Equus (1977)

A psychiatrist attempts to uncover a troubled stable boy's disturbing obsession with horses.

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Peter Shaffer (play), Peter Shaffer (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Burton, Peter Firth, Colin Blakely

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Burton	...	Martin Dysart
Peter Firth	...	Alan Strang
Colin Blakely	...	Frank Strang
Joan Plowright	...	Dora Strang
Harry Andrews	...	Harry Dalton
Eileen Atkins	...	Hesther Saloman
Jenny Agutter	...	Jill Mason
Kate Reid	...	Margaret Dysart
John Wyman	...	Horseman
Elva Mai Hoover	...	Miss Raintree
Ken James	...	Mr. Pearce
Patrick Brymer	...	Hospital Patient

Storyline

A psychiatrist, Martin Dysart, investigates the savage blinding of six horses with a metal spike in a stable in Hampshire, England. The atrocity was committed by an unassuming seventeen-year-old stable boy named Alan Strang, the only son of an opinionated but inwardly-timid father and a genteel, religious mother. As Dysart exposes the truths behind the boy's demons, he finds himself face-to-face with his own.

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Plot Keywords:

stable | horse | hospital | psychiatrist | religion | 

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Taglines:

"I am yours and you are mine"

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1977 (UK)

Also Known As:

Equus - Blinde Pferde

Filming Locations:

Toronto International Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Persky-Bright Productions,Winkast Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

137 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was considered groundbreaking at the time for the amount of full frontal male nudity by Peter Firth. Firth was shown completely nude three times in the film, and the final scene in the stable is one of the longest scenes of full frontal male nudity in any mainstream film. Firth's penis was not allowed to be shown erect at any time, although there was controversy over whether his penis became erect when it touched Jenny Agutter's naked body.

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Goofs

When Dr. Dysart is holding the "truth drug", he has his hand alternately open and closed around it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Martin Dysart: Afterward he says, they always embrace. The animal digs his sweaty brow into his cheek, and they stand in the dark for an hour, like a naked couple. And of all nonsensical things, I keep thinking about the horse, not the boy. The horse and what he might be trying to do. I keep seeing the huge head, kissing him with its chained mouth, nudging from the metal some desire absolutely irrelevant to fulfilling its bearing or propagating its own kind. What desire could this be? Not to stay...

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Connections

Features Sweet Bird of Aquarius (1970)

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Soundtracks

Motor City
(uncredited)
Music by Nick Ingman
KPM Music Ltd

User Reviews

Equus is exceptional.

I have heard complaints about Equus not measuring up to the stage play, because the play/ story demands the manner in which the play is presented, the arrangement of the props, the production, etc. I've never seen the play, however, and consider the film a piece on its own, as I think it should be viewed anyway. And on its own, it is superb. The acting is first rate, particularly Burton and Firth. All the actors though contribute their best or close to their best work. Sidney Lumet works his magic as always and perfectly weaves the present and the flashbacks and Burton's narration into a powerful, psychological detective story. The questions posed by it strike at the foundations of western civilization and individual existence. Pretty heavy stuff and Burton, Lumet, et al. pull it off with wonderful precision. Anyone who questions what the heck they are ultimately doing in or with their lives should find this film worth watching.