Brothers of the Head
Encyclopedia
Brothers of the Head is a 2005 mockumentary
featuring the story of Tom and Barry Howe (Harry
and Luke Treadaway
respectively), conjoined twins
living in the United Kingdom
. It was based on the 1977 novel of the same name by science fiction
writer Brian Aldiss
.
(Howard Attfield) with plans to turn them into rock stars. The brothers form a punk rock
band called the Bang Bang. As the band's success grows, a music journalist, Laura (Tania Emery
), follows the band writing an article. A romantic relationship develops between Laura and Tom causing friction between the two brothers.
(who appears in the film as himself and makes references to a previous rock and roll-based film, Tommy
), had attempted to make his own uncompleted film version of the "true" story.
Ex-Crackout
members Steven Eagles, Nicholas Millard and Jack Dunkley also have cameos. They also provided the soundtrack to the movie.
All Bang-Bang music tracks featured in the film were actually performed live by actors Harry and Luke Treadaway themselves, along with the actors portraying the band members. The Treadaways, along with all the actors except Bryan Dick
(Paul Day), recorded studio tracks for the soundtrack album
.
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
featuring the story of Tom and Barry Howe (Harry
Harry Treadaway
- Personal life :Treadaway was born in Devon, England, and brought up in Sandford, near Crediton, Devon, with his father, an architect, his mother, a primary school teacher and two brothers - his slightly older twin Luke and their older brother Sam, an artist...
and Luke Treadaway
Luke Treadaway
Luke Antony N. Treadaway is an English actor, whose career includes roles in the films Brothers of the Head and Attack the Block.- Personal life :...
respectively), conjoined twins
Conjoined twins
Conjoined twins are identical twins whose bodies are joined in utero. A rare phenomenon, the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 50,000 births to 1 in 100,000 births, with a somewhat higher incidence in Southwest Asia and Africa. Approximately half are stillborn, and a smaller fraction of...
living in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was based on the 1977 novel of the same name by science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer Brian Aldiss
Brian Aldiss
Brian Wilson Aldiss, OBE is an English author of both general fiction and science fiction. His byline reads either Brian W. Aldiss or simply Brian Aldiss. Greatly influenced by science fiction pioneer H. G. Wells, Aldiss is a vice-president of the international H. G. Wells Society...
.
Plot
In the early 1970s, the twins are essentially purchased by sleazy managerTalent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
(Howard Attfield) with plans to turn them into rock stars. The brothers form a punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band called the Bang Bang. As the band's success grows, a music journalist, Laura (Tania Emery
Tania Emery
Tania Merle Emery is a British actress best known for her television role as DC Kate Spears in the ITV police drama The Bill....
), follows the band writing an article. A romantic relationship develops between Laura and Tom causing friction between the two brothers.
Cast
- Luke TreadawayLuke TreadawayLuke Antony N. Treadaway is an English actor, whose career includes roles in the films Brothers of the Head and Attack the Block.- Personal life :...
as Barry Howe - Harry TreadawayHarry Treadaway- Personal life :Treadaway was born in Devon, England, and brought up in Sandford, near Crediton, Devon, with his father, an architect, his mother, a primary school teacher and two brothers - his slightly older twin Luke and their older brother Sam, an artist...
as Tom Howe - Sean HarrisSean HarrisSean Harris is a British actor, who is best known for his performance as Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in the film 24 Hour Party People. He grew up in Norwich, Norfolk, where he lived until he was 23....
as Nick Sidney - Bryan DickBryan DickBryan Dick is an English actor, who has starred in multiple motion pictures, television series, and stage productions in both the United Kingdom and United States.-Background:...
as Paul Day - Tania EmeryTania EmeryTania Merle Emery is a British actress best known for her television role as DC Kate Spears in the ITV police drama The Bill....
as Laura - Jonathan PryceJonathan PryceJonathan Pryce, CBE is a Welsh stage and film actor and singer. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and meeting his longtime partner English actress Kate Fahy in 1974, he began his career as a stage actor in the 1970s...
as Henry Couling - Howard Attfield as Zak Bedderwick
- Ken RussellKen RussellHenry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell was an English film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. He attracted criticism as being obsessed with sexuality and the church...
as himself - James Greene as Brian AldissBrian AldissBrian Wilson Aldiss, OBE is an English author of both general fiction and science fiction. His byline reads either Brian W. Aldiss or simply Brian Aldiss. Greatly influenced by science fiction pioneer H. G. Wells, Aldiss is a vice-president of the international H. G. Wells Society...
Production trivia
Brian Aldiss, the writer of the original novel, filmed a cameo, however it was cut out and replaced by an actor portraying him. Deleted scenes make it clear that in the continuity of the film, Aldiss based his novel on a real life case. In the backstory of the action, Ken RussellKen Russell
Henry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell was an English film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. He attracted criticism as being obsessed with sexuality and the church...
(who appears in the film as himself and makes references to a previous rock and roll-based film, Tommy
Tommy (film)
Tommy is a 1975 British musical film based upon The Who's 1969 rock opera album musical Tommy. It was directed by Ken Russell and featured a star-studded cast, including the band members themselves...
), had attempted to make his own uncompleted film version of the "true" story.
Ex-Crackout
Crackout
Crackout were a pop punk / rock / jazz influenced trio who formed in Oxford, England in 1997. As well as releasing two albums and a handful of singles, they toured with artists such as Sum 41, Seafood, Haven and Span before disbanding in late 2005. One notable aspect of the band's concerts was...
members Steven Eagles, Nicholas Millard and Jack Dunkley also have cameos. They also provided the soundtrack to the movie.
All Bang-Bang music tracks featured in the film were actually performed live by actors Harry and Luke Treadaway themselves, along with the actors portraying the band members. The Treadaways, along with all the actors except Bryan Dick
Bryan Dick
Bryan Dick is an English actor, who has starred in multiple motion pictures, television series, and stage productions in both the United Kingdom and United States.-Background:...
(Paul Day), recorded studio tracks for the soundtrack album
Soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
.
External links
- of the Head at Allmovie
- of the Head online trailer hosted by Apple ComputerApple ComputerApple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...