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Prick Up Your Ears

  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
7K
YOUR RATING
Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, and Vanessa Redgrave in Prick Up Your Ears (1987)
Biographer John Lahr is writing a book about playwright Joe Orton. Joe and Kenneth meet at drama school and live together for ten years as lovers and collaborators. Both want to be writers, but only one of them is successful.
Play trailer3:36
1 Video
36 Photos
Dark ComedyDocudramaShowbiz DramaTragedyBiographyDrama

Biographer John Lahr is writing a book about playwright Joe Orton. Joe and Kenneth meet at drama school and live together for ten years as lovers and collaborators. Both want to be writers, ... Read allBiographer John Lahr is writing a book about playwright Joe Orton. Joe and Kenneth meet at drama school and live together for ten years as lovers and collaborators. Both want to be writers, but only one of them is successful.Biographer John Lahr is writing a book about playwright Joe Orton. Joe and Kenneth meet at drama school and live together for ten years as lovers and collaborators. Both want to be writers, but only one of them is successful.

  • Director
    • Stephen Frears
  • Writers
    • John Lahr
    • Alan Bennett
  • Stars
    • Gary Oldman
    • Alfred Molina
    • Vanessa Redgrave
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stephen Frears
    • Writers
      • John Lahr
      • Alan Bennett
    • Stars
      • Gary Oldman
      • Alfred Molina
      • Vanessa Redgrave
    • 41User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards
      • 5 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:36
    Trailer

    Photos35

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    Top Cast64

    Gary Oldman
    Gary Oldman
    • Joe Orton
    Alfred Molina
    Alfred Molina
    • Kenneth Halliwell
    Vanessa Redgrave
    Vanessa Redgrave
    • Peggy Ramsay
    Wallace Shawn
    Wallace Shawn
    • John Lahr
    Lindsay Duncan
    Lindsay Duncan
    • Anthea Lahr
    Julie Walters
    Julie Walters
    • Elsie Orton
    James Grant
    • William Orton
    Frances Barber
    Frances Barber
    • Leonie Orton
    Janet Dale
    • Mrs Sugden
    Dave Atkins
    • Mr Sugden
    Margaret Tyzack
    Margaret Tyzack
    • Madame Lambert
    Eric Richard
    Eric Richard
    • Education Officer
    William Job
    • RADA Chairman
    Rosalind Knight
    Rosalind Knight
    • RADA Judge
    Angus MacKay
    Angus MacKay
    • RADA Judge
    Linda Spurrier
    • RADA Instructor
    Charlotte Wodehouse
    • Janet
    Helena Michell
    • Orton's Friend
    • Director
      • Stephen Frears
    • Writers
      • John Lahr
      • Alan Bennett
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews41

    7.17K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Prick Up Your Ears' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Biography
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    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      As well as being an actor, Wallace Shawn (John Lahr) is an acclaimed playwright and screenwriter. Until her 1991 death, his theatrical agent was Margaret Ramsay, who was also Joe Orton's agent, and is portrayed in this movie by Dame Vanessa Redgrave.
    • Goofs
      When Joe's agent first meets him in 1964, she asks him how he's been supporting himself. He tells her he's on public assistance, getting £3.10 per week. New pence weren't introduced until 1971. However, in the pre-decimal era, "Three pounds ten" would have been understood as "Three pounds and ten shillings", the present-day equivalent being £3.50. For example, "Maggie Mae", recorded by the Beatles in 1969 but based on a much older traditional song, includes the line "Two pounds ten a week, that was my pay."
    • Quotes
      • [Halliwell puts his hand on Orton's leg. Orton brushes it off]
      • Joe Orton: No. Have a wank.
      • Kenneth Halliwell: Have a wank? Have a wank? I can't just have a wank. I need three days' notice to have a wank. You can just stand there and do it. Me, it's like organizing D-Day. Forces have to be assembled, magazines bought, the past dredged for some suitably unsavoury episode, the dog-eared thought of which can still produce a faint flicker of desire! Have a wank, it'd be easier to raise the Titanic.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper: Making Mr. Right/Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn/Secret of My Success/Prick Up Your Ears (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Dancing Hearts
      Music by Stanley Myers
      Lyrics by Richard Myhill
      Arranged by Richard Myhill

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    Details

    • Release date
      • May 8, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Das stürmische Leben des Joe Orton
    • Filming locations
      • St Peter's Street, Islington, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Zenith Entertainment
      • Civilhand
      • British Screen Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,654,743
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $38,643
      • Apr 19, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,672,927
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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