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IMDbPro

Clockwise

  • 1986
  • PG
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
13K
YOUR RATING
John Cleese in Clockwise (1986)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer1:23
1 Video
32 Photos
Comedy

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

  • Director
    • Christopher Morahan
  • Writer
    • Michael Frayn
  • Stars
    • John Cleese
    • Penny Leatherbarrow
    • Howard Lloyd-Lewis
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Christopher Morahan
    • Writer
      • Michael Frayn
    • Stars
      • John Cleese
      • Penny Leatherbarrow
      • Howard Lloyd-Lewis
    • 73User reviews
    • 40Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:23
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos32

    John Cleese in Clockwise (1986)
    John Cleese and Benny Hill in The Best of Benny Hill (1974)
    John Cleese in Clockwise (1986)
    John Cleese and John Bardon in Clockwise (1986)
    John Cleese and Sharon Maiden in Clockwise (1986)
    John Bardon in Clockwise (1986)
    John Cleese and Sharon Maiden in Clockwise (1986)
    John Cleese and Sharon Maiden in Clockwise (1986)
    John Cleese and Sharon Maiden in Clockwise (1986)
    John Cleese and Penelope Wilton in Clockwise (1986)
    John Cleese, Geoffrey Davion, and Richard Ridings in Clockwise (1986)
    John Cleese in Clockwise (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Cleese
    John Cleese
    • Brian Stimpson
    Penny Leatherbarrow
    • Woman Teacher
    Howard Lloyd-Lewis
    • Ted
    Jonathan Bowater
    • Clint
    Stephen Moore
    Stephen Moore
    • Mr. Jolly
    Alison Steadman
    Alison Steadman
    • Gwenda Stimpson
    Mark Bunting
    • Studious Boy
    Robert Wilkinson
    • Streaker
    John Bardon
    John Bardon
    • Ticket Collector
    Mark Burdis
    • Glen Scully
    Nadia Sawalha
    Nadia Sawalha
    • Mandy Kostakis
    • (as Nadia Carina)
    Dickie Arnold
    Dickie Arnold
    • Man at Station
    Angus MacKay
    Angus MacKay
    • First Class Passenger
    • (as Angus Mackay)
    Peter Needham
    • Porter
    Peter Lorenzelli
    • Taxi Driver
    Chip Sweeney
    • Paul Stimpson
    Sharon Maiden
    • Laura Wisely
    Joan Hickson
    Joan Hickson
    • Mrs. Trellis
    • Director
      • Christopher Morahan
    • Writer
      • Michael Frayn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    A Private Function
    6.5
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The name of the school was Thomas Tompion Comprehensive School. Tompion (1639-1713), a famous clockmaker, is regarded as the father of English clockmaking. He constructed some of the first spring-balanced watches, and some of the timepieces he made are still operational.
    • Goofs
      When Stimpson is informed the train for Norwich is on the adjacent platform, he could not have been on the Plymouth train, as that would leave from London Paddington, not London Liverpool Street which is where Norwich trains depart from.
    • Quotes

      Brian Stimpson: It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Color of Money/Sid and Nancy/Down by Law/Clockwise (1986)
    • 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 reviews73

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    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?
    helpful•32
    1
    • KirkieRobRoy
    • Nov 26, 1999

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 10, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Clockwise - Recht so, Mr. Stimpson
    • Filming locations
      • Hull Paragon Railway Station, Hull Paragon Interchange, Ferensway, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK(railway station)
    • Production companies
      • Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment
      • Moment Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,476,356
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $156,066
      • Oct 12, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,476,356
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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