Bernardo Bertolucci directs and the ever versatile Steve Guttenberg stars in this epic, Oscar tipped, historically based sci-fi drama. In the ancient kingdom of Nottingham, a young boy is born as the son and heir to the Cockle King. As tradition dictates, he is named Dave and, as his position of Prince of Whelks demands. he must spend his childhood preparing for adulthood. On his 18th birthday, he must undergo the test through which he proves his manhood, the Night of the Long Prawn, in which he must travel to darkest Mansfield and sell 48 fish sticks, two dozen pots of cockles, 24 pots of winkles, 48 whelks, 24 Peperami, 50 seafood cocktails and a whole haddock in the town's pubs on a single Friday night. Once this trial is complete, Dave must live in the dark lands for 7 years, training by fighting a succession of other itinerant pub food dealers before, when he turns 25, he must return to Nottingham in order to usurp his father and take his place as the last cockle seller.
