Clockwise (1986)

An obsessively punctual comprehensive school headmaster sets out to give an important speech at the annual Headmasters' Conference.

Director:

Christopher Morahan

Writer:

Michael Frayn (original screenplay)

Stars:

John Cleese, Penny Leatherbarrow, Howard Lloyd-Lewis

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cleese	...	Brian Stimpson
Penny Leatherbarrow	...	Woman Teacher
Howard Lloyd-Lewis	...	Ted
Jonathan Bowater	...	Clint
Stephen Moore	...	Mr. Jolly
Alison Steadman	...	Gwenda Stimpson
Mark Bunting	...	Studious Boy
Robert Wilkinson	...	Streaker
John Bardon	...	Ticket Collector
Mark Burdis	...	Glen Scully
Nadia Sawalha	...	Mandy Kostakis (as Nadia Carina)
Dickie Arnold	...	Man at Station
Angus MacKay	...	First Class Passenger (as Angus Mackay)
Peter Needham	...	Porter
Peter Lorenzelli	...	Taxi Driver

Storyline

Brian Stimpson is the headmaster of a comprehensive (high) school in England. He sets himself, his staff and pupils very high standards. On the way to a conference at which he is to talk, all manner of disasters strike.

---

Plot Keywords:

headmaster | train | school | road movie | clock | 

---

Taglines:

If you've ever been late... you'll know what this film is all about!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Clockwise - Recht so, Mr. Stimpson

Filming Locations:

King Edward's School, Birmingham, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,476,356

Company Credits

Production Co:

Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment, Moment Films, Isobel Griffiths Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the monastery scene, the red-haired monk holding the white horses is local farrier Ian Hatton who loaned his anvil for this scene.

---

Goofs

The headrests in Gwenda's car disappear then reappear between shots as she is leaving the railway station.

---

Quotes

Brian Stimpson: We don't need a track. It's grass.

---

Connections

Referenced in That's Showbusiness: Holiday Special (1989)

---

Soundtracks

This Is My Lovely Day
by A.P. Herbert (as Herbert) & Vivian Ellis (as Ellis)
Sung by Ann Way (uncredited)
Chappell Music Ltd

User Reviews

Underrated Comedy

A much underrated comedy detailing the collapse of a stern, disciplinarian headmaster during a chaotic journey to deliver a speech at a convention of snobbish educationists.

Cleese begins in a very restrained way and is watchable and funny as he gradually descends into anarchic despondency. The pathos as he finally delivers his speech, in an ill-fitting (stolen) tasteless outfit, surrounded by the detritus of his dreadful day, is genuinely moving as well as funny.

Best line, from Cleese, as yet another possible means of reaching his goal emerges: 'It's not the despair: I can cope with the despair. It's the HOPE - that's what's killing me.' Almost the perfect motto for Scotland football supporters, you might say.

Probably alone in the world, I rate this movie superior to the overly foul-mouthed and Americanised Fish Called Wanda. A host of grizzled British character actors, including the magnificent Alison Steadman, keep things going.

I wonder what happened to the sherry glasses?