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IMDbPro

Scandal

  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
5.3K
YOUR RATING
Joanne Whalley in Scandal (1989)
DramaHistory
Based on the Profumo Scandal of 1963, an affair between an exotic dancer and the Minister of War shakes up the British government.Based on the Profumo Scandal of 1963, an affair between an exotic dancer and the Minister of War shakes up the British government.Based on the Profumo Scandal of 1963, an affair between an exotic dancer and the Minister of War shakes up the British government.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
5.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Michael Caton-Jones
    • Michael Thomas
  • Stars
    • John Hurt
    • Joanne Whalley
    • Bridget Fonda
    • Michael Caton-Jones
    • Michael Thomas
  • Stars
    • John Hurt
    • Joanne Whalley
    • Bridget Fonda
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 39User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:56
    Watch Official Trailer
    Scandal
    Clip 1:08
    Watch Scandal

    Photos64

    Ian McKellen in Scandal (1989)
    Joanne Whalley and Ian McKellen in Scandal (1989)
    Ian McKellen in Scandal (1989)
    Bridget Fonda and Joanne Whalley in Scandal (1989)
    Joanne Whalley in Scandal (1989)
    Joanne Whalley in Scandal (1989)
    Joanne Whalley in Scandal (1989)
    Bridget Fonda and Joanne Whalley in Scandal (1989)
    Bridget Fonda in Scandal (1989)
    Joanne Whalley in Scandal (1989)
    Joanne Whalley in Scandal (1989)
    Scandal (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Hurt
    John Hurt
    • Stephen Ward
    Joanne Whalley
    Joanne Whalley
    • Christine Keeler
    • (as Joanne Whalley-Kilmer)
    Bridget Fonda
    Bridget Fonda
    • Mandy Rice-Davies
    Ian McKellen
    Ian McKellen
    • John Profumo
    Leslie Phillips
    Leslie Phillips
    • Lord Astor
    Britt Ekland
    Britt Ekland
    • Mariella Novotny
    Daniel Massey
    Daniel Massey
    • Mervyn Griffith-Jones
    Roland Gift
    Roland Gift
    • Johnnie Edgecombe
    Jean Alexander
    Jean Alexander
    • Mrs Keeler
    Alex Norton
    Alex Norton
    • Detective Inspector
    Ronald Fraser
    Ronald Fraser
    • Justice Marshall
    Paul Brooke
    Paul Brooke
    • Detective Sgergeant
    Jeroen Krabbé
    Jeroen Krabbé
    • Eugene Ivanov
    • (as Jeroen Krabbe)
    Keith Allen
    Keith Allen
    • Kevin
    Ralph Brown
    Ralph Brown
    • Paul Mann
    Ken Campbell
    • Editor of Pictorial
    Iain Cuthbertson
    Iain Cuthbertson
    • Lord Hailsham
    Susannah Doyle
    Susannah Doyle
    • Jackie
      • Michael Caton-Jones
      • Michael Thomas
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie narrowly escaped an X rating in the U.S. because of some questionable footage during the Cliveden House orgy scene. Closer scrutiny revealed that two extras were having real sex on a piano in one of the background scenes. Even though the images were blurry, the scene had to be trimmed for all general releases to avoid the restrictive rating, which BBFC censor James Ferman accomplished by defusing the light from a table-lamp in the foreground. The inquisitive-minded will find this sequence about 49 minutes and five seconds into the movie.
    • Goofs
      A title card says, "One Year Later, 1962," indicating that Profumo addressed Parliament about Keeler that year. Profumo addressed Parliament in March 1963.
    • Quotes

      Stephen Ward: All Russians are spies, it's how they're brought up.

    • Alternate versions
      Original 114-minutes British version was shortened to 108 minutes for the USA theatrical release in order to avoid a X rating.
    • Connections
      Featured in Wogan: Wogan with Sue Lawley (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Nothing Has Been Proved
      by Dusty Springfield with Pet Shop Boys

      Written by Neil Tennant (uncredited)

    User reviews39

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    So this is what it was all about.
    I remember the names of the people involved when I was a kid. I had no idea what the Profumo Affair was all about, so I was very interested in seeing the film. Names from my childhood kept cropping up: Christine Keeler, Stephen Ward, Lucky Gordon. I was able to see the whole thing played out before me. Most of what is shown is historically accurate. It is certainly true that the osteopath Stephen Ward was hounded to his death by the British establishment.

    Of the performances John Hurt was excellent as Ward. Joanne Whalley Kilmer has been criticised for a two dimensional performance. I don't agree. She had decided to play the part of someone who is essentially shallow (however deep the real Christine Keeler might or might not be) and makes a fair fist of it. I thought that Roland Gift was OK as Johnny edgecombe - although at the time I thought he was supposed to be Lucky Gordon.I thought that Leslie Philips was going to be a disaster as Lord Astor, but he was excellent.

    The problem of having lived through the period is that when it is portrayed on film, you can see all the mistakes in fashions and background. This film is no exception.

    The music is quite apt - in one case (see below) spot on - and I thought that the truly appalling rendition of "She Wears Red Feathers" in the night club scene was very atmospheric.

    Someone else pointed out the scene as the girls are dressing while The Shadows play "Apache." That scene stimulated me, too. If you can, watch this scene in a cinema. Watching stockings been drawn on on a big screen while Tony's bass drum, Cliff's Japanese drum, then Jet's bass come rolling out of those gigantic cinema speakers is an experience not to be missed - believe you me!
    helpful•15
    5
    • loza-1
    • Aug 15, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 28, 1989 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Lancaster Gate, Bayswater, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Filmax
      • British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB)
      • British Screen Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 46 minutes
      • Dolby

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