Just Ask

Oct 5 2008 Margret Campbell

Q WHAT was the name of the film where a mother convinced her young son his dad worked on a ship? It was filmed in Greenock. - D. Lister, Kilmartin, Argyll.

A IT'S the 2004 movie Dear Frankie which starred Emily Mortimer as the mum with youngster Jack McElhone as her deaf son Frankie. In the film she lies to the lad that his absent dad is a merchant seaman and sends him letters from all over the world with tales of his life at sea.

When the boy discovers the ship is due to dock in his home town - Greenock - she panics and hires a stranger to pretend to be the boy's dad for the day. The stranger is played by 300 star Gerard Butler.

This award-winning film is described by critics as a wonderful modern fairytale and is available on DVD.

Q HAS a similar series to the BBC2 reality show Maestro, where celebrities learn to conduct an orchestra, been screened before? I'm sure I remember watching it. - T. O'Hare, Aberdeen.

A YOU may be thinking of an episode of the Channel 4 programme Faking It. In 2002 punk musician Chris Sweeney was given a month to pass himself off as a conductor - and very nearly managed it.

He had to shave off his pink mohican before performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and almost persuaded the panel he was a real conductor - just one tiny slip-up gave him away.

Q WHAT was the film where Frank Sinatra's character gets his throat cut? My dad says it was The Man With The Golden Arm but that's not right. - Karen Reilly, Barmulloch, Glasgow.

A IT was the 1957 musical Pal Joey where Sinatra played womanising singer Joey Evans caught in a love triangle with a wealthy widow, played by Rita Hayworth, and a naive chorus girl, Kim Novak.

Sinatra agreed to take second billing in the film - between Hayworth and Novak. He quipped at the time: "That's a sandwich I don't mind being stuck in the middle of."

Q SETTLE an argument, I say Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford are not married. Is this true? - I.B. Sandilands, Alloa.

A YOU are spot on. The TV hosts have been together for 11 years and have a six-year-old son Jack but they have never tied the knot. Eamonn was previously married to his childhood sweetheart Gabrielle and they have three children. Their 10-year marriage ended in 1997.

If there is a question nagging you, write to us at Mailbox, Sunday Mail, One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 8DA, or send us an email to mailbox@sundaymail.co.uk. Sorry, we cannot send personal replies.