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The Naked Civil Servant (1975)

TV-14 | | Biography, Comedy, Drama | TV Movie 17 December 1975
The Naked Civil Servant Poster
The life and times of Quentin Crisp, an outrageous and flamboyant homosexual, coming of age and growing into old age in conservative England.

Director:

Jack Gold

Writers:

Quentin Crisp (autobiography), Philip Mackie (screenplay)

Stars:

John Hurt, Liz Gebhardt, Patricia Hodge | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
3 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »

Photos

See all 12 photos »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Hurt ... Quentin Crisp
Liz Gebhardt Liz Gebhardt ... Art Student
Patricia Hodge ... Ballet Teacher
Stanley Lebor ... Mr. Pole
Katherine Schofield ... Mrs. Pole (as Katharine Schofield)
Colin Higgins Colin Higgins ... Thumbnails
John Rhys-Davies ... Barndoor
Stephen Johnstone Stephen Johnstone ... Young Quentin
Antonia Pemberton Antonia Pemberton ... Mrs. Longhurst
Lloyd Lamble ... Mr. Crisp
Joan Ryan Joan Ryan ... Mrs. Crisp
Frank Forsyth ... Family Doctor
Shane Briant ... Norma
Ron Pember Ron Pember ... Black Cat Proprietor
Roger Lloyd Pack ... Liz
See full cast »
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Storyline

The life and times of Quentin Crisp, an outrageous and flamboyant homosexual, coming of age and growing into old age in conservative England. Written by Chris Abbenhuis <keller@telebyte.nl>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

homosexual | gay lead character | based on autobiography | transvestite | cross dresser | See All (13) »

Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

Certificate:

TV-14 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter O'Toole was considered to star as Quentin Crisp. See more »

Goofs

(at around 1h 13 mins) As the 1975 segment begins, the pedestrians Crisp passes on the sidewalk include a woman in a white top and plaid skirt, and then a man in a lavender shirt and yellow pants. When the shot changes to one from Crisp's point of view, the same two pedestrians pass by again. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Crisp: Do you intend to spend your entire life admiring yourself?
Quentin Crisp: If I possibly can.
See more »

Connections

Featured in ITV Changed My Life (2015) See more »

User Reviews

Fun and Inspiring
17 September 2007 | by Afzal-s2007 – See all my reviews

The Naked Civil Servant is a TV film based on famous gay wit Quentin Crisp's autobiography. John Hurt gives a characteristically committed, outstanding performance. His Crisp is both a bon vivant and a serious, determined man who, underneath his outrageously camp exterior, is anything but frivolous, flamboyantly using his wit and dress like weapons as a defence to the repressive, smug and specious attacks from the mainstream English establishment and society, which regards his sexuality as criminal and deviant.

Hurt's Quentin Crisp is an unlikely crusader, made appealing not only by his inspiring moral force in facing prejudice, abuse and rejection with honesty, courage and an uproarious sense of humour, but by the fact that he never loses his belief in humanity, living his life undaunted and surrounded by friends who he treats with warmth and compassion.

Jack Gold's direction is wonderfully theatrical and so suited to Crisp's eccentric world, and the dialogue is incandescent. Nevertheless, the film's narrative, as it ranges over Crisp's long life, is episodic and at times sketchy. Also unnecessarily, Quentin Crisp himself appears in a sort of preface at the beginning of the film.
18 of 22 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 17 user reviews »

Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1975 (UK) See more »

Also Known As:

Wie man sein Leben lebt See more »

Filming Locations:

Kings Road, Chelsea, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Thames Television See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See full technical specs »
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