Drama

Prick Up Your Ears

When the young, attractive Joe Orton meets the older, more introverted Kenneth Halliwell at drama school, he befriends the kindred spirit and they start an affair. As Orton becomes more comfortable with his sexuality and starts to find success with his writing, Halliwell becomes increasingly alienated and jealous, ultimately tapping into a dangerous rage.

Release Date : 1987-04-17

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : British Screen ProductionsCivilhandZenith EntertainmentFilm4 Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Joe Orton

Original Name : Gary Oldman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kenneth Halliwell

Original Name : Alfred Molina

Gender : Male

Character Name : Peggy Ramsay

Original Name : Vanessa Redgrave

Gender : Female

Character Name : John Lahr

Original Name : Wallace Shawn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anthea Lahr

Original Name : Lindsay Duncan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Elsie Orton

Original Name : Julie Walters

Gender : Female

Character Name : William Orton

Original Name : James Grant

Gender : Male

Character Name : Leonie Orton

Original Name : Frances Barber

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs Sugden

Original Name : Janet Dale

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr Sugden

Original Name : Dave Atkins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Madame Lambert

Original Name : Margaret Tyzack

Gender : Female

Character Name : Education Officer

Original Name : Eric Richard

Gender : Male

Character Name : RADA Chairman

Original Name : William Job

Gender : Male

Character Name : RADA Judge

Original Name : Rosalind Knight

Gender : Female

Character Name : RADA Judge

Original Name : Angus MacKay

Gender : Male

Character Name : RADA Instructor

Original Name : Linda Spurrier

Gender : Female

Character Name : Janet

Original Name : Charlotte Wodehouse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Orton's Friend

Original Name : Helena Michell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Orton's Friend

Original Name : Sean Pertwee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brickie

Original Name : Liam De Staic

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr Cunliffe

Original Name : Charles McKeown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miss Battersby

Original Name : Selina Cadell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Magistrate

Original Name : Bert Parnaby

Gender : Male

Character Name : Counsel

Original Name : Antony Carrick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : Neil Dudgeon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Psychiatrist

Original Name : Richard Wilson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Publisher

Original Name : Christopher Guinee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kenneth

Original Name : Stevan Rimkus

Gender : Male

Character Name : BBC Actor 1

Original Name : Michael Müller

Gender : Male

Character Name : BBC Actor 2

Original Name : Anthony Douse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Director

Original Name : John Kane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Simon Ward

Original Name : Steven Mackintosh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Actor 1 – Mr Sloane

Original Name : Garry Cooper

Gender : Male

Character Name : Actor 2

Original Name : Roger Lloyd Pack

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stage Manager

Original Name : Joanne Connelly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wigmaker

Original Name : John Moffatt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Peggy Ramsey's Secretary

Original Name : Philippa Davies

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brian Epstein

Original Name : David Cardy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gallery Owner

Original Name : Julie Legrand

Gender : Female

Character Name : Philip

Original Name : Noel Davis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman in Gallery 1

Original Name : Jane Blackburn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman in Gallery 2

Original Name : Stella Richman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man in Gallery

Original Name : Neville Phillips

Gender : Male

Character Name : Youth Outside Lavatory

Original Name : Jonny Phillips

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man Outside Lavatory

Original Name : Richard Ireson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Moroccan Boy 1

Original Name : Ahmed Elgheur

Gender : Male

Character Name : Moroccan Boy 2

Original Name : Moktar Dagmouni

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marilyn Orton

Original Name : Sian Thomas

Gender : Female

Character Name : George Barnett

Original Name : Stephen Bill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Douglas Orton

Original Name : Karl Johnson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Undertaker

Original Name : David Bradley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Undertaker's Boy

Original Name : Simon Adams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Labourer

Original Name : James Duggan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Awards Chairman

Original Name : Max Stafford-Clark

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beatles Chauffeur

Original Name : Mark Brignal

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anthea's Mother

Original Name : Joan Sanderson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Police Inspector

Original Name : Neville Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Constable

Original Name : Spencer Leigh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chauffeur

Original Name : John Salthouse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mortuary Attendant

Original Name : Robin Hooper

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patrick Proktor (uncredited)

Original Name : Derek Jarman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Library Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Derek Lyons

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2025-01-29

Maybe now, a few decades after this was made and when the politically correct brigade advocate that only gay actors should play gay roles, they ought to watch this and see just how engagingly two straight blokes can do what it says on their CVs and act! This is quite a witty and telling retrospective on the turbulent lives of playwright John "Joe" Orton (Gary Oldman) and his general factotum, friend, confidante and part-time lover "Kenneth" (Alfred Molina) set at a time when homosexuality in the UK was starting to emerge from the shadows of illegaility and, even amongst the more theatrical fraternity, was still frowned upon. What now ensues sees their relationship vacillate wildly, temptation rear it's ugly head and an unattractive degree of thoughtless, even callous, behaviour creep into Orton's behaviour towards his obsessive friend. Jealousy and toxicity aren't far away either, especially when Orton starts to see the fruits of his labours and makes a few quid. It's quite possibly the most perverse of love stories and there's a palpable chemistry that straddles loving and loathing between these two men that's well delivered by Orton, yes, but more so by the emotionally cuckolded character played by Molina. It's entertainingly speculative in nature, but that's delivered plausibly and epitomises a great many relationships where success profoundly alters the dynamic with drastic effects. It's also an interesting glance at the hypocrisy of public attitudes in the UK in the late 1960s and though not quite so potently, still resonates today - long after the "Section 28" debate that was about to hit the UK shortly after this was made. Good soundtrack, too.