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The Advocate

Original title: The Hour of the Pig
  • 19931993
  • RR
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
The Advocate (1993)
Home Video Trailer from Miramax
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
27 Photos
CrimeDramaMystery
In medieval France, young lawyer Richard Courtois leaves Paris for the simpler life in the country. However, he is soon drawn into amorous and political intrigues. At the same time, he is pu... Read allIn medieval France, young lawyer Richard Courtois leaves Paris for the simpler life in the country. However, he is soon drawn into amorous and political intrigues. At the same time, he is pushed to defend a pig, owned by the mysterious gypsy Samira. The pig has been arrested for ... Read allIn medieval France, young lawyer Richard Courtois leaves Paris for the simpler life in the country. However, he is soon drawn into amorous and political intrigues. At the same time, he is pushed to defend a pig, owned by the mysterious gypsy Samira. The pig has been arrested for the murder of a young boy.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
    • Leslie Megahey
    • Leslie Megahey
  • Stars
    • Colin Firth
    • Amina Annabi
    • Jim Carter
    • Leslie Megahey
    • Leslie Megahey
  • Stars
    • Colin Firth
    • Amina Annabi
    • Jim Carter
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Advocate
    Trailer 2:06
    Watch The Advocate

    Photos27

    Colin Firth in The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    Colin Firth in The Advocate (1993)
    Colin Firth and Ian Holm in The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    Colin Firth and Lysette Anthony in The Advocate (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Colin Firth
    Colin Firth
    • Richard Courtois
    Amina Annabi
    Amina Annabi
    • Samira
    Jim Carter
    Jim Carter
    • Mathieu
    Donald Pleasence
    Donald Pleasence
    • Pincheon
    Ian Holm
    Ian Holm
    • Albertus
    Nicol Williamson
    Nicol Williamson
    • Seigneur Jehan d'Auferre
    Michael Gough
    Michael Gough
    • Magistrate Boniface
    Harriet Walter
    Harriet Walter
    • Jeannine Martin
    Lysette Anthony
    Lysette Anthony
    • Filette d'Auferre
    Sophie Dix
    Sophie Dix
    • Maria
    Vincent Grass
    Vincent Grass
    • Bailiff Labatier
    Elizabeth Spriggs
    Elizabeth Spriggs
    • Madame Langlois
    Raoul Delfosse
    • Blind Georges
    Justin Chadwick
    Justin Chadwick
    • Gerard d'Auferre
    Jean-Pierre Stewart
    • Sheriff
    Emil Wolk
    • Print Seller
    Dave Atkins
    • Valliere
    François Lalande
    • Builder
    • (as Francois Lalande)
      • Leslie Megahey
      • Leslie Megahey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on genuine court proceedings against animals.
    • Goofs
      In the epilogue crawl, the character name Mathieu is spelled once correctly, and in a subsequent paragraph as Mathiew.
    • Quotes

      [Richard is nude and embarrassed]

      Maria: Don't worry, I have brothers.

    • Alternate versions
      The Hour of the Pig was released in the United States by Miramax as The Advocate. Harvey Weinstein was actively involved in the cuts of films distributed by Miramax, this film was no exception. For US release, the film was trimmed down, including a sex scene, that was edited in part to avoid a stronger than R rating. The name of the film was changed as part of an advertising campaign. The US film poster and opening crawl instruct the audience not to "reveal the client". The campaign did not improve sales for the film. The UK version was released on VHS. Only the shorter (R-rated) version of the film was released to VHS or DVD in North America. The full version has been released on DVD and screened on television in some European countries. Besides the titles, there are many differences between The Advocate (US) and The Hour Of The Pig (UK). These include: US version begins with music from the film and an opening crawl of text. UK version goes straight into the film. The US and UK versions end with different text before the end credits roll. Different voice takes for some scenes Different music or no music for some scenes Amina Annabi's voice is dubbed in the US version A speech made towards the end of the film by Donald Pleasence was shortened for the US version In the original version, Sophie Dix gives a short voice-over at the end of the film. In the US version, Jim Carter gives a short voice-over near the beginning of the film, and near the end.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Natural Born Killers/Blankman/Fresh/Wagons East/The Advocate (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Quant Voi en la Fin D'este
      Written by Perrin D'Agincourt

      Performed by the St. George's Canzona

      Counter-tenor, Derek Harrison

      Arranged by John Sothcott

      Courtesy of CRD Records

    User reviews26

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Classic tale of Good vs. evil
    Firstly, this movie is based on true legal cases during the 15th century which makes it intriguing from the get go. It is based on Richard Cortois, played by Colin Firth, an Advocate who leaves a practice in Paris, to seek the simple country life in a village named Abbeville. What he finds is a quite different story. Country law applies to both man and beast and that is where much of the fun unfolds. The story centers mainly around the case against a pig accused of killing a Jewish child. Courtois, at first, finds the case a bit ridiculous, but finds that as the defense Advocate, he must represent the pig. He is also solicited by the pig's owner to try the case "as the pig is everything to them". As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that there is more here than meets the eye. The case becomes a symbol of maintaining order in the little country town. Courtois attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery and finds that other children have similiarly gone missing over the last year. He is provided a hint by a client tried for witchery saying "Look to the boy, Maitre". It is a great film on many levels and provides quite a bit of comic relief during the many trial sequences. Ian Holm, as the priest who has his own defination of good-which includes trysts with many of his lady parishoners, gives a worthy performance as does Nicole Williamson as the corrupt Seigneur. It is Colin Firth who shines in his wonderful portrayal of Richard Cortois, the one driving force of nobility and honor in the town rotten to the core with evil.
    helpful•21
    2
    • mimacdon4
    • Jan 29, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 24, 1994 (United States)
      • France
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • BBC Films
      • CiBy 2000
      • British Screen Finance Ltd.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 42 minutes
      • Dolby SR

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