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IMDbPro

Kes

  • 19691969
  • PGPG
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
21K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,549
4,822
David Bradley in Kes (1969)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for Kes
Play trailer1:40
3 Videos
80 Photos
DramaFamily
A working-class English boy spends his free time caring for and training his pet kestrel.A working-class English boy spends his free time caring for and training his pet kestrel.A working-class English boy spends his free time caring for and training his pet kestrel.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
21K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,549
4,822
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Ken Loach
    • Writers
      • Barry Hines(novel "A Kestrel for a Knave")
      • Ken Loach(adaptation)
      • Tony Garnett(adaptation)
    • Stars
      • David Bradley
      • Brian Glover
      • Freddie Fletcher
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Ken Loach
    • Writers
      • Barry Hines(novel "A Kestrel for a Knave")
      • Ken Loach(adaptation)
      • Tony Garnett(adaptation)
    • Stars
      • David Bradley
      • Brian Glover
      • Freddie Fletcher
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 109User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
    • Won 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 6 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos3

    KES: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    Trailer 1:40
    KES: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    KES
    Trailer 3:00
    KES
    KES - Original Masters of Cinema Trailer
    Trailer 1:47
    KES - Original Masters of Cinema Trailer

    Photos80

    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)
    David Bradley in Kes (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Bradley
    David Bradley
    • Billy
    Brian Glover
    Brian Glover
    • Mr. Sugden
    Freddie Fletcher
    • Jud
    Lynne Perrie
    • Mrs. Casper
    Colin Welland
    Colin Welland
    • Mr. Farthing
    Bob Bowes
    • Mr. Gryce
    Bernard Atha
    • Youth Employment Officer
    Laurence Bould
    Joey Kaye
    • Comedian at Pub
    Ted Carroll
    Ted Carroll
    Robert Naylor
    • MacDowell
    Agnes Drumgoon
    George Speed
    • Billy's Friend
    Desmond Guthrie
    Zoe Sunderland
    • Librarian
    • (as Zoe Sutherland)
    The 4D Jones
    Eric Bolderson
    • Farmer
    Joe Miller
    • Reg, Mother's Friend
    • Director
      • Ken Loach
    • Writers
      • Barry Hines(novel "A Kestrel for a Knave") (adaptation)
      • Ken Loach(adaptation)
      • Tony Garnett(adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to a BBC Radio 4 interview, the child actors were actually caned on the hand by school headmaster (who was the real school headmaster). They were paid an additional 10 shillings or 50p (about £8.28 in 2020) for their troubles.
    • Goofs
      When Mr Sugden is dancing down the pitch in the early part of the match, he shouts various instructions and admonitions to Speed. Speed was on Tibbutt's team and was his first choice.
    • Quotes

      Mr. Gryce: Mere fodder for the mass media.

    • Crazy credits
      The majority of the crew were listed simply under the heading "This film was made by..." without each person's specific job title (director of photography, sound recordist, editor etc) being given.
    • Alternate versions
      Some scenes, including the opening scene and the scene when Jud bullies Billy for having a book, were re-dubbed for the American market to be in a more understandable form of English for Americans. This soundtrack was then used in the UK market for VHS and DVD releases in the 1980s and 1990s, but the 2011 DVD and Blu-Ray releases use the original soundtrack in Yorkshire dialect.
    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood U.K.: A Very British Picture (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Honey
      Written by Bobby Russell

      Performed by The 4D Jones at the club

    User reviews109

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A pleasure to watch
    Kes is a film i was aware about all the way back to when i was at school (it was made the year after i was born)but i never got around to seeing it until now and boy am i pleased i did. Rarely is there a film that exudes charm like Kes. The acting is not brilliant , neither is the script but that is what makes this film such a joy. It made me feel i was back at school amongst the self important jumped up teachers and the cruel kids .It made me remember the times when i was a teenager that i didnt care for at the time yet it also made me long to be that age again! The story is of a young lad who through having a bad time at school and with his family he finds solice in training a young bird of prey. David bradley (Casper) is excellent ,as is Brian Glover as the P.E teacher who likes to think he is Bobby Charlton. The scene when he takes the boys out to play football is brilliant . The cinemetography is superb and the haunting music contributes to what can only be described as Very good movie. 8 out of 10.
    helpful•26
    9
    • CharltonBoy
    • Apr 10, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 3, 1970 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Kestrel for a Knave
    • Filming locations
      • Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Kestrel Films
      • Woodfall Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,517
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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