JAMES MARSH: TRUE STORYTELLER

KING OF THIEVES

From documentaries to historical dramas, director James Marsh is often drawn to telling true stories in film. Many consider Marsh to be one of the greatest British directors with his critically acclaimed titles The Theory of Everything, Man on Wire and now, King of Thieves– out on Blu-ray & DVD from 21 January 2019. To celebrate its release, we’ll dive into the truth behind some of Marsh’s best films and learn about his take on the infamous Hatton Garden heist.

MAN ON WIRE (2008) – Philippe Petit’s high-wire walk

In the British-American biographical documentary, Man on Wire, Marsh masterfully recreates high-wire acrobat Philippe Petit’s 1974 stunt- crossing a wire between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre. This is an award-winning and unforgettable documentary that tells the story of the impossible in an exquisite way.

PORJECT NIM (2011) – A landmark experiment

This thought-provoking documentary focuses on the 1970s experiment on Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee who was raised like a human to prove that an ape could communicate with language. Marsh masterfully tells the story of Nim’s journey through human society and the impact he makes on everyone along the way.

SHADOW DANCER (2012) – The Troubles in Northern Ireland

While this thriller may be more of a fiction, Marsh based the film on the violent events taking place in Northern Ireland during the late 19th century. Shadow Dancer follows a single mother’s crucial decision to spy on her IRA comrades over time in prison, after she’s arrested by a British agent.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (2014) – The extraordinary life of Stephen Hawking

The Theory of Everything is an inspirational biopic following the life of British physicist Stephen Hawking and his upward battle living with a motor neuron disease. It not only chronicles the most important events of his life but also depicts the love story between Hawking and his wife Jane Wilde, painting a compassionate look at an extraordinary life.

THE MERCY (2017) – The Golden Globe race

The Mercy tells the inspirational story of one amateur sailor, Donald Crowhurst, attempting the impossible. Marsh recounts the 1968 Golden Globe Race through the mind of an underdog and his sheer ambition to become the first man to circumnavigate the globe on his own. It’s fair to say the voyage did not go to plan.

KING OF THIEVES (2018) – Hatton Garden Heist

This 2018 British crime film reveals the lives of the men behind the Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary of 2015. Marsh steps into the mindsets of a retired crew of crooks as they plan one last score. After they actually pull it off, greed overtakes them and their nightmare begins.

King of Thieves is out on Digital Download on 14th January, and on Blu-ray and DVD from 21st January 2019.