The Boy from Mercury
Synopsis
Set in 1960s Dublin, a fatherless eight-year-old boy who feels alienated by his family, escapes his reality by deciding he's been sent from Mercury to study life on Earth. His fantasies mirror the life of his hero, Flash Gordon, from the serial he watches each week at the local cinema. His escapades result in dilemmas that drive his mother to such distraction that she turns to the boy's strange uncle for help.
Top Cast
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Rita Tushingham
May Cronin
Tom Courtenay
Uncle Tony Cronin
Hugh O'Conor
Paul
James Hickey
Harry Cronin
Ian McElhinney
Brother Dowdall
Kevin James
James "Mucker" Maguire
Gerard Cannon
Classroom Schoolboy
Johnny Ward
Classroom Schoolboy
Joanne Gerrard
Sarah
Sean Flanagan
Sean McCarthy
Liam Heffernan
Usher
Rachel Martin
Ice Cream Girl
Buster Crabbe
Flash Gordon (Archive Footage)
Charles Middleton
Ming the Merciless (Archive Footage)
Van Johnson
Game Show Contestant (Archive Footage)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Dublin Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Martin Duffy
- Screenplay & Story
- Martin Duffy
- Original Score
- Stephen McKeon
- Original Title
- The Boy from Mercury
- Country of Origin
- Ireland, France, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 27m
- Production Studios
- Le Studio Canal+, Mercurian, Blue Rose, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, RTÉ, Jo Manuel Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Martin Duffy
Martin Duffy
Stephen McKeon
Seamus Deasy
John Victor-Smith
Claire Duignan, Marina Hughes, Gérard Jourd'hui, Jo Manuel, Sylvaine Sainderichin
Department Leadership Roster
Martin Duffy
Director
Stephen McKeon
Original Music Composer
Marina Hughes
Producer
Martin Duffy
Writer
Lorna Marie Mugan
Costume Design
Seamus Deasy
Director of Photography
Tom Conroy
Production Design
John Victor-Smith
Editor
Gérard Jourd'hui
Producer
Sylvaine Sainderichin
Producer
Lorna Ó Ríordáin
Costume Design
Jo Kissack Folsom
Costume Design
Helen Kane
Costume Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Boy from Mercury.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Boy from Mercury.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Boy from Mercury
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Boy from Mercury about?
Set in 1960s Dublin, a fatherless eight-year-old boy who feels alienated by his family, escapes his reality by deciding he's been sent from Mercury to study life on Earth. His fantasies mirror the life of his hero, Flash Gordon, from the serial he watches each week at the local cinema. His escapades result in dilemmas that drive his mother to such distraction that she turns to the boy's strange uncle for help.
Who directed The Boy from Mercury?
The Boy from Mercury was directed by Martin Duffy.
Who stars in The Boy from Mercury?
The principal cast of The Boy from Mercury includes Rita Tushingham, Tom Courtenay, Hugh O'Conor, James Hickey, Ian McElhinney.
When was The Boy from Mercury released and how long is it?
The Boy from Mercury was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 1h 27m.
Who composed the musical score for The Boy from Mercury?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Boy from Mercury was composed by Stephen McKeon.