A Merry War (1997)
"Keep the Aspidistra Flying" (original title)

Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency, and his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. Gordon believes he is a genius, a marvelous poet and quits the ad agency, trying to live on his ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Bierman

Writers:

George Orwell (novel), Alan Plater (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard E. Grant, Helena Bonham Carter, Julian Wadham

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard E. Grant	...	Gordon Comstock
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Rosemary
Julian Wadham	...	Ravelston
Jim Carter	...	Erskine
Harriet Walter	...	Julia Comstock
Lesley Vickerage	...	Hermione
Barbara Leigh-Hunt	...	Mrs. Wisbeach (as Barbara Leigh Hunt)
Liz Smith	...	Mrs. Meakin
John Clegg	...	McKechnie
Bill Wallis	...	Mr. Cheeseman
Lill Roughley	...	Mrs. Trilling
Dorothea Alexander	...	Old Woman
Peter Stockbridge	...	Old Man
Grant Parsons	...	Beautiful Young Man
Malcolm Sinclair	...	Paul Doring

Storyline

Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency, and his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. Gordon believes he is a genius, a marvelous poet and quits the ad agency, trying to live on his poems, but poverty soon comes to him.

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Plot Keywords:

poet | copywriter | poverty | wedding | thames river | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sex-related material

Details

Official Sites:

First Look Media

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 August 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Merry War

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$373,830 (USA) (28 August 1998)

Gross:

$301,360 (USA) (23 October 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arts Council of England, BBC Films, Bonaparte Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

During a scene in the office, Rosemary is sitting at her desk talking to her boss. The light reflects off her glasses, giving off a green tinge, indicative of anti-reflective lenses - not invented during the time the movie takes place.

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Quotes

[Cheeseman has just offered Gordon a job in his bookstore]
Mr. Cheeseman: Get pissed if you want, but no dipping your hand in the till. That *does* upset me, and I've got a cousin who breaks legs.

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Soundtracks

"Tiger in the Night"
Music and Lyrics by Mike Batt
Performed by Colin Blunstone

User Reviews

See the film first, then read the book!

I went to see the film as I saw parts of it being made. I wanted to see how Woburn Walk could be turned into a road in Hampstead. I liked the film. I wondered why the critics had such a downer on it. Then I read the book and could understand why.

Richard E. Grant was not vicious enough as Comstock and somehow the poverty which Orwell depicted in his book has been cleaned up to the point that you just can't see why Comstock was having so much of a problem. Comstock's arrest has been cleaned up too and the ending was all wrong.

If the film had been released under another name then it would probably have got a smoother ride and only been said to be a pastiche of Orwell's work. If you haven't read the book or seen the film, see the film first.