Butley
1976
This adaptation of Simon Gray's BUTLEY was part of the American Film Theatre series, conceived in the 1970s by producer Ely Landau and meant to be shown theatrically just like a play, with tickets sold in advance. Alan Bates stars as Ben Butley, a bitter and repressed English literature professor at a British university. Taking .. Read more
| Starring | Alan Bates, Jessica Tandy, Georgina Hale, John Savident |
|---|---|
| Director | Harold Pinter |
| Genres | Drama |
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Butley
This adaptation of Simon Gray's BUTLEY was part of the American Film Theatre series, conceived in the 1970s by producer Ely Landau and meant to be shown theatrically just like a play, with tickets sold in advance. Alan Bates stars as Ben Butley, a bitter and repressed English literature professor at a British university. Taking place during the course of one day in Butley's office, the acerbic professor's harsh exterior is torn down bit by bit as his world crumbles around him when he learns, nearly simultaneously, of his wife's intent to divorce him, his live-in homosexual lover's infidelities, and a hated colleague's success. Grounded by Mr. Bates' absolutely brilliant performance, BUTLEY is at once a very funny and tremendously moving film.
| Starring | Alan Bates, Jessica Tandy, Georgina Hale, John Savident, Richard O'Callaghan, Oliver Maguire |
|---|---|
| Director | Harold Pinter |
| Studio | IND-DVD LTD |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 5 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 05 Jul 2004 Production year: 1976 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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A tour de force for Alan Bates in a filmed play — made for the American Film Theatre — of Simon Gray's drama about an academic whose wit and know-all attitude lacerates those around him (Jessica Tandy, Richard O'Callaghan, Susan Engel). In the end, though, his self-destructiveness hurts no one but himself. Playwright Harold Pinter directs with a typically laconic style that has little to do with cinema.
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"...Alan Bates' stage triumph has been superbly recreated on the screen with added excellence of Harold Pinter's topnotch film directorial debut."
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Most helpful member's review
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Bates pulls it off!
A fine bravura performance from Alan Bates in the title role,reprising his award winning Broadway part for the big screen.Simon Gray's incredibly witty script is skillfully translated to celluloid by acclaimed playwright Harold Pinter in the director's chair.Bates is ably assisted by excellent supporting preformances by Richard O'Callaghan,Jessica Tandy and Michael Bryant, playing the various satellites who revolve around the central sun of Butley,a man whose self destuctive attitude to life finally comes home to haunt him in a single day of frustration,failure and final,personal degradation.
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Most recent members' review
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
A Veritable Feast
Brilliant film in which Alan Bates gives a searing performance as an English Lecturer on Self-destruct mode. Similar to Glengarry Glen Ross in that its set in one claustrophobic office and over the space of one day, this film takes no prisoners as it races headlong to its final gasp. Alan Bates fans will be thrilled as will those who love great writing and intense, layered drama. Directed by Harold Pinter and also starring Jessica Tandy -many years before being driven as Miss Daisy. The disc even features lengthy interviews with the playwright, the producers and Bates himself.
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