Nf Simpson and Tom Stoppard, and in films directed by Lindsay Anderson, he did not become widely familiar until...

Amanda Seyfried, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Michael Gambon, Janet McTeer and Orlando Bloom have joined the cast of Rodrigo Garcia's "Albert Nobbs." Glenn Close will reprise her award-winning stage role as a woman who must pass as a man to survive life in 19th century Ireland.According to Variety, Close adapted the script from the short story by Irish author George Moore with author John Banville. Shooting begins in June in Dublin. Close won an Obie Award in 1983 playing the same role in Simone Benmussa's Off-Broadway interpretation of "The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs."Close is producing along with Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn and Alan Moloney. This will be Close's third film with Garcia after "Nine Lives" and "Things You Can Tell...

While in NYC to discuss her sexy new thriller Chloe, from director Atom Egoyan, Amanda Seyfried was happy to chat about her new project with Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs. Close starred in an off-Broadway adaptation of George Moore's short story in 1982 as the title character, a woman who lives as a man in the Victorian era in order to take advantage of the luxuries and opportunities not otherwise afforded to women at that time. Close is starring as Albert Nobbs this time around too; she also co-wrote the screenplay and is producing the Rodrigo García-directed film.

Seyfriend couldn't officially confirm that she was signed on to The Girl with the Red Riding Hood (after accidentally slipping up and mentioning it to Ryan Seacrest at the Oscars), but she was happy to discuss Nobbs, which sounds equally interesting.

"[Close] cast me in it to play her love interest ... and it's f*cking amazing.

Amanda Seyfried and Jonathan Rhys Meyers has joined the cast of the film adaptation of 1980's Broadway play "Albert Nobbs" for WestEnd Films reports Variety.

Set around a luxury hotel in Dublin in the 19th century, the "Gosford Park"-esque drama has Glenn Close reprising her award-winning stage role of a woman who impersonates a man to survive.

Michael Gambon, Orlando Bloom and Janet McTeer also star in the project which Rodrigo Garcia ("Mother and Child") will direct. Close and John Banville adapted the script from author George Moore's short story.

Close, Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn will produce. Filming kicks off this June in Dublin.

Amanda Seyfried and Jonathan Rhys Meyers have joined the cast of Rodrigo Garcia's Albert Nobbs which sees Glenn Close reprise her award-winning stage role as a woman who must pass as a man to survive life in 19th century Ireland. Close also adapted the script from the short story by Irish author George Moore with author John Banville. Previously-announced cast members include Michael Gambon, Orlando Bloom and Janet McTeer. The film will shoot this June in Dublin.

Amanda Seyfried and Jonathan Rhys Meyers have joined the cast of Rodrigo Garcia's Albert Nobbs, which sees Glenn Close reprising her acclaimed stage performance for the big screen.

Close has adapted the script from the short story by Irish author George Moore with author John Banville, and the film will follow roughly the same plot as the play, that being of a woman who must pass as a man to survive life in 19th century Ireland.

Other cast members include Michael Gambon, Orlando Bloom and Janet McTeer.

The film begins shooting in Dublin this June.

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Tuesday 16 March 2010...

Orlando Bloom, Amanda Seyfried and Jonathan Rhys Meyers have joined the cast of "Albert Nobbs." The film, set in 19th Century Ireland, sees Glenn Close reprising her award-winning stage role, playing a woman who must pass as a man in order to survive. This marks the feature producing debut of Close who also adapted the screenplay with author John Banville from the short story by Irish author George Moore. Ridrigo Garcia directs and filming starts in June in Dublin. Also cast are Michael Gambon and Janet McTeer. In the story, the heroine is trapped in her own prison when spending 20 years dressing and working as a man. Producing along with Close are Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn and Alan Moloney. Close won an Obie Award in 1983...

Scorsese's Cabret Signs Its Young Leads: Yesterday it was announced Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Kingsley would star in Martin Scorsese's next film The Invention of Hugo Cabret and now two more names join the cast of the kid's flick. Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) will star as the title character and Chloe Moretz, the 13-year-old co-star in Kick-Ass, will play Isabelle. It's also being reported the film will be released by Columbia Pictures. [Deadline]

Bettany and Sewell Join The Tourist: Paul Bettany and Rufus Sewell have joined the cast of The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie for Lives of Others helmer Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The film is already shooting in Venice, Italy and revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Frank pursues a potential...

Amanda Seyfried, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Orlando Bloom have joined Michael Gambon, Janet McTeer and Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs. The film marks the feature producing debut of Damages star Close, who co-wrote the script with Man Booker prize-winning author John Banville, based on a short story by Irish author George Moore.  The drama stars Close as a woman who poses as a man in order to find work and survive in 19th Century Ireland. She becomes enmeshed in an unusual love triangle. After 20 years of gender-faking, she finds herself confined to a prison of her own making. Rodrigo Garcia [...]...

Glenn Close is to take the leading role in a film of The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs - the play in which she starred off-Broadway in 1982

Glenn Close will play a woman in 1880s Dublin who disguises herself as a man for economic gain in a big screen adaptation of Simone Benmussa's The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs. Close won an Obie award for best actress when she starred in a production of the same play in New York in 1982.

Close has helped adapt the script and will also take a producer's credit. Colombian-born film-maker Rodrigo Garcia is directing, with other cast members said to include Orlando Bloom, Michael Gambon and Janet McTeer.

"I believe in this story and its potential to take everyone on a sensuous, funny, heart-breaking ride," Close said of the project, which will go into production in the summer. The original play was itself...

Glenn Close will reprise her stage role in The Singular Life Of Albert Nobbs in a new movie, which she has adapted for the big screen.

The actress played Nobbs in the costume drama in 1982 and won an Obie Award for her brief off-Broadway stage stint.

She's now working on the George Moore tale and has recruited Orlando Bloom, Michael Gambon, and Janet McTeer to join her in the film version.

Filmmaker Rodrigo Garcia will direct the project, which is set to start shooting in July. Close will also produce the film.

The plot revolves around a 19th Century Irish woman who disguises herself as a man in order to make a success of her life.