Screen One (TV Series)
A Question of Attribution (1991)
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- 1h 10min
- Comedy, Crime
- 04 Oct 1992
- TV Episode
Sir Anthony Blunt, who was a Soviet agent for 25 years, is routinely questioned and gives no answers, but is knighted and works as Director of the Courtauld Institute, and presents his interrogator with a puzzle in the shape of a doubtful...
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| James Fox | ... |
Sir Anthony Blunt
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Gregory Floy | ... |
Radiologist
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| David Calder | ... |
Chubb
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| Edward de Souza | ... |
Collins
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| Geoffrey Palmer | ... |
Donleavy
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| Jason Flemyng | ... |
Colin
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| John Cater | ... |
Restorer
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Richard Bebb | ... |
Consultant
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| Ann Beach | ... |
Mrs. Chubb
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| Julia St John | ... |
Receptionist
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Mark Payton | ... |
Phillips
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Anne Jameson | ... |
Blunt's Secretary
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| Barbara Hicks | ... |
Lady at National Gallery
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| Prunella Scales | ... |
H.M.Q.
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Directed by
| John Schlesinger | ||
Written by
| Alan Bennett | ... | (play) |
| Alan Bennett | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Richard Broke | ... | executive producer |
| Innes Lloyd | ... | producer |
| Martin Pope | ... | assistant producer |
Music by
| Gerald Gouriet | ||
Cinematography by
| John Hooper | ||
Editing by
| Mark Day | ||
Casting By
| Noel Davis | ... | (as Davis and Zimmermann) |
| Anne Hopkinson | ||
| Jeremy Zimmermann | ... | (as Davis and Zimmermann) |
Production Design by
| Barbara Gosnold | ||
Costume Design by
| Amy Roberts | ||
Makeup Department
| Daphne Croker-Saunders | ... | makeup artist |
| Heather Jones | ... | assistant makeup artist |
Production Management
| Daphne Phipps | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Theresa MacInnis | ... | second assistant director |
| Peter Stenning | ... | first assistant director |
| Tim Stevenson | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Christine Buttner | ... | graphic designer |
| Bronwen Grover | ... | design assistant |
| Maura Laverty | ... | properties buyer |
| John Wood | ... | design operative supervisor |
| Royston Humphries | ... | storeman (uncredited) |
| Sam Stokes | ... | props (uncredited) |
| Ray Webb | ... | construction supervisor (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Julie Buckland | ... | dubbing editor |
| Roger Long | ... | film recordist |
| Aad Wirtz | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Garry Fiferman | ... | sound re-recordist (uncredited) |
| Trevor Gosling | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Brian Beaumont | ... | lighting gaffer |
| Robert Pascal | ... | camera operator (as Robert Pascall) |
| Roy Russell | ... | grip |
| Julian Clode | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Mike Ward | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Gillian Martin | ... | assistant costume designer |
Script and Continuity Department
| Cecilia Coleshaw | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Ian Hopkins | ... | production associate |
Thanks
| St. John Gore | ... | the BBC wishes to thank (as St. John Gore Esq.) |
| Innes Lloyd | ... | dedicatee |
Production Companies
Distributors
Special Effects
Other Companies
- The Royal Collection (the BBC wishes to thank)
- The National Gallery (the BBC wishes to thank)
- The Courtauld Institute of Art (the BBC wishes to thank)
- Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (the BBC wishes to thank)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Sir Anthony Blunt, who was a Soviet agent for 25 years, is routinely questioned and gives no answers, but is knighted and works as Director of the Courtauld Institute, and presents his interrogator with a puzzle in the shape of a doubtful Titian painting. He also does art restoration work in Buckingham Palace, where he gets into an interesting conversation with HMQ. Written by Kathy Li |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Based on the same real life events as Another Country (1984), Cambridge Spies (2003), History in Faces: Cambridge Five (2011), Philby, Burgess and Maclean (1977), An Englishman Abroad (1983), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979), Blunt (1987), Traitor (1971), Blade on the Feather (1980), The Jigsaw Man (1983) and influenced the source novels of The Fourth Protocol (1987), The Innocent (1993) and others works such as A Different Loyalty (2004) and Olding (2019), even in minor form like in The Imitation Game (2014). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Episode #6.1 (1993). See more » |
| Quotes |
[the Queen knows that Sir Anthony Blunt is a traitor and Blunt knows that the Queen knows this, but both maintain a facade of innocence as they discuss the Queen's art collection, amid many coded references]
H.M.Q.: Portraits are supposed to be frightfully self-revealing, aren't they? Show what one's really like - the secret self. Either that or else the eyes are supposed to follow you round the room. Have you had your portrait painted? Sir Anthony Blunt: No, Ma'am. H.M.Q.: So we don't know whether you have a secret self? [later] H.M.Q.: If one comes across a painting with the right background and pedigree, Sir Anthony, it must be hard, I imagine, even inconceivable, to think that it is not what it claims to be. And even supposing someone in such circumstances did have suspicions, they would be chary about voicing them. Easier to leave things as they are. Stick with the official attribution, rather than let the cat out of the bag and say "Here we have a fake". Sir Anthony Blunt: I still think the word "fake" inappropriate, Ma'am. H.M.Q.: If something is not what it claims to be, what is it? Sir Anthony Blunt: An enigma? See more » |