Clockwise (1986)

60% of users liked it
(6,495 ratings)

John Cleese's knack for mining hilarity from the growing frustration of a dignified gentleman is fully exploited in the British comedy Clockwise. Cleese portrays Brian Stimpson, a perfectionist English headmaster who has been selected to make an important presentation before a group of his peers.… More John Cleese's knack for mining hilarity from the growing frustration of a dignified gentleman is fully exploited in the British comedy Clockwise. Cleese portrays Brian Stimpson, a perfectionist English headmaster who has been selected to make an important presentation before a group of his peers. When Stimpson sets out upon his journey, however, he finds himself facing a seemingly never-ending series of delays and inconveniences, which range from missing a train to becoming a fugitive from the police. The film goes no deeper than its farcical surface, but is nevertheless consistently entertaining, thanks to former Monty Python member Cleese's precisely tuned transitions from composure to complete collapse. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Christopher Morahan
Written By: Michael Frayn
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 10, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Dec 4, 2001
Studio: HBO Video

Critic Reviews

Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Should be funnier, but not bad.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Overlooked Cleese comedy.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

A scrupulously punctual headmaster in an English comprehensive school sets off for the Headmaster's Conference to deliver a keynote speech. One little slip sees him boarding the wrong train, which leads to a chain of consequences conspiring to keep him from his goal. This is one… More
A scrupulously punctual headmaster in an English comprehensive school sets off for the Headmaster's Conference to deliver a keynote speech. One little slip sees him boarding the wrong train, which leads to a chain of consequences conspiring to keep him from his goal. This is one of the finest farces I've ever seen brought to the screen, written naturally enough by theatre farce-meister Michael Frayn. The frenetic energy of John Cleese in his prime really lifts this above the norm, as he hitches a ride with a student, bumps into and kidnaps an ex-girlfriend and winds up naked in a monastery. The climactic scenes at the HMC amount to perhaps the finest pay-off seen in farce. This is, indeed, a historic moment.
Phil H

A great forgotten comedy, makes me sweat and nervous everytime I watch it haha I just keep wanting him to succeed aarrrggghhhh there are some dull moments but also some truely inspired Cleese moments worthy of 'Fawlty Towers'. Evading the police, the final speech, in the… More
A great forgotten comedy, makes me sweat and nervous everytime I watch it haha I just keep wanting him to succeed aarrrggghhhh there are some dull moments but also some truely inspired Cleese moments worthy of 'Fawlty Towers'. Evading the police, the final speech, in the fields, the old ladies etc, when I was a kid this was christmas TV gold LOL!! 'stimpsons supporters club?'
Anthony L

Classic John Cleese doing what he does best. I must have watched this nearly 100 times as a child.
Ross C

Boy, has this movie dated but it does offer some 80s nostalgia. John Cleese playing a Basil Fawlty like character, as he does best, embarks on a journey that would mark the height of all his accomplishments in life. However, everything that can go wrong does go wrong. If you've… More
Boy, has this movie dated but it does offer some 80s nostalgia. John Cleese playing a Basil Fawlty like character, as he does best, embarks on a journey that would mark the height of all his accomplishments in life. However, everything that can go wrong does go wrong. If you've ever been in a situation where every decision you make just leaves you worse off then you'll be able to identify with this story: "It's not the despair. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."
Dean !

Things go from bad to worse in this funny British comedy starring John Cleese.
xGary X

A one idea british farce that's held together by John Cleese in his element, but there's very little little to it. Mildly amusing but never laugh out loud funny.
Barry L

John Cleese is a God and this was a quality comedy for its time. Very gentle.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            John Cleese as Brian Stimpson

            Alison Steadman as Swenda Stimpson

            Penelope Wilton as Pat Garden

            Stephen Moore as Mr. Jolly

            Joan Hickson as Mrs. Trellis

            Sharon Maiden as Laura

            Michael Aldridge as Prior

            Dickie Arnold as Man at Station

            John Bardon as Ticket Collector

            Jonathan Bowater as Clint

            Mark Bunting as Studious Boy

            Mark Burdis as Glen Scully

            Nadia Carina as Mandy Kostakis

            Peter Cellier as Headmaster

            Constance Chapman as Mrs. Wheel

            David Conville as Headmaster

            Susan Field as Woman at Low church Appearance

            Patrick Godfrey as Headmaster

            Anthony Haygarth as Man with the Tractor

            Geoffrey Hutchings as Mr. Wisely

            Peter Jonfield as Detective Inspector Laundryman

            Pat Keen as Mrs. Wisely

            Sheila  Keith as Mrs. Garden

            Penny Leatherbarrow as Woman Teacher

            Angus MacKay as First Class Passenger

            Peter Needham as Porter

            Geoffrey Palmer as Headmaster

            Michael Percival as Man in Wood

            Richard Ridings as Policeman at Crash

            Leslie Schofield as Policeman Arresting Pat

            Nick Stringer as Detective Sergeant Rice

            Philip Voss as Headmaster

            Ann Way as Mrs. Way

            Benjamin Whitrow as Headmaster

            Jeffry Wickham
            
            Robert Wilkinson as Streaker

            Howard Lewis as Ted

            Ann-Marie Gwatkin as Petrol-Station Cashier

            Nicholas LePrevost as Headmaster

            Charles Bartholomew as Man in Telephone Box

            Geoffrey Davion as Policeman at Crash

            Alan Granton as Monk

            Geoffrey Greenhill as Policeman with Mrs. Wheel

            Peter Lorenzelli as Taxi Driver

            Rupert Massey as Headmaster

            Alan Parnaby as Policeman at Telephone Box

            Christian Regan as Pat's Son

            John Rowe as Headmaster

            Ronald Sowton as Monk

            Paul Stimpson Sweeney Chip
            
            Mohammed Ashiq as Manager of Petrol Station

            Sydney Livingstone as Porsche Driver

            Michael Glynn as Policeman with Black Eye

            Howard Lloyd-Lewis
            
See full cast

Clockwise (1986)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

Phil H

Anthony L

Ross C

Dean !

xGary X

Barry L

Cast

Trailers & Clips