The Fool (1990)

A costume drama / satire about financial skull-duggery, and confidence tricksters in both the upper and lower classes in Victorian London. A working class man impersonates a lord who is ... See full summary »

Director:

Christine Edzard

Writers:

Christine Edzard, Olivier Stockman

Stars:

Derek Jacobi, Cyril Cusack, Ruth Mitchell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Derek Jacobi	...	Mr. Frederick / Sir John
Cyril Cusack	...	The Ballad Seller
Ruth Mitchell	...	The Girl
Maria Aitken	...	Lady Amelia
Irina Brook	...	Georgiana Shillibeer
Paul Brooke	...	Lord Paramount
Richard Caldicot	...	Duke
James Cairncross	...	Mr. Trott
Jim Carter	...	Mr. Blackthorn
Jonathan Cecil	...	Sir Martin Locket
Maria Charles	...	The Pure Gatherer
Richard Clifford	...	George Locket
James Cosmo	...	Mr. Bowring
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Mrs. Harris
Chris Darwin	...	Theatre Doorman

Storyline

A costume drama / satire about financial skull-duggery, and confidence tricksters in both the upper and lower classes in Victorian London. A working class man impersonates a lord who is supposedly very rich and a financial wizard. As such he is invited to all the best peoples' parties. In fact he is not and his wealth and expertise are more in the minds of his associates than in reality. Interestingly, despite the large social gap between the two classes, there are many similarities in what goes on in both within this story. This can be seen as the main character switches back and forth between his charade as a peer and his real self.

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Plot Keywords:

satire | costume | deception | double life | scam | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 1990 (UK)

Also Known As:

El especulador

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sands Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last film performances of both Sir 'Michael Hordern' and Paul Burke.

User Reviews

extraordinary

An extraordinary film from Christine Edzard, who also directed Little Dorrit. The film has an atmospheric, almost Dickensian ambience. Jacobi is superb, underplaying his dual roles while clearly establishing two different characters. The supporting cast, especially Cyril Cusack, is also--forgive the repetition--superb. The subtle social satire regarding the haves' attitudes toward the havenots (and vice versa), is clearly relevant today.