Second Best (1994): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Second Best is a 1994 family drama directed by Chris Menges, starring William Hurt as Graham Holt, Chris Cleary Miles and John Hurt. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $86,115 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 45m (105 min)
- Director
- Chris Menges
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Regency Enterprises
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Second Best About?
The premise of Second Best without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A British postal officer longs to be a father, while his adoptive son feels disillusioned with life. As they navigate their strained bond, they gradually build friendship, trust and hope, forging a compelling connection that reshapes both of their futures. Set against the backdrop of everyday British suburbia, their evolving relationship reveals the challenges of adoption and the yearning for belonging, ultimately delivering a heartfelt portrait of resilience.
Second Best Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- bare chested boy
- feral boy
- feral child
- father
- orphanage
- village
- suicide
- social worker
- lesbian slur
- withdrawal
- voice over narration
- violence
+38 more Show fewer
- underwear
- stroke
- rebelliousness
- precociousness
- multiple narrators
- mother son relationship
- memory
- long lost father
- foster father
- flashback
- fit
- fear
- father son reunion
- father son relationship
- defensiveness
- dead mother
- boy
- adoptive father adopted son relationship
- absent father
- man boy relationship
- single father
- terminal illness
- woods
- welsh valleys
- wales
- seaside
- seashell
- postmaster
- post office
- camping trip
- bedridden
- beach
- badge
- psychology
- bachelor
- adoption
- aids
- death of father
Second Best Cast & Characters
William Hurt leads the cast as Graham Holt, with Chris Cleary Miles as James and John Hurt as Uncle Turpin. Directed by Chris Menges; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Chris Menges
-
William Hurt as Graham Holt - Chris Cleary Miles as James
-
John Hurt as Uncle Turpin - Keith Allen as John
Also Starring in Second Best
· 11 more- Alan Cumming Bernard
- Jane Horrocks Debbie
- Prunella Scales Margery
- Alfred Lynch Edward
- James Warrior Senior Social Worker
- Nerys Hughes Maureen
- Jake Owen Jimmy, age 3
- Nathan Yapp Jimmy
- Adam Wills Graham, age 12
- Doris Irving Adoption Shop Volunteer
- Rachel Freeman Elsie
More from Chris Menges
More films directed by Chris Menges: The Lost Son, CrissCross and A World Apart.
Second Best Plot Summary
What happens in Second Best from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Graham Holt, William Hurt, is a single man who wants to adopt a son, and he enters an extended vetting process that will test his ability to build a family while also revealing how his own emotional development was smothered by uncaring parents. The movie centers on Graham’s patient, careful journey toward fatherhood as he navigates classes, social-worker meetings, and the slow, often awkward formation of trust with the child who could become his son, James Lennards, Chris Cleary Miles.
Full summary
The whole story of Second Best, scene by scene
Second Best Box Office
Second Best grossed $86,115 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$86.1K
- US & Canada
- $86.1K
Second Best Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Second Best.
How Well Do You Know Second Best?
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
Who plays the role of Graham Holt, the single man pursuing adoption?
Cars in Second Best
13 cars on screen, including the 1985 Austin Maestro and the 1979 Morris Marina MkIII.
-
1985 Austin Maestro Important role -
1979 Morris Marina MkIII Minor role -
1988 Vauxhall Senator MkII Minor role -
1965 Austin 1100 MkI Background role
Second Best Also Known As
11 alternative titles, including “Un padre in prestito” and “Uma Nova Chance”.
- Also known as
-
- Un padre in prestito
- Uma Nova Chance
- Probezeit
- Druhý nejlepší
- Második nekifutás
- Difícil elección
- Партньори
- Dwóch ojców
- 세컨드 베스트
- 义父情真
- 義父情真
Seen Second Best?
Movies Like Second Best
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Second Hand Child, My Second Brother and A Boy Called Dad.
Second Best FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Second Best, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Second Best?
Second Best runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).
When was Second Best released?
Second Best was released on September 11, 1994.
Who directed Second Best?
Second Best was directed by Chris Menges.
More films by Chris Menges Who is in the cast of Second Best?
Second Best stars William Hurt as Graham Holt, Chris Cleary Miles as James and John Hurt as Uncle Turpin, among 15 credited actors.
How much did Second Best make at the box office?
Second Best grossed $86,115 worldwide.
Does Second Best have a post-credit scene?
No. Second Best has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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