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 fountain was added to Brasenose College specifically for the film.

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Quotes

Fowler: I have half a mind to ask Barclay for permission to beat you!
Tommy Judd: Well, you've half a mind. We can all agree on that.

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Connections

Referenced in Wanderlust (2006)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

visually and dramatically impressive

This film is both visually and dramatically impressive. From the outset, we are treated to lavish cinematography of Eton College and its grounds and the surrounding countryside. This is contrasted with the drab scenes of Moscow from where Guy Bennet recounts his story. Everything is bathed in a golden glow, backed up by the sound of boyish voices singing hymns (the title itself comes from popular school hymn 'I vow to Thee my Country'; which was sung at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997).

This contrasts starkly with the brutality of the school's disciplinary system, where one boy is so ashamed of being caught in a homosexual act that he hangs himself in the school chapel. Those who question the school's code become outcasts, such as Bennet and Judd, unless they are 'useful' in some way - ie when Judd is needed to prevent an unpopular boy becoming head of house.

One important fact I noticed is that you hardly ever see a master in the school, and you never see the boys in lessons: this shows Eton not as merely a school, but as a microcosm of society with its own specific hierarchy.

There is interesting character development: Bennett, initially a philanderer who takes nothing seriously, eventually realises that he is a confirmed homosexual and begins to understand Judd's vision of a perfect society possible through communism ('not heaven on earth, but earth on earth - a just earth')Similarly Judd realises that sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice one's principles for the greater good.

There is a lot about this film that is hackneyed - the bullying, sadistic prefects, the angelic boys with floppy fringes singing chapel anthems, the stock rebellious phrases etc, (and I won't even mention Guy Bennet's ludicrous old-man makeup)but overall it is a beautiful piece of cinematography with some good acting from the young Mr Everett and Mr Firth.