Withnail & I (1987)

In 1969, two substance-abusing, unemployed actors retreat to the countryside for a holiday that proves disastrous.

Director:

Bruce Robinson

Writer:

Bruce Robinson

Stars:

Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, Richard Griffiths

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard E. Grant	...	Withnail
Paul McGann	...	... & I
Richard Griffiths	...	Monty
Ralph Brown	...	Danny
Michael Elphick	...	Jake
Daragh O'Malley	...	Irishman
Michael Wardle	...	Isaac Parkin
Una Brandon-Jones	...	Mrs. Parkin
Noel Johnson	...	Raymond (General)
Irene Sutcliffe	...	Mabs Blenehassit (Waitress)
Llewellyn Rees	...	Tea Shop Proprietor
Robert Oates	...	Policeman 1
Anthony Wise	...	Policeman 2
Eddie Tagoe	...	Presuming Ed

Storyline

London, 1969 - two 'resting' (unemployed and unemployable) actors, Withnail and Marwood, fed up with damp, cold, piles of washing-up, mad drug dealers and psychotic Irishmen, decide to leave their squalid Camden flat for an idyllic holiday in the countryside, courtesy of Withnail's uncle Monty's country cottage. But when they get there, it rains non-stop, there's no food, and their basic survival skills turn out to be somewhat limited. Matters are not helped by the arrival of Uncle Monty, who shows an uncomfortably keen interest in Marwood...

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | black comedy | out of work actor | homosexual | gay | 

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Taglines:

If you don't remember the sixties, don't worry - neither did they.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Monty's Rolls-Royce is a 1953 Silver Wraith Sedanca de Ville customised by Hooper coach-builders for oil magnate Nubar Gulbenkian, who owned a variety of gaudily customised Rolls-Royces.

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Goofs

Shows EEC hedge rows planted near the motorway, a policy not introduced until the 80s.

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Quotes

Danny: I see you're wearing a suit.
Withnail: What's it got to do with you?
Danny: No need to get uptight, man. I was merely making an observation. I happened to be looking for a suit for the Coalman two weeks ago. For reasons I can't really discuss with you. The Coalman had to go to Jamaica. Got busted coming back through Heathrow. Had a weight under his fez. We worked out it would be handy karma for him to get hold of a suit but he's a very low temperature spade, the Coalman. Goes into court in his kaftan and a bell. ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Paul McGann is credited only as "and I".

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Alternate Versions

The original cinema version of this film was shorter than the one that has since been released on video, laserdisc and DVD. Changes include:

• Marwood's opening voice-over has been redubbed.
• Marwood's speech about his thumbs having gone weird has been cut. The scene thus goes from the line "I don't feel good" to "Look at my tongue".
• Withnail's "I'm gonna pull your head off" has been cut.
• Danny's anecdote about The Coalman has been cut.
• Some dialogue concerning Withnail's current work and Marwood also being a thespian has been cut out of the scene at Monty's home.
• The scene of Marwood slipping in the mud and then angrily persuading Withnail to have another look at the shed has been cut.
• The first part of Withnail and Marwood's conversation with the major, concerning Withnail having been in the Territorials, has been cut. The scene in this version simply dissolves from Withnail and Marwood walking to the pub with Marwood's voice-over to the major bringing up the subject of Jake. Marwood's line about why Withnail lied to the major has understandably also been cut.
• The word Saveloy has been redubbed to Sausage.

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Connections

Featured in TCM Guest Programmer: Anthony Bourdain (2012)

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Soundtracks

While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Performed by The Beatles
Composed by George Harrison
1968 Published by Harrisongs Ltd.
1968 Original Sound Recording made by EMI Records Ltd.

User Reviews

Not just a cult classic...a classic - period.

I have a film poster of Withnail & I that has such critical quotes as "Hilarious!" and "Gloriously funny!" and I can't say I totally agree. Don't get me wrong...I loved this film and it remains one of my favorites of all time, I just think these quotes sell the movie as some kind of Monty Python romp...and it's much more than that. I did laugh throughout, but I was also touched and found it quite sad (in a very entertaining way.) I would like to think that this is what Bruce Robinson intended...to make a dramedy...not just a silly romp. Though perhaps a bit slow for some, I thought the pace was remarkable, the acting superb. I have also heard people say that they found the plot lacking...but I argue that sometimes it's just nice to sit back and get swept away by a good character study. Interesting and thought provoking, sometimes referred to as a "cult classic", I say it's just a classic - period. Oh...and great soundtrack. The closing music always gives me goosebumps.

Details

Official Sites:

Handmade Films Website

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

19 June 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Withnail & I

Filming Locations:

M25 Motorway, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,544,889

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,628,359

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineplex Odeon Films, HandMade Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1