The Libertine (2004)

The story of John Wilmot, a.k.a. the Earl of Rochester, a 17th century poet who famously drank and debauched his way to an early grave, only to earn posthumous critical acclaim for his life's work.

Director:

Laurence Dunmore

Writers:

Stephen Jeffreys (screenplay), Stephen Jeffreys (play)

Stars:

Johnny Depp, Samantha Morton, John Malkovich

2 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johnny Depp	...	Rochester
Paul Ritter	...	Chiffinch
John Malkovich	...	Charles II
Stanley Townsend	...	Keown
Francesca Annis	...	Countess
Rosamund Pike	...	Elizabeth Malet
Tom Hollander	...	Etherege
Johnny Vegas	...	Sackville
Richard Coyle	...	Alcock
Tom Burke	...	Vaughan
Hugh Sachs	...	Ratcliffe
Rupert Friend	...	Downs
Kelly Reilly	...	Jane
Jack Davenport	...	Harris
Trudi Jackson	...	Rose

Storyline

In 1660, with the return of Charles II to the English throne, theater, the visual arts, science and sexual promiscuity flourish. Thirteen years later, in the midst of political and economical problems, Charles II asks for the return of his friend John Wilmot, aka the second Earl of Rochester, from exile back to London. John is a morally-corrupt drunkard and a sexually- active cynical poet. When the King asks John to prepare a play for the French ambassador so as to please him, John meets the aspiring actress Elizabeth Barry in the playhouse and decides to make her into a great star. He falls in love with her and she becomes his mistress. During the presentation to the Frenchman, he falls into disgrace with the court. When he was thirty-three years old and dying of syphilis and alcoholism, he converts to being a religious man.

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Plot Keywords:

earl | poet | charles ii | mistress | ambassador | 

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Taglines:

He didn't resist temptation. He pursued it.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality including dialogue, violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

The Weinstein Company

Country:

UK Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Libertine - Sex, Drugs & Rococo

Filming Locations:

Wells Cathedral, Wells, Somerset, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£278,482 (UK) (18 November 2005)

Gross:

$4,829,497 (USA) (14 April 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Weinstein Company, The, Isle of Man Film, Mr. Mudd

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the film was lit using candles rather than conventional movie lights. In order to keep the effect of candles but still get enough light, cinematographer Alexander Melman designed a special piece of equipment, a stand that held a bank of candles and a reflective backing. These were known on the set as Birthday Cakes.

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Goofs

In the playhouse, after Harris announces the kings arrival, Lord Rochester starts to remove his hat with his right hand on the crown of the hat. In the next shot, he is removing it with his left hand on the brim of the hat.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Rochester: Allow me to be frank at the commencement. You will not like me. The gentlemen will be envious and the ladies will be repelled. You will not like me now and you will like me a good deal less as we go on. Ladies, an announcement: I am up for it, all the time. That is not a boast or an opinion, it is bone hard medical fact. I put it round you know. And you will watch me putting it round and sigh for it. Don't. It is a deal of trouble for you and you are better off watching and drawing...

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to Tracy, Billy and Stanley and all our Friends and Families

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Connections

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

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Soundtracks

Rochester's Farewell
(uncredited)
(end title theme)
Music by Michael Nyman
Text by Stephen Jeffreys
Performed by Hilary Summers (contralto)

User Reviews

Debauching lives in the XVII century

The Libertine is a central story centered in one debauching, drunk, poet, charismatic, relentless and magnific man called Earl of Rochester.

As it often happened with other great men in the past centuries, Earl is posthumously recognized later as a great personality.

More than excellent acting for all the cast with Johnny Deep equal to his mastery performances, Malkovich, with a small role, equally great, a classical set of the XVII century, the royal court, the local vagrant Inns, brothels and theaters makes this business fly.

The story of a man without moral principles but at the same time intelligent, subtle and with a possession of a genuine libertine archetype, rare for the most common men.

The frantic image of a poet-drunker, embedded with the long-time relationship with prostitutes and a somewhat laziness ambiguous behavior of irrational life against the reason.

He falls in love with a rookie actress, "humiliates" the English King with an uncommon play presented to the french ambassador/representative of the French King and dares to do what it pleases him most: Erotic playwriting...

Excellent movie, that's all... but not for everyone.