Looks and Smiles
6.9
Thatcherism and the Irish troubles provide the backdrop for this study of Mick, a well-meaning youth in Sheffield, who has, unlike Dickens' Pip, no expectations. Mick lives with his parents, works on his motorbike, looks for work, and every two weeks gets his check from the dole. There are no jobs. His best mate Alan joins the army to fix tanks and is sent to Belfast to quell Catholics. At a disco, Mick meets Karen, who works at a shoe shop and lives with her recently-separated mum. She offers emotional stability and a route to adulthood while Alan pitches the army. What will become of Mick?
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Cast
15 people
Graham Green
Michael 'Mick' Walsh
Carolyn Nicholson
Karen Lodge
No other roles listed
Tony Pitts
Alan Wright
Known for
Peaky Blinders
Sherlock
Roy Haywood
Phil
Also in
Bronco Bullfrog
Everybody's an Actor, Shakespeare Said
Phil Askham
Mr Walsh
Also in
The Gamekeeper
Threads
Pam Darrell
Mrs Walsh
Also in
Travellers
Tracey Goodlad
Julie
No other roles listed
Patti Nicholls
Mrs Wright
Known for
Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Cilla Mason
Mrs Lodge
Also in
Black Jack
In Fading Light
Les Hickin
George
Also in
The Gamekeeper
Black Jack
Arthur Davies
Eric Lodge
Also in
Black Jack
A Village Romeo And Juliet
Deirdre Costello
Jenny
Known for
Jack the Ripper
The Full Monty
Ken Loach Director · Barry Hines Writer Marc Wilkinson Composer
First release May 14, 1981 · Produced in France, United Kingdom · Production mk2 Films, Kestrel Films
Production
British Lion Films
Production
mk2 Films
Production
Kestrel Films
Production
France · United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
France · May 14, 1981
Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
No release date listed for United States.
Canada
September 12, 1981 · Premiere · Toronto International Film Festival
France
September 9, 1981 · Limited theatrical
Germany
October 10, 1982 · TV
Greece
November 19, 1998 · Premiere · Thessaloniki International Film Festival
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