Pressure
Short description
Set in June 1944, this historical drama focuses on the 72 hours leading up to the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The plot centers on the tension between General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg, the chief meteorologist for the British forces. As the Allies prepare for the largest seaborne invasion in history, Stagg must provide an accurate weather forecast despite approaching storms. The leadership faces a critical dilemma: proceed with the dangerous operation despite poor weather or risk a delay that could allow German intelligence to discover their plans and change the outcome of the war.
The film was directed by Anthony Maras, who previously directed Hotel Mumbai in 2018. The screenplay was written by Maras and David Haig. The cast features Andrew Scott as James Stagg and Brendan Fraser as Dwight Eisenhower, alongside Kerry Condon, Chris Messina, Damian Lewis, and Tamsin Topolski.
Produced by StudioCanal and Working Title Films, the movie had a budget of 30 million USD and earned 20 million USD at the worldwide box office. It has been received positively by viewers, holding a rating of 7.7/10 on TMDB based on 434 votes.
What's left behind the scenes
- While searching for a location for the Allied forces headquarters, Anthony Marras went through over 100 options. At one point, he even considered using the very estate in Hampshire where the command was based during World War II, but it turned out that a military base is still located there. Ultimately, the filmmakers settled on the Rothschilds' country estate in Buckinghamshire.
- During the production of the film, the cinematographer, costume designer, and production designer drew inspiration from the color palette of colorized military archival footage.
- Artist Dan Taylor meticulously recreated the map of the planned landing operation from the surviving original. He even exactly reproduced the color palette—the same colors on the original varied in brightness because fragments of the map were ordered from different British printing companies. This was due to security protocols; the companies did not know what the fragments were or what they were a part of.
- One of the editors working with the archival footage happened to be the grandson of meteorologist James Stagg, who is featured in the film and played by Andrew Scott.
- Actor Brendan Fraser shaved his head for the role of Dwight Eisenhower. Before filming began, he read everything he could find about his character. Fraser kept biographical materials on Eisenhower with him throughout the entire filming period and constantly suggested nuances and details missing from the script that he believed made his character's portrayal more complete and accurate.
- In reality, during the preparation for the landing operation, James Stagg's wife was expecting a child, but she did not give birth until November. For added drama, a fictional scene was added to the script depicting the bombing of the hospital where she had been staying before delivery.
- In the parachute jump scene, the aircraft involved in the landing are shown without the black and white stripes on their wings. These stripes were specifically applied to facilitate identification and prevent friendly fire.
- The actors and technical staff were trained to work with equipment created a century ago by meteorologists who were nearly as old as the gear itself. The film used exact replicas of the weather maps used during the planning of the Normandy landings.
- To capture the appearance of wartime maps and documents in minute detail, the filmmakers specifically sourced vintage printing presses and other period equipment.
- The filmmakers recreated the exact topography of the beaches based on postcards and photographs of the area provided by UK residents, who had no idea why their family archives were needed.
- The film includes archival footage that Anthony Maras, the director and screenwriter, initially did not intend to use. He didn't want the movie to look like a historical documentary. Recalling Peter Jackson's documentary project 'They Shall Not Grow Old' (2018), Maras colorized the archival footage. While selecting material from the archives, Maras and his assistants reviewed 46 hours of military newsreels.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
