The Look of Love (2013)

The life of Paul Raymond, the controversial entrepreneur who became Britain's richest man.

Director:

Michael Winterbottom

Writer:

Matt Greenhalgh (screenplay)

Stars:

Anna Friel, Imogen Poots, Stephen Fry

Cast

Credited cast:
Anna Friel	...	Jean Raymond
Imogen Poots	...	Debbie Raymond
Stephen Fry	...	Barrister
Shirley Henderson	...	Rusty Humphries
Steve Coogan	...	Paul Raymond
Tamsin Egerton	...	Fiona Richmond / Amber
Matt Lucas	...	Divine
David Walliams	...	Vicar Edwyn Young
Simon Bird	...	Jonathan Hodge
Chris Addison	...	Tony Power
Kieran O'Brien	...	Jimmy Humphries
Matthew Beard	...	Howard Raymond
Vera Filatova	...	Monika
June Smith	...	Wedding Guest for Groom
Peter Wight	...	Police Inspector

Storyline

The life of Paul Raymond, the controversial entrepreneur who became Britain's richest man.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Film Four [United Kingdom] Official Facebook

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 2013 (UK)

Also Known As:

A very Englishman

Filming Locations:

UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Films, Baby Cow Films, Film Four

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's working title, The King of Soho, had to be dropped after the threat of legal action by Paul Raymond's son, Howard, who was already developing a project of the same name about his father's life.

User Reviews

Fun filed and charming

Charming, witty, intelligent. Had to have it all, but at what cost?

One is almost tempted to pronounce Paul Raymond's story as predictable. Rags to riches story, got corrupted and suffered the consequences. Yet there is something different about Paul Raymond, who came to London from Liverpool with nothing and reached the very top.

By different I don't mean just the fact that he was probably the first entrepreneur to acquire wealth almost exclusively from the "adult entertainment" industry but he founded it since his peak coincided with the beginning of secularisation of Britain and he introduced a very daring sort of entertainment in a highly puritanical society. Being spirited as he were, neither the criticisms or the bad press affected his stamina; he just marched on conquering bigger heights.

With the above in mind, it does not become too challenging to picture an audacious, notorious individual. Or so Steve Cogan aimed to have us believe. I could not envisage an actor better suited for the part. Ultra cool and a charmer, Steve Coogan was Paul Raymond. Mr Raymond was apparently so charming that his shared his extramarital bravados with his wife and for the 1950's (or so) this is spectacular.

The movie places us inside his life and we follow his ups and downs, although we soon become aware that he is a man in mourning. Perhaps a side effect of the poverty he came from, his no limits lifestyle and the way he indulged it to his beloved daughter obviously must have played a part.

It might go down as just another bio of a sale made man, but this film had an added dose of personality that undoubtedly mirrored its central character and the flamboyance he exhumed.

One of the better recent British films.