Scandal (1989)

Based on the Profumo Scandal of 1963, an affair between an exotic dancer and the Minister of War shakes up the British government.

Director:

Michael Caton-Jones

Writer:

Michael Thomas

Stars:

John Hurt, Joanne Whalley, Bridget Fonda

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Hurt	...	Stephen Ward
Joanne Whalley	...	Christine Keeler (as Joanne Whalley-Kilmer)
Bridget Fonda	...	Mandy Rice-Davies
Ian McKellen	...	John Profumo
Leslie Phillips	...	Lord Astor (Bill)
Britt Ekland	...	Mariella Novotny
Daniel Massey	...	Mervyn Griffith-Jones
Roland Gift	...	Johnnie Edgecombe
Jean Alexander	...	Mrs. Keeler
Alex Norton	...	Detective Inspector
Ronald Fraser	...	Justice Marshall
Paul Brooke	...	John, Detective Sgt.
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Eugene Ivanov (as Jeroen Krabbe)
Keith Allen	...	Kevin, Reporter Sunday Pictorial
Ralph Brown	...	Paul Mann

Storyline

An English bon-vivant osteopath is enchanted with a young exotic dancer and invites her to live with him. He serves as friend and mentor, and through his contacts and parties she and her friend meet and date members of the Conservative Party. Eventually a scandal occurs when her affair with the Minister of War goes public, threatening their lifestyles and their freedom. Based on the real Profumo scandal of 1963.

---

Plot Keywords:

profumo scandal | osteopath | female frontal nudity | breasts | social climber | 

---

Taglines:

In 1960 Christine Keeler met Mandy Rice-Davies. Three years later they brought down the British Government

---

Genres:

Drama | History

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 April 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Skandal

Filming Locations:

UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$8,800,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Productions,Palace Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Produced in 1988 concurrently with a theatrical season in London for Sir Ian McKellen, who along with several co-stars, took part in assisting Sam Wanamaker's attempts to ensure the heritage of both the "Globe" and "Rose" theatres. This included several inspection visits that are recalled anecdotally by volunteers. Later, some co-stars attending the densely packed celebrity event, the "Save the Rose Theatre" campaign's public relations day in May 1989. This film was promoted to the media on the day, along with many others. (See Artist entries The Tall Guy (1989) and Henry V (1989) as examples.)

---

Goofs

When Mandy Rice-Davies and Christine Keeler walk alongside the river Thames in the early morning, a 1980s coach crosses the bridge in the background.

---

Quotes

John Profumo: I have nothing to hide.
Stephen Ward: Come off it, John. We all have something to hide. What a boring life it would be if we didn't.

---

Connections

Referenced in Good Morning Britain: Episode dated 6 December 2017 (2017)

---

Soundtracks

Back at the Chicken Shack
(uncredited)
Music by Jimmy Smith

User Reviews

Turgid but clever

This is one of the better contemporary fictionalizations of historical events, though it suffers from lack of exposition. Here's the history that you need to follow events: John Profumo, England's Minister of Defence (equivalent to the US Defense Secretary) was introduced to party girls (like Christine Keeler) by popular osteopath Stephen Ward. But unlike some upper-crust friends of Ward, Profumo had more to lose. When it got out that Keeler had dated a Soviet Navy attache at about the same time as she dated the married Profumo, British tabloids had a field day noting that there were national security concerns atop the infidelity problem. One reason folks in the US have difficulty with this issue is that the story was overshadowed in the States by the almost simultaneous Cuban Missle Crisis.

The great soundtrack's now been out on CD for a few years; the theme was produced by the Pet Shop Boys and sung by authentic 60's icon Dusty Springfield. All other songs chosen charted during the early 60's, giving the film the ring of authenticity. And due possibly to legal problems, the original performance of Chubby Checker's THE TWIST couldn't be used, so Checker re-recorded it for this film. This newer, punchy 1989 version is the one used today behind Pantene shampoo commercials.