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IMDbPro

Personal Services

  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Personal Services (1987)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:59
1 Video
46 Photos
Comedy

The story of the rise of a madame of a suburban brothel catering to older men, inspired by the real experiences of Cynthia Payne.The story of the rise of a madame of a suburban brothel catering to older men, inspired by the real experiences of Cynthia Payne.The story of the rise of a madame of a suburban brothel catering to older men, inspired by the real experiences of Cynthia Payne.

  • Director
    • Terry Jones
  • Writer
    • David Leland
  • Stars
    • Julie Walters
    • Alec McCowen
    • Shirley Stelfox
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    1.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Terry Jones
    • Writer
      • David Leland
    • Stars
      • Julie Walters
      • Alec McCowen
      • Shirley Stelfox
    • 27User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Personal Services
    Trailer 1:59
    Personal Services

    Photos46

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    Top cast72

    Edit
    Julie Walters
    Julie Walters
    • Christine
    Alec McCowen
    Alec McCowen
    • Wing Commander Morten
    Shirley Stelfox
    Shirley Stelfox
    • Shirley
    Danny Schiller
    • Dolly
    Tim Woodward
    Tim Woodward
    • Timms
    Victoria Hardcastle
    • Rose
    Dave Atkins
    • Sydney
    Ewan Hooper
    Ewan Hooper
    • Edward
    Alan Bowyer
    • David
    Antony Carrick
    Antony Carrick
    • Edgar
    Beverley Foster
    • Elizabeth
    Leon Lissek
    Leon Lissek
    • Mr. Popozogolou
    Peter Cellier
    Peter Cellier
    • Mr. Marples
    Benjamin Whitrow
    Benjamin Whitrow
    • Mr. Marsden
    Stephen Lewis
    Stephen Lewis
    • Mr. Dunkley
    John Shrapnel
    John Shrapnel
    • Lionel
    Anthony Collin
    • Mr. Webb
    Nigel Le Vaillant
    • The Man
    • Director
      • Terry Jones
    • Writer
      • David Leland
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Upon theatrical release, this movie was banned in Ireland. Only four movies were banned in Ireland at the time, and three of them, Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979), Monty Python's the Meaning of Life (1983), and this movie, were directed by Terry Jones.
    • Goofs
      When Christine is going up to the penthouse in the lift, (About 28 minutes in), the twelfth floor is misspelt as 'twelth'.
    • Quotes

      [at the police station after the raid on the brothel, police officers Lennox and Timms are planning to charge Christine]

      Lennox: We're looking to make several charges - including possessing obscene articles for gain, selling liquor without a licence, running a disorderly house and keeping a brothel.

      Christine Painter: I just perform a service.

      Timms: You *will* go down for this.

      Christine Painter: I only go down for a price, dear, and I doubt if you could afford it.

    • Crazy credits
      The cast and crew credits are intermingled: successive screens of credits show snapshot photographs of the main characters and the actors who played them, and at the bottom of each screen a few random crew credits are included.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Extreme Prejudice/Marlene/Personal Services/Sweet Lorraine (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Mary's Boy Child
      Sung by Jimmy Helms

      Composed by Jester Hairston

      By Permission of Shumann Music Corp

    User reviews27

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10

    Witty and Well-done

    Very funny movie, one of my favorites. The entire cast was great but Julia Walters was excellent, as always. "Popazokaloo" should have become a household word, apparently not enough people saw the movie. The scene in the loo will make you laugh till you cry. I find it interesting that the men I know that have seen the movie don't find it as amusing as the women who have viewed it do. (Watch it and draw your own conclusions about my observation.)
    • dima-2
    • Jan 11, 1999
    • Permalink

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Personal Services?Powered by Alexa
    • Special Edition

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 8, 1987 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Personal Service
    • Filming locations
      • 11 Allington Street, Victoria, London, England, UK(The cafe where Christine worked)
    • Production companies
      • British Screen Productions
      • Zenith Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $19,897,678 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,744,164
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $69,821
      • May 17, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,744,164
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.75 : 1

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