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The Missionary (1982)

R 90 min  -  Comedy  -   2 November 1982 (USA)
6.0
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Ratings: 6.0/10 from 1,186 users  
Reviews: 19 user | 5 critic

In 1905, after 10 years of missionary work in Africa, the Rev. Charles Fortesque is recalled to England... See full summary »

Writer:

Michael Palin
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Palin ...
The Reverend Charles Fortescue
Maggie Smith ...
Lady Isabel Ames
Trevor Howard ...
Lord Henry Ames
Denholm Elliott Denholm Elliott ...
The Bishop
Michael Hordern Michael Hordern ...
Slatterthwaite / Narrator
Graham Crowden Graham Crowden ...
The Reverend Fitzbanks
David Suchet ...
Corbett
Phoebe Nicholls Phoebe Nicholls ...
Deborah Fitzbanks
Tricia George Tricia George ...
Ada
Valerie Whittington Valerie Whittington ...
Emmeline
Roland Culver Roland Culver ...
Lord Fermleigh
Rosamund Greenwood Rosamund Greenwood ...
Lady Fermleigh
Timothy Spall ...
Parswell
Neil Innes Neil Innes ...
Singer in Gin Palace
John Barrett John Barrett ...
Old Man outside Hotel
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Storyline

In 1905, after 10 years of missionary work in Africa, the Rev. Charles Fortesque is recalled to England, where his bishop gives him his new assignment - to minister to London's prostitutes. Charles hopes Deborah, his fiancee, will object and give him an excuse to say no to the bishop. But she is so imperturbably innocent that she totally fails to understand what he is being asked to do, and urges him to do his best. Wealthy Lady Ames is expected to fund the work, but once she makes it clear to Charles that there will be no contribution unless he shares her bed... Written by James Barrett <jbarrett@sbastk.ess.sunysb.edu>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Bishop | Prostitute | Africa | England | Scotland  | See more »

Taglines:

He gave his body to save their souls. See more »

Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Σέξι Ιεραπόστολος See more »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$1,864,852 (USA) (7 November 1982) (532 Screens)

Gross:

$7,241,180 (USA) (5 December 1982)
See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

HandMade Films See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

USA:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Whilst filming at Longleat House in Wiltshire, Michael Hordern asked to get off the set early because there was a trout stream nearby and he was an experienced trout fisherman. Later that day, the cast and crew had a barbecue with the fish Hordern caught. See more »

Quotes

Lord Ames: I once had a chap before me who'd been caught stealing from the mess. I ordered every alternate fingernail to be removed, and you know, I still get a card from him every Christmas.
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Crazy Credits

Pay close attention to the photo album during the end credits, the photos reveal details about the characters after the events of the film. See more »

Connections

Referenced in What the Pythons Did Next... (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

"Put On Your Ta-Ta Little Girlie"
Written and Composed by Fred W. Leigh
Sung by Neil Innes See more »