Project Detail

Guest House Paradiso

Synopsis

Guest House Paradiso is the much-anticipated feature debut of two popular UK comedians, Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson. The anarchic story of the world's worst hotel was written by the pair, directed by Edmondson and produced by Phil McIntyre, the music and live show promoter who had worked with Mayall and Edmondson on their live show. The trio had long wanted to make a feature together and funding came from Video Vision, a division of the then-PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, and now Universal Pictures International (UPI).

"With the opportunities available to Rik (Mayall) and Ade (Edmondson), it has been easier for them to take the course of least resistance and to write a book, do a TV series, or act in somebody else's film, that somebody else has financed, than actually to do their own thing," says McIntyre. "But things became easier so we made a film."

In addition to Mayall and Edmondson, the cast is populated by some of Europe's most dynamic acting talent including Vincent Cassel, Helene Mathieu and Bill Nighy.

"There's only one criterion in the whole film, which is that it's very funny," Mayall explains. "We find it's much better to build your own world, to make a fantasy and invite people into it. It's a world where the level of reality is such that you can do the kind of things we do, such as be swung around by meathooks through your nose without it seeming unreal."

Shooting took place in April 1999 at Ealing Studios and on location on the Isle of Wight. Universal International Pictures released the film in the UK in April 2000.

Details

Year
2000
Type of project
Features
Director
Adrian Edmondson
Composer
Colin Towns.
Dir
Adrian Edmondson. 2000. 35mm. 86mins. Exec prods: Helen Parker, Marc Samuelson, Peter Samuelson. Prod: Philip McIntyre. Scr: Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson. DoP: Alan Almond. Prod des: Tom Brown. Ed: Sean Barton. Main cast: Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Vincent Cassel, Helene Mathieu, Bill Nighy. Budget: £3.5m. Funding: Video Vision (PolyGram Filmed Entertainment).

Categories

Production Status

Production Company

PHIL MCINTYRE PROMOTIONS 35 Soho Square London W1V 3QX Tel: (44) 20 7 439 2270 Fax: (44) 20 7439 2280.

Sales Company

Universal Pictures International (44) 20 7747 4509 Territories sold: UK.

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