Prick Up Your Ears Poster
MOVIEmeter
SEE RANK
Up 2,254 this week

Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

R 111 min  -  Biography | Drama  -   8 May 1987 (USA)
7.1
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 7.1/10 from 2,906 users  
Reviews: 23 user | 20 critic

This film is the story of the spectacular life and violent death of British playwright Joe Orton. In his teens... See full summary »

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

Alan Bennett, John Lahr (book)
 Loading+Watchlist

Watch it

Buy it from Amazon »

Related Lists

image of title
a list of 742 titles by Jumping_Elephant created 5 days ago
 
image of title
a list of 149 titles by ursulahemard created 10 months ago
 
image of title
a list of 2,419 titles by Poisonthewell created 1 week ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations See more awards »
Edit

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gary Oldman ...
Alfred Molina ...
Vanessa Redgrave ...
Peggy Ramsay
Frances Barber Frances Barber ...
Leonie Orton
Janet Dale Janet Dale ...
Mrs. Sugden
Julie Walters ...
Elsie Orton
Bert Parnaby Bert Parnaby ...
The Magistrate
Margaret Tyzack ...
Madame Lambert
Lindsay Duncan ...
Anthea Lahr
Wallace Shawn ...
John Lahr
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Simon Adams Simon Adams ...
Undertaker's Boy
Dave Atkins Dave Atkins ...
Mr. Sugden
John Bailey John Bailey ...
Wigmaker
Stephen Bill Stephen Bill ...
George Barnett
Jane Blackburn Jane Blackburn ...
1st Woman in Gallery
Edit

Storyline

This film is the story of the spectacular life and violent death of British playwright Joe Orton. In his teens, Orton is befriended by the older, more reserved Kenneth Halliwell, and while the two begin a relationship, it's fairly obvious that it's not all about sex. Orton loves the dangers of bath-houses and liaisons in public restrooms; Halliwell, not as charming or attractive as Orton, doesn't fare so well in those environs. While both long to become writers, it is Orton who achieves fame - his plays "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" and "Loot" become huge hits in London of the sixties, and he's even commissioned to write a screenplay for the Beatles. But Orton's success takes him farther from Halliwell, whose response ended both his life and the life of the up-and-coming playwright. Written by Gary Dickerson <slug@mail.utexas.edu>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Playwright | Death | Writer | Love | Sex  | See more »

Taglines:

They shared everything - except success.

Genres:

Biography | Drama

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Ábrete de orejas See more »

Box Office

Gross:

$1,654,743 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film of Steven Mackintosh. See more »

Quotes

Joe Orton: Have you been reading my diary?
Kenneth Halliwell: No.
Joe Orton: Why not? I would.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in "Family Guy: Prick Up Your Ears (#5.6)" (2006) See more »