The Brylcreem Boys is a 1998

1998 in film

-Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:...

 film directed and co-written by Terence Ryan

Terence Ryan

Terence Ryan is a British film director, writer, and producer.He has written, directed and produced eight feature films and he as also produced and directed an enormous variety of television programs and television series ranging from serious drama and comedy to sport, music and...

 about the extraordinary neutrality arrangements pertaining to Ireland during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, by the Éamon de Valera

Éamon de Valera

Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...

 government. The title comes from a popular nickname for the RAF

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 personnel during the period.

Because of Irish neutrality during World War II

Irish neutrality during World War II

The policy of Irish neutrality during World War II was adopted by Dáil Éireann at the instigation of Éamon de Valera, its Taoiseach upon the outbreak of hostilities in Europe and maintained throughout the conflict. De Valera refrained from joining either the Allies or Axis powers...

, any Allied or Axis serviceman on active service found on Irish soil would be interned for the duration of hostilities. They were interned in adjoining camps, at Naas

Naas

Naas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...

, County Kildare.

The film is a romantic comedy with a triangle formed by a Canadian pilot, a German pilot, both interned at the camp under extremely flexible arrangements, and a local woman.

The film stars Billy Campbell

Billy Campbell

William Oliver "Billy" Campbell is an American film and television actor. In television, he is best known for his roles as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, as Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, as Jordan Collier on The 4400, and as Dr. Jon Fielding on the Tales of the City Miniseries...

 and Angus Macfadyen

Angus Macfadyen

Angus Macfadyen is a Scottish actor.Angus Macfadyen was born in Glasgow and was brought up partly in Africa, France, the Philippines and Singapore. His father was a doctor in the World Health Organisation. He was once engaged to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.Angus attended the University of...

 as the two pilots, Jean Butler

Jean Butler

Jean Butler , is an Irish American Irish dancer, choreographer, and occasional actress. She is best known for originating the principal female role in the Irish dance company Riverdance.-Personal life and education:...

 as the Irish woman they fall in love with, and Gabriel Byrne

Gabriel Byrne

Gabriel James Byrne is an Irish actor, film director, film producer, writer, cultural ambassador and audiobook narrator. His acting career began in the Focus Theatre before he joined Londo's Royal Court Theatre in 1979. Byrne's screen debut came in the Irish soap opera The Riordans and the...

 as the internment camp commander Sean O'Brien.

Cast by Jo Gilbert

Jo Gilbert

Jo Gilbert is a Film Producer and Casting Director based in Holywood, near Belfast, Northern Ireland and runs The Real Holywood Production Company.- As Producer / Associate Producer :As of December 2010, Ms...

, this was the first movie made on the Isle of Man

Isle of Man

The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...

 since George Formby's No Limit

No Limit (1936 film)

No Limit is a 1935 British comedy film which was released by Associated Talking Pictures. It starred George Formby and Florence Desmond.-Synopsis:...

in 1936.

It was also the film that established the Isle of Man Film Commission.