An obsessively punctual comprehensive school headmaster sets out to give an important speech at the annual Headmasters' Conference.
Director:
Writer:
Award:
- 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| 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
|
|
|
Chip Sweeney | ... |
Paul Stimpson
|
|
|
Sharon Maiden | ... |
Laura Wisely
|
| Joan Hickson | ... |
Mrs. Trellis
|
|
| Constance Chapman | ... |
Mrs. Wheel
|
|
| Ann Way | ... |
Mrs. Way
|
|
|
|
Ann-Marie Gwatkin | ... |
Petrol Station Cashier
|
|
|
Mohammed Ashiq | ... |
Manager
|
| Pat Keen | ... |
Mrs. Wisely
|
|
| Geoffrey Hutchings | ... |
Mr. Wisely
|
|
|
|
Geoffrey Greenhill | ... |
Policeman with Mrs Wheel
|
| Richard Ridings | ... |
Policeman at Crash
|
|
|
|
Geoffrey Davion | ... |
Policeman at Crash
|
|
|
Charles Bartholomew | ... |
Man in Telephone Box
|
| Sheila Keith | ... |
Pat's Mother
|
|
| Penelope Wilton | ... |
Pat
|
|
|
|
Christian Regan | ... |
Pat's Son
|
|
|
Alan Parnaby | ... |
Policeman at Telephone Box
|
| Tony Haygarth | ... |
Ivan with the Tractor
|
|
| Michael Aldridge | ... |
Prior
|
|
|
|
Ronald Sowton | ... |
Monk
|
|
|
Alan Granton | ... |
Monk
|
| Susan Field | ... |
Woman in Lane
|
|
| Leslie Schofield | ... |
Policeman Arresting Pat
(as Leslie Scofield)
|
|
|
|
Mike Glynn | ... |
Policeman with Black Eye
|
| Benjamin Whitrow | ... |
Headmaster
|
|
| Geoffrey Palmer | ... |
Headmaster
|
|
| Nicholas Le Prevost | ... |
Headmaster
(as Nicholas le Prevost)
|
|
| Peter Cellier | ... |
Headmaster
|
|
| David Conville | ... |
Headmaster
|
|
| Patrick Godfrey | ... |
Headmaster
|
|
|
|
Rupert Massey | ... |
Headmaster
|
| John Rowe | ... |
Headmaster
|
|
| Philip Voss | ... |
Headmaster
|
|
| Jeffry Wickham | ... |
Headmaster
|
|
| Nick Stringer | ... |
Det. Sgt. Rice
|
|
|
|
Graeme Green | ... |
Detective Constable
|
|
|
Sidney Livingstone | ... |
Porsche Driver
|
| Michael Percival | ... |
Man in Wood
|
|
|
|
Peter Jonfield | ... |
Det. Insp. Laundryman
|
|
|
Brian Portsmouth | ... |
Detective Constable
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
Graeme Ford | ... |
Willy Black (uncredited)
|
|
|
Danny Lee | ... |
School Boy (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Christopher Morahan | ||
Written by
| Michael Frayn | ... | (original screenplay) |
Produced by
| Michael Codron | ... | producer |
| Nat Cohen | ... | executive producer |
| Gregory Dark | ... | associate producer |
| Verity Lambert | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| George Fenton | ||
Cinematography by
| John Coquillon | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Peter Boyle | ||
Editorial Department
| Keith Mason | ... | second assistant editor |
| Kant Pan | ... | first assistant editor |
Casting By
| Priscilla John | ||
Production Design by
| Roger Murray-Leach | ||
Art Direction by
| Diana Charnley | ||
Costume Design by
| Judy Moorcroft | ||
Makeup Department
| Kezia De Winne | ... | chief makeup artist (as Kezia de Winne) |
| Michael Morris | ... | chief makeup artist |
| Stephen Rose | ... | chief hair stylist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Tim Coddington | ... | third assistant director |
| Tony Hopkins | ... | first assistant director |
| Crispin Reece | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Bruce Bigg | ... | property master |
| Brian P. Harris | ... | supervising props (as Brian Harris) |
| Les London | ... | supervising props |
| Bill McMinimee | ... | construction manager |
| Lucy Morahan | ... | art department runner |
| Michael G. Ploog | ... | storyboard artist (as Mike Ploog) |
| Brian Read | ... | production buyer |
Sound Department
| Pat Gilbert | ... | assistant footsteps editor |
| Ray Merrin | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Chris Munro | ... | sound recordist |
| Rocky Phelan | ... | footsteps editor |
| Bill Rowe | ... | re-recording mixer |
| David Sharpe | ... | assistant dubbing editor |
| Don Sharpe | ... | dubbing editor |
| John Stevenson | ... | boom operator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Tony Breeze | ... | focus puller |
| Douglas Dawson | ... | still photographer |
| Wick Finch | ... | gaffer |
| Gary Hutchings | ... | grip |
| Dickie Lee | ... | grip |
| George Parrish | ... | best boy |
| Gary Spratling | ... | clapper loader |
| Alan Taylor | ... | electrician |
| Malcolm Vinson | ... | camera operator |
| John Ward | ... | steadicam operator |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Karen Hore | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Penny McDonald | ... | costume assistant daily (as Penny Beard) |
| Keith Morton | ... | wardrobe master |
Location Management
| John Bernard | ... | location manager |
| Terry Pearce | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Mark Berrow | ... | musician: violin |
| Keith Grant | ... | music recording engineer |
| Mark Thomas | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Diana Dill | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Julie Baines | ... | production coordinator |
| Vicky Burton | ... | production runner |
| Jeremy Child | ... | cutting room runner |
| Graham Easton | ... | production executive |
| Cherry Fiddaman | ... | cashier (as Cherry Taylor) |
