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IMDb > The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989)
The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover
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The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   11,741 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Peter Greenaway
Writer:
Peter Greenaway (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 April 1990 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Crime | Drama more
Tagline:
Lust...Murder...Dessert. Bon Appetit!
Plot:
The wife of an oafish restaurant owner becomes bored with her husband and considers an affair with a regular patron. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
5 wins & 3 nominations more
User Comments:
Bon appetit. more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Richard Bohringer ... Richard Borst

Michael Gambon ... Albert Spica

Helen Mirren ... Georgina Spica
Alan Howard ... Michael

Tim Roth ... Mitchel
Ciarán Hinds ... Cory
Gary Olsen ... Spangler
Ewan Stewart ... Harris

Roger Ashton-Griffiths ... Turpin
Ron Cook ... Mews
Liz Smith ... Grace
Emer Gillespie ... Patricia
Janet Henfrey ... Alice
Arnie Breeveld ... Eden
Tony Alleff ... Troy
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Le cuisinier, le voleur, sa femme et son amant (France)
Spica
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
more
Runtime:
124 min | USA:98 min (R-rated version)
Country:
France | UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2005) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Belgium:KNT (original rating) | India:A | Iran:18+ | USA:Open (rating surrendered: 1990) | Australia:R (sexual references/scenes) | France:X (original rating) | USA:X (original rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:III | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 (heavily cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 | USA:R (video rating) (cut) | West Germany:18
Company:
Allarts Cook more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The dog excrement was actually chocolate mousse. more
Quotes:
[speaking of Albert, the thief]
Michael: Where is he now?
Georgina: He's eating avocado vinaigrette and prawns... with his fingers.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "X-Rated" (2004) more

FAQ

What's on the menu?
What is the film 'about'?
What is the correct way to formulate the title of the film?
more
16 out of 23 people found the following comment useful:-
Bon appetit., 6 June 2003
9/10
Author: bechamel from UK

Writer/Director Peter Greenaway teams up again with cinematographer Sacha Vierny and composer Michael Nyman, delivering a banquet of sound and colour, light and dark. And dark and dark. A simple if disturbing morality tale sits atop a canvas of grotesque characters, carefully-composed frames and revolting details. The restaurant setting forces analogues with a meal, and it's easy to oblige - a rather formal affair, bordering on pretentious, with its influences conspicuous - sumptuous, exotic, intoxicating, memorable, if perhaps too rich and over-long, and it plays havoc with the digestion.

As acquired a taste as any of Greenaway's work, and by no means an unqualified triumph. This film does not deliver on all its promises. But at least they were big promises. Try a piece - if you don't like it, you can always go back to your burgers and fries.

Nine out of ten.

Notes:

1. Michael Gambon's "Albert Spica" (the Thief of the title) surely ranks as one of cinema's all-time nastiest villains. Sorry Darth - no cigar.

2. The title of this film has become a template for headlines in British newspapers, e.g. "The A, the B, his C and her D". Don't ask me why.

3. "Cook/Thief" is one of four similar and inter-related films that Greenaway made during the 1980s, the others being "The Belly of an Architect", "A Zed and Two Noughts" and "Drowning by Numbers". While "Cook/Thief" stole all the headlines with its snazzy visuals and outrageous grotesquery - not to mention various collisions with the censors - For me, "Drowning" is the best of the bunch. And somewhat easier on the eye (and stomach).

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Ludicrous theory (to be taken with a grain of salt) AudemarsPiguet
More artistic movies like this? panospcm
Why this movie isn't on the top 250 is beyond me... bplex
Out of print? joenonneman
what does it mean? nickcapp70
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