Salome's Last Dance (1988)

Late on Guy Fawkes Day, 1892, Oscar Wilde arrives at a high-class brothel where a surprise awaits: a staging of his play "Salome," with parts played by prostitutes, Wilde's host, his lover ... See full summary »

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Oscar Wilde (play), Vivian Russell (translation),

Stars:

Glenda Jackson, Stratford Johns, Nickolas Grace

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Glenda Jackson	...	Herodias / Lady Alice
Stratford Johns	...	Herod / Alfred Taylor
Nickolas Grace	...	Oscar Wilde
Douglas Hodge	...	John the Baptist / Lord Alfred 'Bosey' Douglas
Imogen Millais-Scott	...	Salome / Rose
Denis Lill	...	Tigellenus / Chilvers
Russell Lee Nash	...	Pageboy
Ken Russell	...	Cappadocian / Kenneth (as Alfred Russell)
David Doyle	...	A. Nubin
Warren Saire	...	Young Syrian
Kenny Ireland	...	1st Soldier
Michael Van Wijk	...	2nd Soldier
Paul Clayton	...	1st Nazarean
Imogen Claire	...	2nd Nazarean
Tim Potter	...	Pharisee

Storyline

Late on Guy Fawkes Day, 1892, Oscar Wilde arrives at a high-class brothel where a surprise awaits: a staging of his play "Salome," with parts played by prostitutes, Wilde's host, his lover Bosey, and Lady Alice. The movie moves between the play and Wilde's night. In the play, Herod begs his pubescent step-daughter Salome to dance for him, promising her anything she desires. Her mother, Herodias, objects. Salome is stung by John the Baptist's rejection of her affections. The prophet's scolding celibacy puts him between the expressed desire of age and youth. Wilde dallies with a young man as he watches the show, provoking Bosey's jealousy. Two surprises await us.

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Plot Keywords:

play | desire | jealousy | oscar wilde | guy fawkes day | 

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Taglines:

NOTORIOUS, SCANDALOUS, WILDE!

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Última Dança de Salomé

Filming Locations:

Cannon Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$331,469 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jolly Russell Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Jubilee: A Time Less Golden (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Gymnopedie No.3"
Music by Erik Satie
Arranged by Claude Debussy

User Reviews

Ecstatically beautiful on so many levels

This is a film that operates on so many levels. The framework of the plot is that a group of friends in late 19th century London help Oscar Wilde put on a private performance of his play "Salome," banned in Britain for its controversial political and sexual themes. We get to watch the interactions of the characters in the play, the interactions of the actors in the play (and offstage), and the interactions of the players with the sole member of the audience (the play's author). If you loved "Lilies," you won't go far wrong with "Salome's Last Dance" -- both feature an immersive blurring between the action in the play and the actors portraying it. Don't let anyone tell you much more than that about the film, because there are some delicious surprises.