| Pauline Granby | ... | assistant accountant |
| Bob Mercer | ... | production associate |
| Catherine O'Brien | ... | publicist |
| Krystyna Plater | ... | secretary to producers |
| Iona Price | ... | secretary to producers |
| Arthur Tarry | ... | production accountant |
Production Companies
- Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment (presents)
- Moment Films
Distributors
- Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment (1986) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures (1986) (United States) (theatrical)
- Acteurs Auteurs Associés (AAA) (1986) (France) (theatrical)
- Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1986) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Syncron Film (1986) (Norway) (theatrical)
- HBO/Cannon Video (1986) (United States) (VHS)
- Showtime Video (Finland) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1986) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Cannon Tuschinski Film Distribution (1987) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Europa Vision (1987) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Cannon Screen Entertainment (1987) (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1987) (Australia) (VHS)
- FifiGE/AG Kino (1988) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Transeuropa (1988) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1988) (Argentina) (VHS)
- TV3 (1989) (Finland) (tv)
- Buena Vista International (1995) (India) (tv)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (tv)
- Republic Pictures Home Video (1998) (United States) (VHS)
- Video Film Express (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- Atlantic Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
- On Air Video (2001) (Denmark) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2002) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Video (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Optimum Home Entertainment (2006) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- StudioCanal (2006) (France) (DVD)
- Star Entertainment (2017) (India)
- StudioCanal UK (2019) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Kino Lorber (2020) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- StudioCanal Germany (2021) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- StudioCanal Germany (2021) (Germany) (DVD)
- ITVX (2023) (United Kingdom) (video) (VOD)
- Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1986) (United States) (theatrical) (Through Universal)
- ITC Entertainment (1986) (United States) (theatrical) (Through Universal)
- Sandrews (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Cannon Screen Entertainment (1986) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Geoff Axtell Associates (titles)
- Cinefocus (cameras and lenses by Moviecam supplied by)
- Kodak (film stock supplied by)
- Lee Lighting (lighting)
- Bickers Action Enterprises (car rigs and action vehicles supplied by)
- Willie's Wheels (transport)
- Midland Film Services (transport)
- Olympic Studios (music recording at)
- Thorn EMI Elstree Studios (post-production and re-recording at)
- Take Five Catering (catering)
- The Staff and Pupils of Menzies High School, West Bromwich (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- King Edward's School Edgbaston (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- The British Horological Institute (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- Porsche Cars (G.B.) (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- Seiko Time (U.K.) (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- Tannoy (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- WWAV Computer Division (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- The People and Authorities of Edgbaston (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- The People and Authorities of Grimsby (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- The People and Authorities of Kingston Upon Hull (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- The People and Authorities of Much Wenlock (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- The People and Authorities of Shrewsbury (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- The People and Authorities of Stourport (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- The People and Authorities of West Bromwich (the producers wish to thank: for their invaluable contribution to the making of this film)
- Sapex Scripts (post-production script services)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Brian Stimpson (John Cleese) 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. Written by Rob Hartill |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | If you've ever been late... you'll know what this film is all about! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Did You Know?
| 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. See more » |
| 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Color of Money/Sid and Nancy/Down by Law/Clockwise (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | This Is My Lovely Day See more » |
| Quotes |
Brian Stimpson:
It's not the despair, Laura. I can stand the despair. It's the hope. See more » |