Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

92% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(4,215 ratings)

This unadorned biography of playwright Joe Orton (Gary Oldman) charts his bawdy, dangerous relationships. Alfred Molina plays Orton's brutish lover, Kenneth Halliwell, a pathetic figure who becomes horrific and then tragic before the film is over. The hilarity of scenes from such Orton plays as… More This unadorned biography of playwright Joe Orton (Gary Oldman) charts his bawdy, dangerous relationships. Alfred Molina plays Orton's brutish lover, Kenneth Halliwell, a pathetic figure who becomes horrific and then tragic before the film is over. The hilarity of scenes from such Orton plays as Loot and What the Butler Saw is evenly balanced by the bleakness of the playwright's tormented (and tormenting) off-stage existence, which ended suddenly at age 34 with half a dozen blows to the head from a hammer. Prick Up Your Ears is based on the book by theater critic John Lahr, who is played in the film by Wallace Shawn. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Directed By: Stephen Frears
Written By: Alan Bennett, John Lahr
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: May 8, 1987 Limited
Studio: Curzon Film Distributors

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Gary Oldman is excellent as Orton, right down to remarkable resemblance, while Alfred Molina creates both an amusing and tormented Halliwell. Vanessa Redgrave takes top honors, though, as a compassionate and benign agent.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
Oldman is brilliant; Molina's Halliwell less subtle; and the film's dissection of cottaging quaintly amusing.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
The film covers the main events of the Orton life in a manner that is nothing less than distracted. One has little understanding of the fatal intensity - and need - that kept Orton and Halliwell together.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The great performances in the movie are, of course, at its center. Gary Oldman plays Orton and Alfred Molina plays Halliwell, and these are two of the best performances of the year.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
The filmmakers have shown great intellectual taste. But it's not the kind of taste that's illuminating.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Like "Casablanca," "Diva," "Clockwork Orange" and countless other quality-cult films, "Prick Up Your Ears" has an indefinable idiosyncrasy that makes you want to come back for more.
, Film4
A brilliant and painfully raw portrait of a troubled, a tragic relationship.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Oldman, fresh from his triumph as Sex Pistol Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy, is the key and holds it all together.
Matthew Sorrento, PopMatters
Molina stares down all clichés, veering away from effeminate tones when they would be most convenient and avoids trapping Ken into a brooding madman.
Andrew Pulver, Guardian [UK]
Stands up extraordinarily well: mostly because of two outstanding central performances, Gary Oldman as the talented, blase Orton, and Alfred Molina as his thwarted, Hancock-esque murderer Kenneth Halliwell.
Patrick Peters, Empire Magazine
A decent snapshot of pre-Beatle Britain, this is much more a fact-based gay melodrama than a trenchant portrait of Joe Orton's life, loves and art.
Stella Papamichael, BBC
It is repetitive at times, occasionally lagging, but the performances by Oldman and especially Molina simply demand your attention.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Offers a creative portrait of playwright Joe Orton's life and death.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Powerful look at the tragic death of Joe Orton, with excellent performances
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Good, but never quite great biopic of Joe Orton

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic][color=darkred]"Revengers Tragedy" is a movie based on the 17th century play by Thomas Middleton. In this version, it is updated to Liverpool in the near future where Vendici(Christopher Eccleston) is returning after a period of absence. He is back to… More
[font=Century Gothic][color=darkred]"Revengers Tragedy" is a movie based on the 17th century play by Thomas Middleton. In this version, it is updated to Liverpool in the near future where Vendici(Christopher Eccleston) is returning after a period of absence. He is back to swear vengeance against The Duke(Derek Jacobi, who does not have a lot to do), after he killed Vendici's bride in retaliation for her not wanting to have sex with him.(A good deal of this movie is taken up with men defending the honor of women. I can understand this happening in the 17th century but it's not likely for the present or anytime in the near future.) Other faults include the movie missing chances to have anything to say about 1) the nature of revenge and 2) the class structure.(The Duke is evil but Lord Antonio seems like a pretty alright guy.) But it is imaginatively staged with computer effects and is well acted especially by Christopher Eccleston and Eddie Izzard.[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#8b0000][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=darkslateblue]"Prick Up Your Ears" is based on the lives and tempestual relationship of playwright Joe Orton(Gary Oldman) and Kenneth Halliwell(Alfred Molina). Orton's role in life seemed to be wreaking playful havoc in the straitlaced society of 50's and 60's Britain, from defacing library books to anonymous sex in lavatories. The movie is witty and engaging. It gives great insight into the characters and their love for each other. Both Oldman and Molina do a great job. And it's a joy watching Wallace Shawn and Vanessa Redgrave act together.[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=darkslateblue][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=darkslateblue](Very strange literary note: Alfred Molina invokes T.S. Eliot in "Prick Up Your Ears." He would do so again in "Spider Man 2.") [/color][/font]
Alec B

