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

Despite Paul McGann's speculation on the DVD commentary that Withnail might have gone to Stowe, both he and Uncle Monty are supposed to be old boys of another public school: Harrow. The first hint of this is the print of Harrow hanging up in the Camden flat (it's the one of the redbrick building just next to the door frame leading to the kitchen), but the real clincher is when later, at Monty's house, Withnail lies that Marwood went to "the other place", to which Monty replies, "Oh, you went to Eton!" Members of Eton and Harrow often refer to pupils of the other in this manner.

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Goofs

When the girl shouts 'Up yours, granddad!' at Withnail, her mouth does not match the words.

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Quotes

Monty: [reading sign on cottage door] "Here. Hare. Here."

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Crazy Credits

Paul McGann is credited only as "and I".

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Connections

Referenced in Awake and Ovulate (2007)

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Soundtracks

"A Whiter Shade of Pale"
Performed by King Curtis
Composed by Keith Reid and Gary Brooker
1969 Published by Westminster Music Ltd.
Original Sound Recording made by Warner Bros. Records

User Reviews

Not just a cult classic...a classic - period.

I have a film poster of Withnail & I that has such critical quotes as "Hilarious!" and "Gloriously funny!" and I can't say I totally agree. Don't get me wrong...I loved this film and it remains one of my favorites of all time, I just think these quotes sell the movie as some kind of Monty Python romp...and it's much more than that. I did laugh throughout, but I was also touched and found it quite sad (in a very entertaining way.) I would like to think that this is what Bruce Robinson intended...to make a dramedy...not just a silly romp. Though perhaps a bit slow for some, I thought the pace was remarkable, the acting superb. I have also heard people say that they found the plot lacking...but I argue that sometimes it's just nice to sit back and get swept away by a good character study. Interesting and thought provoking, sometimes referred to as a "cult classic", I say it's just a classic - period. Oh...and great soundtrack. The closing music always gives me goosebumps.