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17/04/1987 Drama 1h 51m
66
User score

They shared everything... except success.

Overview

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.

  1. Stephen Frears

    Director

Top billed cast

  1. Gary Oldman

    Joe Orton

  2. Alfred Molina

    Kenneth Halliwell

  3. Vanessa Redgrave

    Peggy Ramsay

  4. Wallace Shawn

    John Lahr

  5. Lindsay Duncan

    Anthea Lahr

  6. Julie Walters

    Elsie Orton

  7. James Grant

    William Orton

  8. Frances Barber

    Leonie Orton

  9. Janet Dale

    Mrs Sugden

  10. View more

Full Cast & Crew

Reviews

A review by CinemaSerf
Written by CinemaSerf on 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 fra...read the rest
Read All Reviews

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Status
Released

Original Language
English

Budget
$0.00

Revenue
$0.00

Keywords