I felt the film could have explored more of the brief career of Joe Orton because the film tends to brush over those parts a bit. However the performances of Oldman and Molina are amazing. Its too bad the film was released in 1987, because if it was done now I think the content… More
I felt the film could have explored more of the brief career of Joe Orton because the film tends to brush over those parts a bit. However the performances of Oldman and Molina are amazing. Its too bad the film was released in 1987, because if it was done now I think the content wouldn't have made people ignore it.
Emily B

Good little film about the life of Joe Orton. Alfred Molina is great as his lover Kenneth Halliwell. Plus an excellent script by Alan Bennet.

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Cast

Gary Oldman
as Joe Orton
Alfred Molina
as Kenneth Halliwell
Vanessa Redgrave
as Peggy Ramsay
Wallace Shawn
as John Lahr
Julie Walters
as Elsie Orton
James Grant
as William Orton
Frances Barber
as Leonie Orton
Lindsay Duncan
as Anthea Lahr
Janet Dale
as Mrs. Sugden
Dave Atkins
as Mr. Sugden
Simon Adams
as Undertaker's Boy
Selina Cadell
as Miss Datersby
David Cardy
as Brian Epstein
Noel Davis
as Philip
Neil Dudgeon
as Policeman
Richard Ireson
as Man Outside Lavatory
William Job
as RADA Chairman
Karl Johnson
as Douglas Orton
Rosalind Knight
as RADA Judge
Spencer Leigh
as Constable
Angus MacKay
as RADA Judge
Steven Mackintosh
as Simon Ward
Charles McKowen
as Mr. Cunliffe
Helena Michell
as Orton's Friend
Roger Lloyd Pack
as Actor
Bert Parnaby
as Magistrate
Sean Pertwee
as Orton's Friend
Neville Phillips
as Man in Gallery
Eric Richard
as Education Officer
Stevan Rimkus
as Kenneth
Joan Sanderson
as Anthea's Mother
Neville Smith
as Police Inspector
Linda Spurrier
as RADA Instructor
Margaret Tyzack
as Mme. Lambert
Charlotte Wodehouse
as Janet
David Bradley
as Undertaker
Jonathan Phillips
as Youth Outside Lavatory
Stephen Bill
as George Barnett
Jane Blackburn
as Women in Gallery
Mark Brignal
as Beatles' Chauffeur
Antony Carrick
as Counsel
Joanne Connelly
as Stage Manager
Moktar Dagmouni
as Moroccan Boy
Philippa Davies
as Peggy Ramsay's Secretary
Anthony Douse
as BBC Actor
James Duggan
as Labourer
Christopher Guinee
as Publisher
Robin Hooper
as Mortuary Attendant
Ahmed El-Jheur
as Moroccan Boy
John Kane
as Director
Julie Legrand
as Gallery owner
John Moffatt
as Wigmaker
Michael Mueller
as BBC Actor
Stella Richman
as Women in Gallery
John Salthouse
as Chauffeur
Max Stafford-Clark
as Honourable President
Liam Staic
as Brickie
Sian Thomas
as Marilyn Orton
Garry Cooper
as Actor
Richard Wilson
as Psychiatrist

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Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

Alec B

Emily B

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