The Last Drop
Encyclopedia
The Last Drop is a 2005 war
adventure film
from writer
/director
Colin Teague
. Teague teamed up with screenwriter
Gary Young
, with whom he had previously collaborated on the British
crime drama films Shooters
and Spivs. Incidentally, Andrew Howard
and Louis Dempsey, who cowrote Shooters alongside Teague and Young, both appear briefly in the film.
, during Operation Market Garden
, the largest full scale airborne
invasion
in history. Corporal Powell (Newbon
), an undercover
British Intelligence officer
, has been given command of a small unit of men, codenamed Matchbox. Their assignment is to retrieve a horde of Dutch
gold and art treasures that has been plundered by the Nazis and is now headed for Berlin
in a seemingly impregnable safe
. Simple enough, but when Matchbox is shot down short of the drop point their plan goes awry and Powell is forced to recruit the assistance of several colorful characters, including a smart mouthed petty thief (Moran
), a drunken bomb disposal expert (Flanagan
), and a smooth talking pilot with a keen eye for smooth ladies (Zane
).
As Powell and his roving band of misfits fight their way through German
counterattack
, members of the Dutch resistance
(Gaskell
and Beed) have managed to pinpoint the location of the stolen loot, where it is being closely guarded by the vile SS Major Kessler (Fox
) and his elite team of storm troopers
. Risking their lives, they communicate this vital information to British Intelligence in a courageous attempt to liberate occupied Holland. At the same time, renegade German forces race to get their hands on the loot as well. It’s a race against the clock, in the midst of a heated battle, ending with an enthralling climax.
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
adventure film
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
from writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
/director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Colin Teague
Colin Teague
Colin Teague is a British television director, who trained at Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead. He is most associated with Doctor Who, being the first person to have directed for the main show and both of its spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures...
. Teague teamed up with screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
Gary Young
Gary Young (screenwriter)
Gary Young is a UK screenwriter who is probably best known for writing Harry Brown starring Michael Caine.He has also written Madam Samurai a graphic novel series with Eagle Award-winning artist David Hitchcock.-Films:Films include:...
, with whom he had previously collaborated on the British
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...
crime drama films Shooters
Shooters (film)
Shooters is a 2002 British crime drama film from directors Colin Teague and Glenn Durfort, and writers Andrew Howard, Louis Dempsey and Gary Young. It was filmed in London in 1999 and released theatrically in the UK on January 25, 2002...
and Spivs. Incidentally, Andrew Howard
Andrew Howard
-Stage acting:On stage roles included Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange, Peer Gyntin Peer Gynt, Orestes in Electra at theatres, including The Royal National Theatre and TheDonmar Warehouse .-Film acting:...
and Louis Dempsey, who cowrote Shooters alongside Teague and Young, both appear briefly in the film.
Plot synopsis
The film is set in the backdrop of World War IIWorld 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...
, during Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
, the largest full scale airborne
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
invasion
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
in history. Corporal Powell (Newbon
Neil Newbon
Neil Newbon , is an English actor.-Biography:Newbon was born in Birmingham, England, the son of ITV sportscaster Gary Newbon. His family was originally from Scotland on his mother's side, and Belarus on his father's side. His twin brother also works in the film and television industry as a...
), an undercover
Undercover
Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gain information or evidence...
British Intelligence officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, has been given command of a small unit of men, codenamed Matchbox. Their assignment is to retrieve a horde of Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
gold and art treasures that has been plundered by the Nazis and is now headed for Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in a seemingly impregnable safe
Safe
A safe is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or damage. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face removable or hinged to form a door. The body and door may be cast from metal or formed out of plastic through blow molding...
. Simple enough, but when Matchbox is shot down short of the drop point their plan goes awry and Powell is forced to recruit the assistance of several colorful characters, including a smart mouthed petty thief (Moran
Nick Moran
Nicholas James "Nick" Moran is an English actor, writer, producer and director, best known for his role as Eddy the card shark in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels...
), a drunken bomb disposal expert (Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan
Thomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald...
), and a smooth talking pilot with a keen eye for smooth ladies (Zane
Billy Zane
William George "Billy" Zane, Jr. is an American actor, producer and director. He is probably best known for his roles as Caledon Hockley in Titanic, The Phantom from The Phantom, John Wheeler in Twin Peaks and Mr...
).
As Powell and his roving band of misfits fight their way through German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
counterattack
Counterattack
A counterattack is a tactic used in response against an attack. The term originates in military strategy. The general objective is to negate or thwart the advantage gained by the enemy in attack and the specific objectives are usually to regain lost ground or to destroy attacking enemy units.It is...
, members of the Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II can be mainly characterized by its prominent non-violence, summitting in over 300,000 people in hiding in the autumn of 1944, tended to by some 60,000 to 200,000 illegal landlords and caretakers and tolerated knowingly...
