Equus (1977): Cast & Plot
Equus is a 1977 mystery thriller directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Richard Burton as Martin Dysart, Kate Reid and Peter Firth. It is based on Equus by Peter Shaffer. It runs 2 hours 17 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 17m (137 min)
- Director
- Sidney Lumet
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- United Artists
- Based on
- Equus by Peter Shaffer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Equus About?
The premise of Equus without spoilers, adapted from Equus by Peter Shaffer. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A psychiatrist, Martin Dysart, is called to investigate the horrific blinding of six horses with a metal spike in a Hampshire stable. The crime was committed by Alan Strang, an unassuming seventeen‑year‑old stable‑boy, the only son of a domineering yet timid father and a genteel, devout mother. As Dysart delves into Alan’s psyche, he confronts the boy’s deep‑seated demons and, in the process, is forced to examine his own suppressed doubts and the limits of his profession.
Equus Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- male full frontal nudity
- religion
- therapy
- penis
- female pubic hair
- female full frontal nudity
- pubic hair
- blind horse
- female frontal nudity
- male frontal nudity
- male nudity
- female nudity
+38 more Show fewer
- stable
- horse
- hospital
- psychiatrist
- male pubic hair
- breaking the fourth wall
- worship
- teenage boy
- scythe
- poster
- reference to jesus christ
- horse stall
- horse groom
- hayloft
- group therapy
- family relationships
- christianity
- blood
- beating oneself
- genitals
- animal worship
- fundamentalist religion
- animal abuse
- mental illness
- carving up someone
- dead child
- animal cruelty
- reference to dionysus the greek deity
- reference to psyche the greek hero
- female rear nudity
- male rear nudity
- greek deity
- prologue
- scene during opening credits
- screenplay adapted by author
- begins with voice over narration
- horseback riding
- undressing
Equus Cast & Characters
Richard Burton leads the cast as Martin Dysart, with Kate Reid as Margaret Dysart and Peter Firth as Alan Strang. Directed by Sidney Lumet; 12 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Sidney Lumet
-
Richard Burton as Martin Dysart -
Kate Reid as Margaret Dysart -
Peter Firth as Alan Strang -
Eileen Atkins as Hesther Saloman
Also Starring in Equus
· 8 more- Colin Blakely Frank Strang
- Joan Plowright Dora Strang
- Jenny Agutter Jill Mason
- Harry Andrews Harry Dalton
- Ken James Mr. Pierce
- Elva Mai Hoover Miss Raintree
- Patrick Brymer Hospital Patient
- John Wyman Horseman
More from Sidney Lumet
More films directed by Sidney Lumet, best-rated first: 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network and Serpico.
Equus Plot Summary
What happens in Equus from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Hesther Salomon, Eileen Atkins a magistrate, asks her platonic friend Martin Dysart, Richard Burton a disillusioned psychiatrist who works with disturbed teenagers at a hospital in Hampshire, England, to treat a 17-year-old stable boy named Alan Strang, Peter Firth after he blinded six horses with a sickle.
With Alan only singing TV commercial jingles, Martin goes to see the boy’s parents, Frank Strang, Colin Blakely and Dora Strang, Joan Plowright, the non-religious father and his Christian fundamentalist wife. Dora had taught her son the basics of sex and that God sees all, but the withdrawn Alan replaced his mother’s deity with a god he called Equus, incarnated in horses.
Full summary
The whole story of Equus, scene by scene
Equus Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Equus.
How Well Do You Know Equus?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrayed the psychiatrist Martin Dysart?
Cars in Equus
6 cars on screen, including the 1956 Rover 90 P4 and the 1954 Bristol KSW6B.
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1956 Rover 90 P4 Important role -
1954 Bristol KSW6B Minor role -
1947 Jaguar 1½ Litre Mk.IV Background role -
Land-Rover 88'' Series II Station Wagon Background role
Equus Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “Equus - Blinde Pferde” and “恋马狂”.
- Also known as
-
- Equus - Blinde Pferde
- 恋马狂
- אקווס
- Еквус
- Эквус
- Equus – hästen
- 에쿠우스
- Hevonen
- Jeździec
Seen Equus?
Movies Like Equus
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Horse Girl, Calm with Horses and Horsepower.
Equus FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Equus, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Equus?
Equus runs 2 hours 17 minutes (137 minutes).
When was Equus released?
Equus was released on October 16, 1977.
Who directed Equus?
Equus was directed by Sidney Lumet.
More films by Sidney Lumet Who is in the cast of Equus?
Equus stars Richard Burton as Martin Dysart, Kate Reid as Margaret Dysart and Peter Firth as Alan Strang, among 12 credited actors.
Is Equus based on a book?
Yes. Equus is adapted from Equus by Peter Shaffer.
Does Equus have a post-credit scene?
No. Equus has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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