Trailer
Plot summary
On the fictional Caribbean island of Cascara, a British colony, Governor Baxter Thwaites has an easy, peaceful life. The British government, media, and public pay little attention to the place. That calm is broken when an abandoned oil rig begins delivering water of a standard equal to the finest table waters. The water also contains a substance with a laxative effect. Various outside parties, including the British prime minister's office, the island's liberation movement, the United States government, French bottled water companies, and Cuban guerrillas, all take an interest in the island's future. These outside forces threaten to destroy the relaxed way of life the islanders enjoy.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Water (1985)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Michael Palin turned down the lead role of Baxter Thwaites; after re-reading the script he called it only a slightly more exciting version of Yellowbeard and Bullshot, and made A Private Function instead, with Michael Caine playing the lead.
- John Cleese was offered the role of Sir Malcolm Leveridge, read the script and turned it down; Leonard Rossiter played the part instead, in what became his last film.
- On a hilltop scene in Water, Michael Caine faked a leg injury to spoil the take, then whispered to Billy Connolly to move further to the right, where the cameras could see him.
- George Harrison normally did not get involved in producing HandMade Films' movies, but he helped Water by appearing in its closing concert and getting his friends Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Jon Lord and Ray Cooper to appear.
- The film's fictional Caribbean colony of Cascara was the real island of Saint Lucia, and the name is a play on the cascara plant, whose laxative properties match the mineral water found on the island.
- The Singing Rebel's Band in Water - Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ray Cooper, Jon Lord, Mike Moran, Chris Stainton and Ringo Starr - spoofs The Concert for Bangladesh that Harrison organized in 1971.