(Gaskell
Lucy Gaskell
Lucy Gaskell is an English actress. She studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 1998.Gaskell is known for the roles of Ruby Ferris in the BBC1 drama series Cutting It and Kirsty Clements in Casualty...
and Beed) have managed to pinpoint the location of the stolen loot, where it is being closely guarded by the vile SS Major Kessler (Fox
Laurence Fox
Laurence Fox is an English actor best known for his leading role as Detective Sergeant James Hathaway in the British TV drama series Lewis...
) and his elite team of storm troopers
Storm troopers
Storm troopers could refer to the following:*Sturmabteilung - A paramilitary organisation that aided Hitler's rise to power in the 1930s*Imperial stormtrooper - A military unit from the Star Wars universe...
. Risking their lives, they communicate this vital information to British Intelligence in a courageous attempt to liberate occupied Holland. At the same time, renegade German forces race to get their hands on the loot as well. It’s a race against the clock, in the midst of a heated battle, ending with an enthralling climax.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Laurence Fox Laurence Fox Laurence Fox is an English actor best known for his leading role as Detective Sergeant James Hathaway in the British TV drama series Lewis... |
SS Major Kessler |
| Louis Dempsey | Snyder |
| Lucy Gaskell Lucy Gaskell Lucy Gaskell is an English actress. She studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 1998.Gaskell is known for the roles of Ruby Ferris in the BBC1 drama series Cutting It and Kirsty Clements in Casualty... |
Benitta |
| Coral Beed | Saskia |
| Andrew Howard Andrew Howard -Stage acting:On stage roles included Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange, Peer Gyntin Peer Gynt, Orestes in Electra at theatres, including The Royal National Theatre and TheDonmar Warehouse .-Film acting:... |
Cpl Edward Banks |
| Jack Dee Jack Dee James Andrew Innes "Jack" Dee is an English stand-up comedian, actor and writer known for his sardonic, curmudgeonly, and deadpan style.-Early life:... |
Warren |
| Neil Newbon Neil Newbon Neil Newbon , is an English actor.-Biography:Newbon was born in Birmingham, England, the son of ITV sportscaster Gary Newbon. His family was originally from Scotland on his mother's side, and Belarus on his father's side. His twin brother also works in the film and television industry as a... |
Cpl Rhys Powell |
| Nick Moran Nick Moran Nicholas James "Nick" Moran is an English actor, writer, producer and director, best known for his role as Eddy the card shark in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels... |
Pvt Alan Ives |
| Rafe Spall Rafe Spall Rafe Joseph Spall is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in the Edgar Wright films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz , alongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. He had previously appeared alongside Pegg and Frost in a 2001 episode of Spaced... |
Pvt David Wellings |
| Tommy Flanagan Tommy Flanagan (actor) Tommy Flanagan is a Scottish film and television actor.Flanagan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the 3rd of five children. Flanagan's first television roles were in Screen One, 1992 and Taggart in 1993. Flanagan worked in Robert Carlyle's Raindog Theatre for three years before being cast in Braveheart... |
Pvt Dennis Baker |
| Sean Pertwee Sean Pertwee Sean Pertwee is an English actor known for his television, film and voice-over work.-Career:In the early 80s, he auditioned for a place at the Surrey County Youth Theatre where he was cast as Captain Fitzpatrick in the play Tom Jones, based on the novel by Henry Fielding... |
Sgt Bill McMillan |
| Billy Zane Billy Zane William George "Billy" Zane, Jr. is an American actor, producer and director. He is probably best known for his roles as Caledon Hockley in Titanic, The Phantom from The Phantom, John Wheeler in Twin Peaks and Mr... |
Flt Lt Robert Oates |
| Neil Jackson Neil Jackson Neil Jackson is an English actor and writer who has appeared in several television series and films, but is probably best known for his role as Marcus on Blade: The Series and Sasha on Make It or Break It. His screenwriting credits include the film The Passage directed by Mark Heller and released... |
Flt Lt Simkins |
| Steve Speirs | Gustav Hansfeldt |
| Agathe De La Boulaye Agathe De La Boulaye Agathe de La Boulaye is a French film and television actress. She played Adele Rousseau in 2004 science fiction film Alien vs. Predator. In 2008 she played quadriplegic psychiatrist Claire Etxebarra in television series Disparitions, retour aux sources.... |
Katrina |
| David Ginola David Ginola David Karl Ginola is a French former international football player who has also worked as an actor and model.Ginola was born in Gassin, Var... |
Cpl Dieter Max |
| Karel Roden Karel Roden Karel Roden is a Czech actor, known for his roles in Hellboy and The Bourne Supremacy.Roden's father and grandfather were also actors. After studying theatrical art in Prague he has played many roles in theatres and movies. First, he graduated school of ceramic, then he was admitted to the Academy... |
Sgt Hans Beck |
| Alexander Skarsgård Alexander Skarsgård Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård is a Swedish actor. He is best known for his roles as vampire Eric Northman on the HBO series True Blood, Meekus in Zoolander and Brad Colbert in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-Early life:... |
