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Prick Up Your Ears Details

1987 Certificate 18
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 2345 members

A celebration of British playwright Joe Orton's irreverent and charismatic talent. It tells the story of Joe's rise from a working class boy to peer of the Beatles and cult figure of London's Swinging 60s. The story is told through the eyes of his agent and of his best friend and murderer, Kenneth Halliwell. Read more

Starring Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters
Director Stephen Frears
Genres Drama

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Prick Up Your Ears

A celebration of British playwright Joe Orton's irreverent and charismatic talent. It tells the story of Joe's rise from a working class boy to peer of the Beatles and cult figure of London's Swinging 60s. The story is told through the eyes of his agent and of his best friend and murderer, Kenneth Halliwell.

Starring Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters, Roger Lloyd Pack
Director Stephen Frears
Studio ITV - GRANADA VENTURE
Run time DVD: 1 hr 45 mins
Certificate Certificate 18
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Hearing-impaired English
Released DVD: 14 Apr 2003
Production year: 1987
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of Prick Up Your Ears

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  • 5 stars out of 5

    The life of doomed gay British playwright Joe Orton gets a tart, no-holds-barred, sure-handed telling by director Stephen Frears in this funny and moving biopic, with Gary Oldman giving a marvellous performance as the promiscuous cheeky chappie. Alan Bennett's wonderful script is full of hilarious one-liners, and is more interesting when focusing on what it meant to be homosexual in the 1960s rather than on Orton's lauded theatrical achievements. Yet, with Alfred Molina also a joy as his jealous lover, this is still British film-making at its finest.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 2 stars out of 4

    Raunchy homosexual saga of a writer who became a cult figure with the sophisticated; treatment full of vigour for those who can take the pace.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of Prick Up Your Ears

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  • 7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Suberb Acting.....

    from the entire cast and the atmosphere of the film is set just right in this film on the life and death of Joe Orton. A little more on information about the subject matter of his plays and how they related to his life might have been beneficial as I felt it was a film for those who already knew his work, but this would be a minor quibble.

      • Andrew from Scotland
      • Posted 19 May 2004 13:35

  • Most recent members' review of Prick Up Your Ears

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Enjoyable Period Piece

    The subject matter seems a world way but its of course set in the 50s & 60s, a strong cast deliver and is an enjoyable film.

      • The DVD Gremlin from London, England
      • Posted 30 Mar 2005 13:24

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Rating breakdown

2,345 Member ratings
  • 100
192
  • 90
173
  • 80
483
  • 70
501
  • 60
441
  • 50
214
  • 40
130
  • 30
81
  • 20
90
  • 10
40

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    • Prick Up Your Ears

    • Prick Up Your Ears
      A celebration of British playwright Joe Orton's irreverent and charismatic talent. It tells the story of Joe's rise from a working class boy to peer of the Beatles and cult figure of London's Swinging 60s. The story is told through the eyes of his agent and of his best friend and murderer, Kenneth ...