Quills (2000)

In a Napoleonic era insane asylum, an inmate, the irrepressible Marquis De Sade, fights a battle of wills against a tyrannically prudish doctor.

Director:

Philip Kaufman

Writers:

Doug Wright (play), Doug Wright (screenplay)

Stars:

Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 41 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Geoffrey Rush	...	The Marquis de Sade
Kate Winslet	...	Madeleine
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Coulmier
Michael Caine	...	Royer-Collard
Billie Whitelaw	...	Madame LeClerc
Patrick Malahide	...	Delbené
Amelia Warner	...	Simone
Jane Menelaus	...	Renee Pelagie
Stephen Moyer	...	Prouix
Tony Pritchard	...	Valcour
Michael Jenn	...	Cleante
Danny Babington	...	Pitou
George Antoni	...	Dauphin (as George Yiasoumi)
Stephen Marcus	...	Bouchon
Elizabeth Berrington	...	Charlotte

Storyline

The infamous writer, the Marquis de Sade of 18th Century France, is imprisoned at Charenton Insane Asylum for unmentionable activities. He manages to befriend the young Abbé de Coulmier, who runs the asylum, along with a beautiful laundress named Madeline. Things go terribly wrong when the Abbe finds out that the Marquis' books are being secretly published. The emperor Napoleon contemplates sending Dr. Royer-Collard to oversee the asylum, a man famed for his torturous punishments. It could mean the end of Charenton and possibly the Marquis himself.

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Plot Keywords:

pubic hair | napolon bonaparte character | asylum | marquis de sade | writer | 

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Taglines:

Meet the Marquis de Sade. The pleasure is all his.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight

Country:

UK Germany USA

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

25 December 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Letras prohibidas, la leyenda del Marqués de Sade

Filming Locations:

Painted Hall, King William Court, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$13,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$249,383, 26 November 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$7,060,876, 29 April 2001

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,989,227, 31 December 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures,Industry Entertainment,Walrus & Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real Abbe de Coulmier was a four-foot-tall hunchback.

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Goofs

When Madeleine is putting on her dress after getting her wounds clean, she slips her arm into the sleeve twice.

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Quotes

Marquis de Sade: [voiceover, as Coulmier writes] Beloved reader, I leave you now with a tale penned by the Abbe du Coulmier, a man who found freedom, in the most unlikeliest of places: at the bottom of an inkwell, on the tip of a quill. However, be forewarned, it's plot is blood-soaked, it's characters depraved, and it's themes... unwholesome at best. But in order to know virtue, we must acquaint ourselves with vice. Only then can we know the full measure of man. So come... I Dare you... Turn the page...

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Connections

References Restoration (1995)

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Soundtracks

Au clair de la lune
Written by Jean-Baptiste Lully

User Reviews

Interesting...

This was a good movie, but I thought it had somewhat of an unsatisfsying ending (well, to me anyway). Sad too. It moves nicely, though and you don't want to be interrupted. It can get rather graphic at times, but that's mainly because of the subject material, I guess. Geoffrey Rush is brilliant.He has a real knack for bringing strange and twisted characters to life. Michael Caine is doing his usual job of being superb as well. Every new role Kate Winslet performs is different from the previous and she excels every time. She expresses emotion very well. And my goodness, Joaquin Phoenix. I wouldn't say that I was ever a *fan* of his, but damn, now I am. If there was ever a performance that just made me melt, this was it. The restrained emotions and frustration of unfulfilled desires of his character were just performed brilliantly. This guy's an amazing actor.