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Prick Up Your Ears

Prick Up Your Ears

  • Status: Released
  • 17-04-1987
  • Runtime: 111 min
  • Score: 6.665
  • Vote count: 95

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.

Gary Oldman

Joe Orton

Alfred Molina

Kenneth Halliwell

Vanessa Redgrave

Peggy Ramsay

Wallace Shawn

John Lahr

Lindsay Duncan

Anthea Lahr

Julie Walters

Elsie Orton

James Grant

William Orton

Frances Barber

Leonie Orton

Janet Dale

Mrs Sugden

Dave Atkins

Mr Sugden

Margaret Tyzack

Madame Lambert

Eric Richard

Education Officer

William Job

RADA Chairman

Rosalind Knight

RADA Judge

Angus MacKay

RADA Judge

Linda Spurrier

RADA Instructor

Charlotte Wodehouse

Janet

Helena Michell

Orton's Friend

Sean Pertwee

Orton's Friend

Liam De Staic

Brickie

Charles McKeown

Mr Cunliffe

Selina Cadell

Miss Battersby

Bert Parnaby

Magistrate

Antony Carrick

Counsel

Neil Dudgeon

Policeman

Richard Wilson

Psychiatrist

Christopher Guinee

Publisher

Stevan Rimkus

Kenneth

Michael Müller

BBC Actor 1

Anthony Douse

BBC Actor 2

John Kane

Director

Steven Mackintosh

Simon Ward

Garry Cooper

Actor 1 – Mr Sloane

Roger Lloyd Pack

Actor 2

Joanne Connelly

Stage Manager

John Moffatt

Wigmaker

Philippa Davies

Peggy Ramsey's Secretary

David Cardy

Brian Epstein

Julie Legrand

Gallery Owner

Noel Davis

Philip

Jane Blackburn

Woman in Gallery 1

Stella Richman

Woman in Gallery 2

Neville Phillips

Man in Gallery

Jonny Phillips

Youth Outside Lavatory

Richard Ireson

Man Outside Lavatory

Ahmed Elgheur

Moroccan Boy 1

Moktar Dagmouni

Moroccan Boy 2

Sian Thomas

Marilyn Orton

Stephen Bill

George Barnett

Karl Johnson

Douglas Orton

David Bradley

Undertaker

Simon Adams

Undertaker's Boy

James Duggan

Labourer

Max Stafford-Clark

Awards Chairman

Mark Brignal

Beatles Chauffeur

Joan Sanderson

Anthea's Mother

Neville Smith

Police Inspector

Spencer Leigh

Constable

John Salthouse

Chauffeur

Robin Hooper

Mortuary Attendant

Derek Jarman

Patrick Proktor (uncredited)

Derek Lyons

Library Patron (uncredited)

CinemaSerf

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 fraternity, was still frowned upon. What now ensues sees their relationship vacillate wildly, temptation rear it's ugly head and an unattractive degree of thoughtless, even callous, behaviour creep into Orton's behaviour towards his obsessive friend. Jealousy and toxicity aren't far away either, especially when Orton starts to see the fruits of his labours and makes a few quid. It's quite possibly the most perverse of love stories and there's a palpable chemistry that straddles loving and loathing between these two men that's well delivered by Orton, yes, but more so by the emotionally cuckolded character played by Molina. It's entertainingly speculative in nature, but that's delivered plausibly and epitomises a great many relationships where success profoundly alters the dynamic with drastic effects. It's also an interesting glance at the hypocrisy of public attitudes in the UK in the late 1960s and though not quite so potently, still resonates today - long after the "Section 28" debate that was about to hit the UK shortly after this was made. Good soundtrack, too.