‘When the legend becomes fact, print the legend,’ is the famous line from the 1962 film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Change that to ‘film the legend’ and you get The Fisherman’s Friends film. It’s as heartwarming and wholesome as a pasty on a drizzly day in Port Isaac. And it may well take the country by storm just like the shanty men who inspired the tale.
It’s the pub-anecdote version of the Fisherman’ Friends story, ‘Hey, did you hear about that bunch of Cornish fishermen? These old blokes used to sing these bawdy folk songs in the harbour. Then they got spotted by a record producer on holiday and he signed them up. Now they’ve got a million-pound contract and their record only went into the top ten!’
That’s the legend, with a few details missing (they’re mostly not working fishermen, they’d recorded albums before and appeared at the Albert Hall as guests of Show of Hands, they already had a record offer before the producer turned up, and it was through an agent that they secured a major label deal).
Minor factual niggles aside, the resulting film is a re-telling of that legend, wrapped up in a rom-com, with a dollop of culture clash (Lunnon vs Kernow, city boys vs country folk), a smattering of fish-out-of-water, and a whole heap of rags-to-riches. But the cherry on top of this mixed metaphor is the wonderful soundtrack of shanties and sing-along songs by your actual Fishermen’s Friends.
If you want the real story of the group, you’ll find it in the book Fisherman’s Friends: Sailing at Eight Bells by the lads themselves. In his introduction to that tome, Mark Radcliffe writes, ‘The story of Port Isacc’s Fisherman’s Friends is modern-day folklore. Like The Calendar Girls, it is the tale of local that went global.’
The movie occupies the same feelgood territory as that thoroughly Brit film, alongside the likes of The Full Monty and Billy Elliot. And it has a big heart that draws you in with humour, pathos and good cheer. Along the way, there’s a love story, a cute kid, heartbreak, death, tears, betrayal, plenty of belly laughs and the unassailable urge to join in on the choruses.
What the film really captures is the humour and allure of the Fisherman’s Friends. They’re a bunch of pals having a laugh who don’t much care for fame and recognition but get those anyway. Who wouldn’t want to be one of the boys belting out a tune, pint in hand on the Platt at Port Isaac surrounded by all your mates?
On the big screen, the singers are played by James Purefoy, David Hayman, Dave Johns and Sam Swainsbury, with other shanty men taking more of a back-seat. No attempt is made to represent the actual performers individually. But they definitely capture the Cornish chaps’ spirit, if not always their accents.
While the story of the group’s rise to fame is the broad framework, screentime is mostly given to the will-they-won’t-they (well-of-course-they-will) romance between the always brilliant Daniel Mays and the delectable Tuppence Middleton (the poshest fisherman’s daughter in the whole of Dumnonia). It ticks every rom-com trope, but it’s always a charming journey that you are happy to indulge.
But for me, the two biggest stars of the film are firstly the songs, which are as rousing on the big screen as they are on a summer’s evening on the Platt. It’s a Fisherman’s Friends best-of featuring the likes of Nelson’s Blood, John Kanaka and Oh You New York Girls. Plus a few to add to the repertoire such as Keep Hauling, Widow Woman and Fisherman’s Blues. The other star is the ever picturesque village of Port Isaac which has already found TV fame in Doc Martin and the (1970s) Poldark. A swoop into the harbour has never been more breathtaking (or free from tempest and tourists) than on-screen here.
With this film, the Fisherman’s Friends have become an old folk-tale themselves. Like shanties such as Shenandoah, the truth has become embellished in the telling. The characters and story shifting like the sands on the shore. But never enough for us not to want to join in on the chorus.
Fisherman’s Friends is in Cinemas on March 15th: https://www.fishermansfriendsfilm.co.uk
Film Soundtrack: Keep Hauling
The soundtrack album ‘Keep Hauling’ from the movie will also be released on March 15th. The album features 17 songs recorded in their local church in St Kew. Some new, some borrowed and some slightly blue. While only making cameo appearances in the film the bands unique songs and voices weave their way throughout the heartfelt, poignant and at times hilarious narrative, providing the bedrock for what has already been hailed as one of the film highlights of 2019. You can pre-order the album now via and receive ‘Le Capitaine De San Malo’ instantly at: https://fishermansfriends.lnk.to/KeepHaulingPR
Keep Hauling Tracklisting
1. Keep Hauling
2. Nelson’s Blood
3. John Kanaka
4. The Coat Of High Barbary
5. South Australia
6. Little Lize I love You
7. Widow Woman
8. Le Capitaine De San Malo
9. Blow The Man Down
10. Shanty Man
11. Oh You New York Girls
12. The ‘Trelawny’ National Anthem
13. The Leaving Shanty
14. No Hopers Jokers & Rouges
15. Fisherman’s Blues
16. (What Shall We Do With The) Drunken Sailor
17. Union Of Different Kinds
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS UPCOMING LIVE DATES 2019
Saturday, 16 February Kings Hall – Ilkley
Sunday 17 February Pocklington Arts Centre – York
Monday 18 February Opera House Buxton
Thursday 07 March The Regal -Evesham
Friday 08 March The Platform – Morecombe
Saturday 09 March The Mechanics – Burnley
Wednesday 20 March The Capitol – Horsham
Thursday 21 March The Apex – Bury St Edmunds
Friday 21 March The Stables – Milton Keynes
Friday 29 March The Pavilion Worthing
Saturday 30 March Theatre Royal Margate
Sunday 31 March Tivoli – Wimborne
Tuesday 14 May The Minack Theatre Porthcurno
Wednesday 15 May The Minack Theatre Porthcurno
Sunday 26 May Rosemoor Gardens
Friday 05 July Penlee
Sunday 04 August Cambridge Folk Festival
Friday 23 August Towersey Folk Festival
More from their website here https://thefishermansfriends.com/