Main Cast: Herbert Norville, Denis Lawson, Rita Wolf, Maurice Denham, Nigel Hawthorne, Billie Whitelaw, Leo McKern, Warren Mitchell, David Troughton, Phyllis Logan
Release Year: 1985
Country: UK
Run Time: 96 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
The Chain is linked by a series of moves. As one couple moves out of their current residence to live in posher quarters, another moves in, and so it goes all the way up to the lavish mansioned owned by self-made millionaire Leo McKern. The cycle starts all over again when McKern, wishing to be closer to his roots, returns to the working-class neighborhood whence he came. Each move is wryly commented upon by the team of professional movers headed by Warren Mitchell. The enormously gifted British cast includes Billie Whitelaw, Nigel Hawthorne, Maurice Denham, Denis Lawson, Phyllis Logan, and David Troughton. This multistoried seriocomedy is at its best a fond throwback to the Ealing films of the 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Judy Parfitt - Deidre; Tony Westrope - Paul; Bernard Hill - Nick; Anna Massey - Betty; Matthew Blaksted - Mark; Kim Clifford - Dingy; Mark Dignam - Ambrose; Graham Jarvis - Foxx; Paddy Joyce - Carpet Layer; Jade Magrid - Tasha; Ron Pember - Stan; George Rossi - 3rd Removal Man; Patsy Smart - Old Lady; Robin Summers - Policeman; Gary Waldhorn - Tornado; James Coyle - 2nd Removal Man; Bob Holness - Newsreader; Vicky Licorish - Myra; Charlotte Long - Rosemary; Michael Mulkerrin - Clampsman; Carmen Munroe - Des's Mum; Ben Onwukwe - 1st Removal Man; John Rowe - Alex; Alex Tetteh-Lartey - Edgar the Neighbour; Darliah Wood - Bozo; Steven Woodcock - Gary; Anne Tirard - Homeless Old Lady; Bill Thomas - Postman
Credit
Tudor George - Costume Designer, Jack Gold - Director, Bill Blunden - Editor, Stanley Myers - Composer (Music Score), Sandra Shepherd - Makeup, Peter Murton - Production Designer, Wolfgang Suschitzky - Cinematographer, Victor Glynn - Producer, Michael Ford - Set Designer, Jack Rosenthal - Screenwriter
The Chain tells the story of seven households that comprise a circular property chain, and various moving company employees who are tasked with assisting each household in their move. It follows the trials and tribulations, from trivial to profound, each household and mover (who are each guilty of one of the seven deadly sins) endures during the moving process.
