Scandal

Scandal (1989)

  • 91% of critics liked it
    (32 reviews)

  • 47% of users liked it
    (2,308 ratings)

In 1963, the conservative British government was shaken to its foundations by the Profumo Scandal. The central character in this disastrous affair was John Profumo, Britain's minister of war, who had become sexually involved with call-girl Christine Keeler, whose "sponsor" was… More

Play Trailer

R,
Directed By
Written By
Michael Thomas
Genres
Art House & International, Drama
In Theaters
May 28, 1989 Wide
HBO Video

Critic Reviews

  • Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times

    The film holds because of the brilliance of Hurt and the fascination of Whalley-Kilmer, as well as the sly, tongue-in-cheek viciousness of Bridget Fonda's Mandy Rice-Davies.

  • Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

    Scandal is an express tour of the Profumo affair that moves with a pop historian's revisionist swagger and plays like News of the World headlines set to early '60s rock 'n' roll.

  • Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

    The greatest virtue of the filmmakers' straightforward approach is that it avoids the obvious pitfall of pretentiousness.

  • Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune

    Caton-Jones is not the most stylistically assured of filmmakers, but his ability with actors is obvious. For this project, that is enough to turn the flat conventions of the docudrama into something resembling life.

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    Hurt is excellent as the charming but shallow Ward.

Read all 15 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

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

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Alec B


    I think that the characters could have used more definition in places (the serious non-sexual attraction between Ward and Keeler was rather undefined and vague) but whats great is that even though the movie is 20 years old and the events occurred nearly 50 years ago its still… More

  • Lesley N


    I haven't seen this since it first came out, but the song still haunts... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Q5CmIzpBg

  • Brian R


    In 1963, the conservative British government was shaken to its foundations by the Profumo Scandal. The central character in this disastrous affair was John Profumo, Britain's minister of war, who had become sexually involved with call-girl Christine Keeler, whose… More

  • Barry L


    Extremel;y well made if a little fanciful at times with the truth. I researched the original story after seeing this and was impressed with how damn stupid Profumo was.....good film though.

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Cast

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Trailers & Clips