Tom & Thomas | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Esmé Lammers |
Written by | Esmé Lammers Jim Davies |
Produced by | Laurens Geels Dick Maas |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Marc Felperlaan |
Edited by | Bert Rijkelijkhuizen |
Music by | Paul M. van Brugge |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Buena Vista International |
Release date |
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Running time | 110 minutes |
Country | Netherlands |
Language | English |
Box office | $233,488[1] |
Tom & Thomas (UK title:The Christmas Twins) is a 2002 English-language Dutch family film directed by Esmé Lammers and starringAaron Johnson in his film debut andSean Bean.[2] The film was released on 24 January 2002 inthe Netherlands.
Sean Bean stars as the caring single adoptive father of one of a set ofidentical twins — played by Aaron Johnson — separated years earlier. The film follows the two boys as they meet, and having come to the attention of a corrupt orphanage manager are instrumental in smashing a child smuggling ring. After the two boys meet they have fun until Thomas is kidnapped by the child smugglers. They keep him bound with belts in a warehouse and use drugs to keep him asleep. The smugglers plan to transport Thomas to another country in a plane by smuggling him off as an animal in a box where he is kept bound and gagged (with belts and tape). Tom learns of this however and comes to Thomas' rescue.
Tom & Thomas gained initial media interest through its illusive casting auditions. The auditions took place across the UK and the Netherlands, and resulted in a final casting session held in London, UK. The eventual winners were Tom and Alex Dawes, twins from the Midlands who are more generally known for their guest appearance inNickelodeon's TV adaptation ofJacqueline Wilson'sDouble Act. However, after being accepted for the roles, the pair were rejected in favour of Johnson as loss of funding cut the cast in half. After a brief conflict between the Dawes twins and Lammers, which resulted in the pair gaining UK rights to the title "Tom & Thomas", the matter was settled with an undisclosed settlement. The Dawes twins have not been involved in any acting since, and now both hold positions at theUniversity of Oxford.
Tom & Thomas was filmed in the following locations:
The film was released on DVD and VHS on 20 November 2002 byBuena Vista Home Entertainment though theHollywood Pictures Home Video label.[3]