Plenty (1985)

A young Englishwoman spends 20 years to make whatever kind of life for herself at the expense of others around her in post-World War 2 England.

Director:

Fred Schepisi

Writers:

David Hare (play), David Hare (screenplay)

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Charles Dance, Tracey Ullman

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Susan Traherne
Charles Dance	...	Raymond Brock
Tracey Ullman	...	Alice Park
John Gielgud	...	Sir Leonard Darwin
Sting	...	Mick
Ian McKellen	...	Sir Andrew Charleson
Sam Neill	...	Lazar
Burt Kwouk	...	Mr. Aung
André Maranne	...	Villon
Pik Sen Lim	...	Madame Aung
Ian Wallace	...	Medlicoti
Tristram Jellinek	...	Dawncey
Peter Forbes-Robertson	...	Brussells Hotel Manager
Hugo De Vernier	...	Doctor
James Taylor	...	Tony (dead man)

Storyline

Susan Traherne has been irreparably changed by her wartime experiences as a Resistance fighter. She sets out in the post-war world to make her way to what she wants, no matter who is hurt, or how.

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Plot Keywords:

post war | resistance | spy | fully clothed sex | suez crisis | 

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Taglines:

The heat of passion. The power of anger. It ruined them. It destroyed her...

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bolluk

Filming Locations:

Brussels, Brussels-Capital, Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pressman Productions, RKO Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production of "Plenty" by David Hare opened at the Plymouth Theater in New York on January 6, 1983, ran for 92 performances and was nominated for the 1983 Tony Award for the Best Play.

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Goofs

In the apartment of Susan and Alice there is a floor lamp looking like the famous Arco designed by Achille Castiglioni. That scene is happening in the 1950s, whereas Arco was designed in 1962.

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Quotes

Susan Traherne: I would stop, I would stop, I would stop fucking talking if I ever heard anybody else say anything worth fucking stopping talking for!

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Crossover Dreams/Maxie/Mishima/Plenty (1985)

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Soundtracks

"Down by the Riverside"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Terry Lightfoot

User Reviews

A post WWII world seen through English eyes

David Hare's brilliant stage play has been translated beautifully to the screen. The peculiar English trait of natural melancholy radiates throughout this sad exercise of seeing all through the lens of British class consciousness, repression and despair. The color photography, the performances, the stifling framing of the widescreen shots all add to the oppressive beauty of a story about the self-destruction of a preternaturally beautiful woman. Mery Streep has never been better before or since. Hare makes her intellectual acuity a weapon against herself as she sees through all the ghastly pretenses of a corroding Empire. No insight, no beauty of body, no letting go of formality and pretense can save her from herself. Feminism itself is taken to the burning stake as Streep's character thrashes, Hedda Gabbler like, against walls and prohibitions beyond her understanding. Rarely has such condemnation looked so ravishing.