Lt Jergen Voller |
| Michael Madsen Michael Madsen Michael Søren Madsen is an American actor, poet, and photographer. He has appeared in more than 150 films, most of them small independent films, though he has starred in central roles in such films as Reservoir Dogs, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco, and Kill Bill, in addition to a supporting role in Sin... |
Col J.T. Colt |
| Todd Spangler | Shannon |
| Dave Evans | Pvt Meyer |
| Justin Thompson Justin Thompson Justin Ray Thompson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1996 to 1999 and the Texas Rangers in 2005.-Career:... |
Steiner |
| Gheorge Debre | Mayer |
| Iaona Popescu-Galgotiu | Mayer's Wife |
| Diarmid Scrimshaw | Museum Guide |
| Aoife Madden Aoife Madden Aoife Maria Madden is an Irish film producer, film director, actress. Graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Professional practice; she then pursued an MA in acting at Arts Educational Drama School... |
Janet |
The Allies
- Corporal Rhys Powell, played by Neil NewbonNeil NewbonNeil Newbon , is an English actor.-Biography:Newbon was born in Birmingham, England, the son of ITV sportscaster Gary Newbon. His family was originally from Scotland on his mother's side, and Belarus on his father's side. His twin brother also works in the film and television industry as a...
, is an undercover agent who has been tasked by British Intelligence as Matchbox’s team lead. - Private Alan Ives, played by Nick MoranNick MoranNicholas James "Nick" Moran is an English actor, writer, producer and director, best known for his role as Eddy the card shark in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels...
, is a smart mouthed petty thief and one of the few surviving members of Matchbox. - Private David Wellings, played by Rafe SpallRafe SpallRafe Joseph Spall is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in the Edgar Wright films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz , alongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. He had previously appeared alongside Pegg and Frost in a 2001 episode of Spaced...
, is a naïve medical orderly and one of the few surviving members of Matchbox. - Private Dennis Baker, played by Tommy FlanaganTommy FlanaganThomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald...
, is a drunken, somewhat psychotic bomb disposal expert and one of the few surviving members of Matchbox. - Sergeant Bill McMillan, played by Sean PertweeSean PertweeSean Pertwee is an English actor known for his television, film and voice-over work.-Career:In the early 80s, he auditioned for a place at the Surrey County Youth Theatre where he was cast as Captain Fitzpatrick in the play Tom Jones, based on the novel by Henry Fielding...
, is a battle hardened veteran and one of the few surviving members of Matchbox. - Flight Sergeant Robert Oates, played by Billy ZaneBilly ZaneWilliam George "Billy" Zane, Jr. is an American actor, producer and director. He is probably best known for his roles as Caledon Hockley in Titanic, The Phantom from The Phantom, John Wheeler in Twin Peaks and Mr...
, is a smooth talking Canadian pilot with a strong appetite for women, and one of the few surviving members of Matchbox. - Benitta and Saskia, played by Lucy GaskellLucy GaskellLucy Gaskell is an English actress. She studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 1998.Gaskell is known for the roles of Ruby Ferris in the BBC1 drama series Cutting It and Kirsty Clements in Casualty...
and Coral Reed, respectively, are members of the Dutch resistance who will stop at nothing to liberate their beloved country.
The Axis
- SturmbannführerSturmbannführerSturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
Kessler, played by Laurence FoxLaurence FoxLaurence Fox is an English actor best known for his leading role as Detective Sergeant James Hathaway in the British TV drama series Lewis...
, is a ruthless Nazi tasked by the SS with safeguarding the loot. He and his elite team of storm troopers will go to great lengths to keep it from falling into enemy hands. - OberscharführerOberscharführerOberscharführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that existed between the years of 1932 and 1945. Translated as “Senior Squad Leader”, Oberscharführer was first used as a rank of the Sturmabteilung and was created due to an expansion of the enlisted positions required by growing SA membership...
Hans Beck and Leutnant Jergen Voller, played by Karel RodenKarel RodenKarel Roden is a Czech actor, known for his roles in Hellboy and The Bourne Supremacy.Roden's father and grandfather were also actors. After studying theatrical art in Prague he has played many roles in theatres and movies. First, he graduated school of ceramic, then he was admitted to the Academy...
and Alexander SkarsgårdAlexander SkarsgårdAlexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård is a Swedish actor. He is best known for his roles as vampire Eric Northman on the HBO series True Blood, Meekus in Zoolander and Brad Colbert in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-Early life:...
, respectively, are renegade German soldiers bent on snatching the loot for themselves. Voller has some unfinished business to settle with Kessler.