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Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

17/04/1987 (GB)Drama1h 51m
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Overview

When the young, attractive Joe Orton meets the older, more introverted Kenneth Halliwell at drama school, he befriends the kindred spirit and they start an affair. As Orton becomes more comfortable with his sexuality and starts to find success with his writing, Halliwell becomes increasingly alienated and jealous, ultimately tapping into a dangerous rage.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. Gary Oldman

      Gary Oldman

      Joe Orton

    2. Alfred Molina

      Alfred Molina

      Kenneth Halliwell

    3. Vanessa Redgrave

      Vanessa Redgrave

      Peggy Ramsay

    4. Wallace Shawn

      Wallace Shawn

      John Lahr

    5. Lindsay Duncan

      Lindsay Duncan

      Anthea Lahr

    6. Julie Walters

      Julie Walters

      Elsie Orton

    7. James Grant

      William Orton

    8. Frances Barber

      Frances Barber

      Leonie Orton

    9. Janet Dale

      Janet Dale

      Mrs Sugden

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    • Reviews 1
    C

    A review by CinemaSerf

    7.0
    Written by CinemaSerf on Jan 29, 2025

    Maybe now, a few decades after this was made and when the politically correct brigade advocate that only gay actors should play gay roles, they ought to watch this and see just how engagingly two straight blokes can do what it says on their CVs and act! This is quite a witty and telling retrospective on the turbulent lives of playwright John "Joe" Orton (Gary Oldman) and his general factotum, friend, confidante and part-time lover "Kenneth" (Alfred Molina) set at a time when homosexuality in the UK was starting to emerge from the shadows of illegaility and, even amongst the more theatrical fra...

    StatusReleased

    Original LanguageEnglish

    Budget-

    Revenue-

    Keywords

    • london, england
    • based on novel or book
    • england
    • biography
    • playwright
    • lgbt
    • 1960s
    • drama school
    • gay theme