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Butley

  • 1974
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
855
YOUR RATING
Butley (1974)
An English professor finds his life crumbling around him.
Play trailer2:57
1 Video
15 Photos
DramaRomance

An English professor finds his life crumbling around him.An English professor finds his life crumbling around him.An English professor finds his life crumbling around him.

  • Director
    • Harold Pinter
  • Writer
    • Simon Gray
  • Stars
    • Alan Bates
    • Jessica Tandy
    • Richard O'Callaghan
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    855
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Harold Pinter
    • Writer
      • Simon Gray
    • Stars
      • Alan Bates
      • Jessica Tandy
      • Richard O'Callaghan
    • 10User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:57
    Watch Trailer

    Photos15

    1 sheet movie poster
    Alan Bates in Butley (1974)
    Alan Bates in Butley (1974)
    Butley (1974)
    Butley (1974)
    Alan Bates, Lee Marvin, Stacy Keach, Glenda Jackson, and Zero Mostel in The Iceman Cometh (1973)
    Butley (1974)
    Butley (1974)
    Alan Bates in Butley (1974)
    Alan Bates in Butley (1974)
    Alan Bates in Butley (1974)
    Alan Bates and Richard O'Callaghan in Butley (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alan Bates
    Alan Bates
    • Ben Butley
    Jessica Tandy
    Jessica Tandy
    • Edna Shaft
    Richard O'Callaghan
    Richard O'Callaghan
    • Joey Keyston
    Georgina Hale
    Georgina Hale
    • Carol Heasman
    Michael Byrne
    Michael Byrne
    • Reg Nuttall
    Susan Engel
    Susan Engel
    • Anne Butley
    Simon Rouse
    Simon Rouse
    • Gardner
    Oliver Maguire
    • Man in the Tube
    Colin Haigh
    • First Student
    Darien Angadi
    • Second Student
    Jill Goldston
    • Tube Passenger
    • (uncredited)
    Lindsay Ingram
    Lindsay Ingram
    • Female Student
    • (uncredited)
    Anthony Lang
    • Tube Passenger
    • (uncredited)
    Patti Love
    Patti Love
    • Female Student
    • (uncredited)
    Belinda Low
    • Female Student
    • (uncredited)
    Derrick O'Connor
    Derrick O'Connor
    • Irishman in pub
    • (uncredited)
    John Savident
    John Savident
    • James
    • (uncredited)
    Susan Wooldridge
    Susan Wooldridge
    • Female Student
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Harold Pinter
    • Writer
      • Simon Gray(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Leonard Rossiter was cast, but was forced to drop out.
    • Quotes

      Ben Butley: I'm a one-woman man, and I've had mine, thank God.

    User reviews10

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Astonishing virtuosity
    The American Film Theatre was a praiseworthy effort to present classic modern plays to a wide audience. The series petered out when it became clear that there was in fact not enough of an audience to make the venture viable. This left us with a group of films, or rather filmed plays, of varying quality but always interesting, if not only for the wonderful casts assembled for the series. "Butley" was one of the best. After years of oblivion, the series is finally and thankfully being released.

    The problem with Simon Gray's very engaging play is that the characters are people one would hardly want to meet. They are a deeply flawed, unlikable bunch. As such we have little sympathy for any of them and hence Gray, intentionally or not, does not allow the viewer to connect emotionally with his characters. He instead allows us to watch as Ben Butley's life slowly disintegrates before our eyes. Despite the enforced detachment, it still remains a fascinating process, thanks to Pinter's precise direction, Gray's very sharp dialogue and Alan Bates delivering an astonishingly virtuoso performance.

    It's one of those extremely rare performances in which the actor becomes completely engulfed by the character. It's a feat to behold; almost scary at times. This alone makes "Butley" an unforgettable experience.
    helpful•19
    11
    • grahamclarke
    • Apr 24, 2003

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 1976 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Батли
    • Filming locations
      • Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Cinévision Ltée
      • The American Film Theatre
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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