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A Merry War (1997)

Keep the Aspidistra Flying (original title)
PG-13 | | Comedy , Drama , Romance | 28 August 1998 (USA)
A Merry War Poster
Trailer
1:31 | Trailer
Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency, and his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. Gordon believes he is a genius, a marvelous poet and quits the ad agency, trying to live on his ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Bierman

Writers:

George Orwell (novel), Alan Plater (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard E. Grant, Helena Bonham Carter, Julian Wadham | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
1 win. See more awards »

Videos

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Photos

See all 18 photos »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard E. Grant ... Gordon Comstock
Helena Bonham Carter ... Rosemary
Julian Wadham ... Ravelston
Jim Carter ... Erskine
Harriet Walter ... Julia Comstock
Lesley Vickerage ... Hermione
Barbara Leigh-Hunt ... Mrs. Wisbeach (as Barbara Leigh Hunt)
Liz Smith ... Mrs. Meakin
John Clegg ... McKechnie
Bill Wallis Bill Wallis ... Mr. Cheeseman
Lill Roughley Lill Roughley ... Mrs. Trilling
Dorothea Alexander Dorothea Alexander ... Old Woman
Peter Stockbridge Peter Stockbridge ... Old Man
Grant Parsons Grant Parsons ... Beautiful Young Man
Malcolm Sinclair ... Paul Doring
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency, and his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. Gordon believes he is a genius, a marvelous poet and quits the ad agency, trying to live on his poems, but poverty soon comes to him. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

writer | love | 1930s | advertising | based on novel | See All (98) »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sex-related material | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Official Sites:

First Look Media

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 August 1998 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

A Merry War See more »

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK See more »
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Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$373,830, 30 August 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$301,360, 25 October 1998
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arts Council of England,BBC Films,Bonaparte Films See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Goofs

There is a suitcase beside Gordon as he sits on the park bench. When he leaves the park with Rosemary, Gordon does not carry the suitcase with him although it is no longer beside the bench. See more »

Quotes

Gordon Comstock: When you're lying in the gutter, you've got nowhere to fall.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Why Do Fools Fall in Love/A Merry War/Your Friends and Neighbors/Dance with Me/Blade (1998) See more »

Soundtracks

Tiger in the Night
Music and Lyrics by Mike Batt
Performed by Colin Blunstone
See more »

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User Reviews

 
If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a book of poetry. For ever.
23 April 2003 | by cyanidesweet – See all my reviews

I loved this film. It's much more cheerful than the book, but what's wrong with that? Artistic license can be a wonderful thing, and those who wanted it to be 1984 should go and watch 1984. When I watch this, I see Gordon Comstock engaged in a futile battle against his own intrinsic middle-classness. He's a pain at times and the film has endowed the character with more humour than he had in the book, probably so that the viewers understand why his friends don't just leave him to stew.

Grant is perfectly cast as Comstock, and keeps him just this side of bearable. Bonham Carter is equally perfect as Rosemary, the long-suffering girlfriend. Add in an excellent supporting cast and there you have it.

The soundtrack's beautiful, except for the song at the end which just shouldn't be there. The settings are stunning, as they rightly should be. All in all, it's a perfect, witty film and one I will never tire of.
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