Film screening to mark ten years since the release of Wallasey writer Marc Gee’s Al’s Lads

Nov 9 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

A WALLASEY writer is marking ten years since the release of the film that gave him his big break.

Former commercial artist Marc Gee had written numerous plays which received little recognition before his script for Al’s Lads was made into a movie in 2001.

The £3m adventure drama, which tells the story of three Liverpool men who travel to America in the 1920s to work for gangster Al Capone, even received a BAFTA premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Starring Ralf Little, Marc Warren and Ricky Tomlinson, it has now been sold to 22 countries.

The film will receive a special screening at the Liverpool Philharmonic this Sunday (November 13).

Marc, 57, said: “It’s amazing, it’s still doing really well. It’s still taken to Cannes every year.

“It’s been sold to 22 countries but that means there’s still another 35 out there to sell it to!

“It’s doing well on DVD and Film Four have earmarked it to show.”

Marc has gone on to write a number of novels, including fast-paced crime thriller Autumn Kill and Declaration of Guilt, but says there’s still a special place in his heart for the film which started it all.

Al’s Lads was filmed entirely on Merseyside and the writer hopes some of the 600 locals who starred as extras will be at the Philharmonic.

He explained: “I want to get the word out there because it’s an opportunity for people who’ve never had the chance to see it on the big screen.

“The highlight for me was seeing Water Street in Liverpool turned into the streets of Chicago from 1927.”

Marc is still writing plays and his most recent, Thetis, was performed by the 100th Meridian Theatre Company at Pacific Road Arts Centre in July.

The Liverpool Philharmonic screening on Sunday will be introduced by comedian Frankie Allen and starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £7 from the box office on 709 3789.