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The Horse's Mouth
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The Horse's Mouth (1958) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   1,335 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ronald Neame
Writers:
Joyce Cary (novel)
Alec Guinness (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Horse's Mouth on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 November 1958 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Tagline:
Smart Alec
Plot:
A somewhat vulgar but dedicated painter searches for the perfect realization of his artistic vision, much to the chagrin of others. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations more
User Comments:
Guinness's best performance? more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Alec Guinness ... Gulley Jimson
Kay Walsh ... Coker
Renee Houston ... Sara Monday
Mike Morgan ... Nosey
Robert Coote ... Sir William Beeder
Arthur Macrae ... A.W. Alabaster
Veronica Turleigh ... Lady Beeder
Michael Gough ... Abel
Reginald Beckwith ... Capt. Jones
Ernest Thesiger ... Hickson
Gillian Vaughan ... Lollie
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Additional Details

Runtime:
97 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #19408) | Finland:S | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Joyce Carey, the author of the novel which inspired the film, based the role of the self-destructive painter on his good friend, the great Welsh poet 'Dylan Thomas'. more
Quotes:
Gulley Jimson: What are you doing?
Miss D. Coker: I'm saying my prayers; I forgot them.
Gulley Jimson: I thought you hated G-d.
Miss D. Coker: Maybe I do.
Gulley Jimson: Why do you pray then?
Miss D. Coker: Well, he's our Father, isn't he?
Gulley Jimson: That's a funny reason.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Curious George (2006) more
Soundtrack:
LIEUTENANT KIJE more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful:-
Guinness's best performance?, 24 April 2005
10/10
Author: david-697 from Stockton, England

Confession time, I first saw 'The Horse's Mouth' around ten or twelve years ago, one afternoon on British television and hated it. Alec's "Gulley Jimson" seemed to me to be very un-likable and I found myself unable to get the point of the film. However, re-watching this on DVD, I found it to be far, far better than I remembered and something of a revelation.

I found myself identifying with "Gulley" this time around and appreciating Alec's subtle performance (to the extent that I was genuinely sad to see the film end). Guinness is backed by two astonishingly fine performances by Walsh and Houston (it's Rene's finest performance, for someone with a tendency to play 'broad' here she is remarkably subtle).

All in all, a wonderful if sadly under-rated film and one equal to Alec's best Ealing work.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
DVD cover art zalkus
Who was the artist Jimson is based on? Meryllevykryza
How did Mike Morgan die? stevem-26
Prints of the paintings? sissoed
Movies about artists latesnake
Lt. Kije nanonta
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