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IMDbPro

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

  • 20212021
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
13K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
959
922
Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
The extraordinary true story of eccentric British artist Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose playful, sometimes even psychedelic pictures helped to transform the public's perception of cats forever. Moving from the late 1800s through to the 1930s, we follow the incredible adventures of this inspiring, unsung hero, as he seeks to unlock the "electrical" mysteries of the world and, in so doing, to better understand his own life and the profound love he shared with his wife Emily Richardson (Claire Foy).
Play trailer2:34
2 Videos
32 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History
English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
13K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
959
922
  • Director
    • Will Sharpe
  • Writers
    • Simon Stephenson(screenplay by)
    • Will Sharpe(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Claire Foy
    • Andrea Riseborough
Top credits
  • Director
    • Will Sharpe
  • Writers
    • Simon Stephenson(screenplay by)
    • Will Sharpe(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Claire Foy
    • Andrea Riseborough
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 157User reviews
    • 107Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:34
    Official Trailer
    First Look Clip
    Clip 1:55
    First Look Clip

    Photos32

    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Aimee Lou Wood, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrea Riseborough, and Sharon Rooney in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Sharon Rooney in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Louis Wainas Louis Wain
    Claire Foy
    Claire Foy
    • Emily Richardson-Wainas Emily Richardson-Wain
    Andrea Riseborough
    Andrea Riseborough
    • Caroline Wainas Caroline Wain
    Toby Jones
    Toby Jones
    • Sir William Ingramas Sir William Ingram
    Sharon Rooney
    Sharon Rooney
    • Josephine Wainas Josephine Wain
    Aimee Lou Wood
    Aimee Lou Wood
    • Claire Wainas Claire Wain
    Hayley Squires
    Hayley Squires
    • Marie Wainas Marie Wain
    Stacy Martin
    Stacy Martin
    • Felicie Wainas Felicie Wain
    Phoebe Nicholls
    Phoebe Nicholls
    • Mrs. Wainas Mrs. Wain
    Adeel Akhtar
    Adeel Akhtar
    • Dan Rideras Dan Rider
    Asim Chaudhry
    Asim Chaudhry
    • Herbert Railtonas Herbert Railton
    Taika Waititi
    Taika Waititi
    • Max Kaseas Max Kase
    Crystal Clarke
    Crystal Clarke
    • Alicia Simmondsas Alicia Simmonds
    Daniel Rigby
    Daniel Rigby
    • Bendigoas Bendigo
    Richard Ayoade
    Richard Ayoade
    • Henry Woodas Henry Wood
    Julian Barratt
    Julian Barratt
    • Dr. Elphickas Dr. Elphick
    Dorothy Atkinson
    Dorothy Atkinson
    • Mrs. DuFrayneas Mrs. DuFrayne
    Nick Cave
    Nick Cave
    • H.G. Wellsas H.G. Wells
    • Director
      • Will Sharpe
    • Writers
      • Simon Stephenson(screenplay by) (story by)
      • Will Sharpe(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      What Emily (Claire Foy) and then later Sir William Ingram (Toby Jones) say to Wain about Wain almost single-handedly changing the public perception of cats was true. Louis Wain's pictures may have been humorous in intent but they did play a significant part in changing the way people looked at cats. Prior to this they were seen as functional creatures that were semi wild and useful for the killing of rodents. However Wain's pictures were popular amongst children and women and it led to the public viewing cats as domestic pets to the point that they would eventually challenge dogs for the public's affections.
    • Goofs
      When Mr. Wain first arrives in New York, as he walks along a city street. The year shown on the screen is 1907. As he walks down the street, he is passed by several horse drawn carriage and then an automobile of early 1900 vintage. Next, another in car passes which is from the post 1915-1925 era, later than the timeframe depicted.
    • Quotes

      Louis Wain: You make the world beautiful and warm and kind. I just wanted to say thank you for that before it's too late.

      Emily Richardson-Wain: I don't make the world beautiful, Louis. The world is beautiful, and you've helped me to see that, too. Just remember - however hard things get, however much you feel like you're struggling, the world is full of beauty. And it's up to you to capture it, Louis. To look and to share it with as many people as you can. You are a prism through which that beam of life refracts.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Graham Norton Show: New Year's Eve Show (2021)

    User reviews157

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Lovely well told story
    It's one of those quirky English stories. Well told and narrated and just a very nice, honest and interesting stories about someone who was different.
    helpful•13
    6
    • cammic
    • Nov 7, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 5, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Louis Wain
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Amazon Studios
      • Film 4
      • Shoebox Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,511,795
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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