The Horse's Mouth (1958)

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Joyce Cary (novel)
Alec Guinness (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 November 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

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.

Plot Keywords:

Painter | Nude Model | Thames | Painting | Screwball

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Alec Guinness	...	Gulley Jimson
Kay Walsh	...	Dee 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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Bull	...	Man in Taxi (uncredited)
Richard Caldicot	...	Roberts (uncredited)
Terry Cashfield	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Jack Chissick	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Mary Davies	...	Pretty Girl (uncredited)
Fred Griffiths	...	(uncredited)
May Hallatt	...	Charwoman (uncredited)
Joan Hickson	...	(uncredited)
Rose Howlett	...	Cook (uncredited)
Jeremy Judge	...	Dickie (uncredited)
John Kidd	...	Pawnbroker (uncredited)
Rosalind Knight	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Richard Leech	...	Hodges (uncredited)
Garry Leeman	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Jackie Martin	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Sally Muggeridge	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
John Norman	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Elton Ollivierre	...	Black Model (uncredited)
Clive Revill	...	Art Student (uncredited)
David Robinson	...	Bit Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Ronald Neame

Writing credits
Joyce Cary		(novel)
Alec Guinness		(screenplay)

Produced by
John Bryan	....	producer
Albert Fennell	....	executive producer
Ronald Neame	....	producer

Original Music by
Kenneth V. Jones

Cinematography by
Arthur Ibbetson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Anne V. Coates

Art Direction by
William C. Andrews		(as Bill Andrews)

Costume Design by
Julia Squire

Makeup Department
Harold Fletcher	....	makeup artist
Pearl Tipaldi	....	hairdresser

Production Management
R.L.M. Davidson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Colin M. Brewer	....	assistant director (as Colin Brewer)

Art Department
John Bratby	....	paintings: Gulley Jimson

Sound Department
John Cox	....	sound supervisor
Leslie Hodgson	....	dubbing editor
Red Law	....	sound recordist
George Stephenson	....	sound recordist (as George Stevenson)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Harris	....	camera operator
Paul Wilson	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elsa Fennell	....	wardrobe
Julia Squire	....	gowns: Veronica Turleigh
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Kenneth V. Jones	....	music arranger
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Yvonne Axeworthy	....	continuity (as Yvonne Axworthy)

Production Companies

• Knightsbridge Films

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1958) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• Janus Films (1959) (USA) (theatrical)
• Better Television Distribution (2006) (worldwide) (TV)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Beaux Arts Gallery  paintings
• Marlborough Galleries  paintings
• The O'Hana Gallery  paintings
• Wildenstein and Company  paintings

Also Known As:

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #19408) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Wormwood Scrubs Prison, Du Cane Road, East Acton, London, England, UK

Company:

Knightsbridge Films

Trivia:

Mike Morgan died ten days before the end of shooting. Some of his lines were dubbed by an unknown actor in post-production.

Quotes:

Constable:Mr. Jimson?
Gulley Jimson:No. That's my first cousin, once removed, an artist who's always getting into trouble with the police. He just went up the road. Shall I call him back?
Constable:Have you just sent a telephone message of a threatening character to Mr. Hickson of Portland Place?
Gulley Jimson:I only said I'd burn his house down and cut his liver out.
Constable:Now he doesn't want to prosecute, but if you go on making a nuissance of yourself, well, he's gonna have to take steps.
Gulley Jimson:Would he rather I cut his liver out without phoning?
Constable:Now, come now, Mr. Jimson. Put yourself in his place.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References The Czar Wants to Sleep (1934)

Soundtrack:

Lieutenant Kije

Too Neglected

My late wife, an artist, loved this film, and it gave me such insights into the way her mind worked. Guiness is wonderful; for once we see many levels of the character he portrays. Kay Walsh is so touching as the woman in his life, while Mike Morgan makes the perfect art groupie. It's funny to see Dr. Pastorious in old age; he has barely changed since Bride of Frankenstein.

The humor is gentle and quiet except for the studio renovation scene, but it is when Gully stands in front of a canvas that the truth of this film comes out. His almost soliloquy on the human foot; the scene where he shrugs and says that was not what he was trying to say, after he has ruined the toff's wall, these are priceless and our entry into an artist's mind. When the houseboat sets sail down the Thames, to the comment about the sea by the looney who pipes Gully aboard is a bit of perfection set on celluloid. He stands there, framing a vision of another canvas on the hull of a freighter, while reciting this wonderful doggerel that I always get mixed up when I try to say it, and all the while Nosey and Sara spur him on. I've never read the book and wonder if this represents his death, but I take from it what I will.

One other thought: there are certain films shot on location that should be filed away as time/place documentaries. This one is a perfect example: London 1958.