Prick Up Your Ears (1987): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Prick Up Your Ears is a 1987 biographical drama directed by Stephen Frears, starring Vanessa Redgrave, Alfred Molina and Wallace Shawn. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $1.7 million worldwide. It earned 5 award nominations, including Best Actor in a Leading Role at the BAFTA 1988. Critics gave it 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 45m (105 min)
- Director
- Stephen Frears
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Curzon Film Distributors
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Prick Up Your Ears About?
The premise of Prick Up Your Ears without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the 1960s in London, playwright Joe Orton challenges societal norms with his daring and controversial works. His relationship with his partner, Kenneth Halliwell, is complex and passionate, but as Orton’s career ascends and Halliwell struggles for recognition, tensions build. The couple’s tumultuous romance ultimately leads to a devastating and premature end for both of them, forever silencing their creative voices.
Prick Up Your Ears Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- gay relationship
- homosexual
- murder
- london england
- gay
- true life character
- playwright
- 1960s
- britain
- agent
- british film
- trading insults
+38 more Show fewer
- flashback
- looking through a letterbox
- police
- breaking down door
- interview
- life drawing
- nude modeling
- taking off underwear
- wig
- bald man
- artist
- reference to the beatles
- reference to bob hope
- reference to dorothy lamour
- reference to paul mccartney
- diction
- sister
- elocution
- drama school
- kiss
- group
- radio play
- jail
- deception
- slapping
- suicide
- bludgeoning
- pills
- holiday
- cottaging
- reference to malcolm arnold
- abusive relationship
- british renaissance
- cruising for sex
- homosexuality
- typewriter
- scene of the crime
- straight actor gay character
Prick Up Your Ears Cast
Vanessa Redgrave leads the cast, with Alfred Molina and Wallace Shawn. Directed by Stephen Frears; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Stephen Frears
Also Starring in Prick Up Your Ears
· 6 moreMore from Stephen Frears
More films directed by Stephen Frears, best-rated first: The Queen, Victoria and Abdul, The Snapper and Philomena.
Prick Up Your Ears Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Prick Up Your Ears 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.
-
IMDb 7.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 72 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 66% User score
See on TMDB
Prick Up Your Ears Plot Summary
What happens in Prick Up Your Ears from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On 9 August 1967, in Islington, the literary agent Peggy Ramsay finds herself knocking on the door of playwright Joe Orton and his partner Kenneth Halliwell; however, no one answers. Concerned, she decides to call the police, who unfortunately discover the tragic scene of the two men’s lifeless bodies. Fast forward a decade, and theatre critic John Lahr is eager to pen a biography on Orton. He visits Ramsay, where they come across Orton’s diaries, prompting her to recount Orton’s fascinating life story.
Full summary
The whole story of Prick Up Your Ears, scene by scene
Prick Up Your Ears Box Office
Prick Up Your Ears grossed $1.7 million worldwide. $1.7 million came from the US and Canada and $18,184 (1%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1.7M
- US & Canada
- $1.7M
- International
- $18.2K
Prick Up Your Ears Awards & Nominations
Prick Up Your Ears earned 5 award nominations, including Best Actor in a Leading Role at the BAFTA 1988. The 5 nominations come from 3 ceremonies, the most at the BAFTA 1988.
5 nominations3 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1988 3 nominations- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Gary Oldman
- Nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Vanessa Redgrave
- Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay
-
Spirit Awards 1988 1 nomination- Nominated Best International Film
-
Golden Globes 1988 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture (Supporting Actress) – Vanessa Redgrave
Prick Up Your Ears Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Official 30th Anniversary Trailer
How Well Do You Know Prick Up Your Ears?
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
What profession did Peggy Ramsay hold?
Cars in Prick Up Your Ears
11 cars on screen, including the AEC RT and the 1964 Beardmore Paramount MkVII.
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AEC RT Background role -
1964 Beardmore Paramount MkVII Background role -
1947 Hillman Minx Phase I Drophead Coupé Background role -
1950 Humber Hawk Mk.III Background role
Prick Up Your Ears Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “Susurros en tus oídos” and “Kyss meg i øret”.
- Also known as
-
- Susurros en tus oídos
- Kyss meg i øret
- Das Stürmische Leben des Joe Orton
- Prick Up - L'importanza di essere Joe
- Ábrete de orejas
- Hegyezd a füled!
- Навострите ваши уши
- 激情床伴
- O Amor Não Tem Sexo
- 귀를 기울여, დაცქვიტეთ ყურები
- Obre’t d’orelles
- พิศวาสฆาตกรรม
Seen Prick Up Your Ears?
Movies Like Prick Up Your Ears
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Wilde, Kill Your Darlings and Postcards from London.
Prick Up Your Ears FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Prick Up Your Ears, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Prick Up Your Ears?
Prick Up Your Ears runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).
When was Prick Up Your Ears released?
Prick Up Your Ears was released on May 8, 1987.
Who directed Prick Up Your Ears?
Prick Up Your Ears was directed by Stephen Frears.
More films by Stephen Frears Who is in the cast of Prick Up Your Ears?
Prick Up Your Ears stars Vanessa Redgrave, Alfred Molina and Wallace Shawn, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Prick Up Your Ears make at the box office?
Prick Up Your Ears grossed $1.7 million worldwide ($1.7 million domestic, $18,184 international).
How is Prick Up Your Ears rated?
Prick Up Your Ears has 7.1/10 on IMDb, 72 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.
Was Prick Up Your Ears nominated for any awards?
Prick Up Your Ears received 5 nominations across 3 ceremonies.
Does Prick Up Your Ears have a post-credit scene?
No. Prick Up Your Ears has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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