Another Country (1984)

Based on the life of the young Guy Burgess, who would become better known as one of the Cambridge Spies.

Director:

Marek Kanievska

Writers:

Julian Mitchell (screenplay), Julian Mitchell (play)

Stars:

Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Michael Jenn

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rupert Everett	...	Guy Bennett
Colin Firth	...	Tommy Judd
Michael Jenn	...	Barclay
Robert Addie	...	Delahay
Rupert Wainwright	...	Donald Devenish
Tristan Oliver	...	Fowler
Cary Elwes	...	James Harcourt
Frederick Alexander	...	Jim Menzies
Adrian Ross Magenty	...	Wharton
Geoffrey Bateman	...	Yevgeni
Philip Dupuy	...	Martineau
Guy Henry	...	Head Boy
Jeffrey Wickham	...	Arthur
John Line	...	Best Man
Gideon Boulting	...	Trafford

Storyline

Based on the award winning play by Julian Mitchell, the film explores the effect of Public School life in the 1930's on Guy Bennett as his homosexuality and unwillingness to "play the game" turns him eastwards towards communist Russia.

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Plot Keywords:

communist | russia | homosexuality | spy | 1930s | 

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Taglines:

He outraged his friends . . . He rebelled against his family . . . And finally he betrayed his country [Australia theatrical]

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1984 (UK)

Also Known As:

Another Country - La scelta

Filming Locations:

Althorp House, Althorp, Northamptonshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goldcrest Films International, National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

A very youthful Earl Spencer appears as an extra in several scenes.

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Quotes

Guy Bennett: But you couldn't help it, could you? Because in your heart of hearts, like Barclay and Delahay and Fowler and Menzies, you still believe, in spite of your talk of equality and fraternity, you still believe some people are better than others because of the way they make love. Now, think of that for a lifetime. Think of the names: pansy, nancy, fairy, fruit, brown-nose.

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Connections

Referenced in St. Trinian's (2007)

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Soundtracks

"I Vow to Thee, My Country"
Lyrics by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice
Music by Gustav Holst

User Reviews

Good acting in small drama

Every actor in the movie is perfectly suited to their character, and you can't day that about every movie you see.

Rupert is in love with a ray of sunshine in the human form of Cary Elwes, and Colin is screaming for the revolution to begin. The movie is about them, what living in England at the time would have been like, and what living in a boys school was like also.

The boys seem to accept Rupert because it is widely assumed that he will grow out of it. When he declares it as a way of life, his unhappiness begins. He is able to be friends with Colin Firth because they are both outcasts in their way ("The Commie and the queer" is how he describes them at one point").

The movie is very enjoyable and it is worth a look. You've spent ninety minutes doing stupider things than watching this.