Withnail & I (1987)

London 1969 - two 'resting' (unemployed and unemployable) actors, Withnail and Marwood, fed up with damp, cold, piles of washing-up, mad drug dealers and psychotic Irishmen, decide to leave... See full summary »

Director:

Bruce Robinson

Writer:

Bruce Robinson

Stars:

Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, Richard Griffiths

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard E. Grant	...	Withnail
Paul McGann	...	& I / Marwood
Richard Griffiths	...	Monty
Ralph Brown	...	Danny
Michael Elphick	...	Jake
Daragh O'Malley	...	Irishman
Michael Wardle	...	Isaac Parkin
Una Brandon-Jones	...	Mrs. Parkin
Noel Johnson	...	General
Irene Sutcliffe	...	Waitress
Llewellyn Rees	...	Tea Shop Proprietor
Robert Oates	...	Policeman One
Anthony Wise	...	Policeman Two
Eddie Tagoe	...	Presuming Ed

Storyline

London 1969 - two 'resting' (unemployed and unemployable) actors, Withnail and Marwood, fed up with damp, cold, piles of washing-up, mad drug dealers and psychotic Irishmen, decide to leave their squalid Camden flat for an idyllic holiday in the countryside, courtesy of Withnail's uncle Monty's country cottage. But when they get there, it rains non-stop, there's no food, and their basic survival skills turn out to be somewhat limited. Matters are not helped by the arrival of Uncle Monty, who shows an uncomfortably keen interest in Marwood...

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Plot Keywords:

cottage | actor | rain | countryside | drug dealer | 

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Taglines:

If you don't remember the sixties, don't worry - neither did they.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

19 June 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mi ketten

Filming Locations:

35 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$1,544,889 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

HandMade Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard E. Grant was hired on the proviso that he lost weight. Ironically he had just been trying to gain some weight through working out because he thought was too skinny. He went on a diet of protein shakes to achieve his gaunt look in the film.

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Goofs

When Marwood is seen knocking at the Penrith cottage door looking for the farmer, there is a distinctive black coal bucket outside. When the camera pans out before he leaves, the coal bucket is no longer there.

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Quotes

Marwood: Don't vent spleen on me, I'm in the same boat!
Withnail: Stop saying that! You're not in the same boat. The only thing you're in that I've been in is this fucking bath!

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Crazy Credits

Paul McGann is credited only as "and I".

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Connections

Referenced in Room 101: Episode #10.5 (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Hang Out the Stars in Indiana"
Performed by Al Bowlly
Music by Harry M. Woods
Lyrics by Billy Moll
Published by Peter Morris Music Co. Ltd.
Original Sound Recording made by EMI Records Ltd.

User Reviews

Role of a lifetime

Richard E Grant is simply perfect as Withnail, the addled but undoubtedly well-equipped "actor" on holiday with his pal, the "I" in the title. His soliloquy from Hamlet in the final scene is one of the best readings of that scene anyone's done in film. This is a film with a point, and a great way of avoiding making it too emphatically. I love every character, and every line. When Withnail frantically searches for antifreeze after drinking lighter fluid in a crazed attempt to become drunk, "I" says, "Everyone knows you shouldn't mix your drink!" Superb!