Capital Celluloid 2020 – Day 44: Thu Feb 13

Scandal (Caton-Jones, 1989): BFI Southbank, NFT1, 6.40pm


This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Michael Caton-Jones, producer Stephen Woolley, writer Michael Thomas and exec producer Joe Boyd. 

Chicago Reader review:
A breezy yet serious docudrama about the notorious John Profumo-Christine Keeler sexual scandal of 1963 that shook England's Conservative government, written by Michael Thomas and directed by Michael Caton-Jones. At the center of this complex but deftly conveyed intrigue is the ambiguous figure of Dr. Stephen Ward (John Hurt), a society osteopath, portrait artist, and hedonist whose “discovery” and cultivation of Keeler, coupled with his friendly liaison with British intelligence, set all the essential wheels in motion. Hurt is at his best in suggesting the contradictory layers of this man, who proved to be the establishment's scapegoat in the affair, but another part of what makes this movie so absorbing is its heady celebration of London during this period, as well as a healthy enjoyment of the erotic elements—demonstrating overall that good, trashy fun doesn't necessarily entail dumbness or irresponsibility. With Joanne Whalley-Kilmer as Keeler, Bridget Fonda as her friend and fellow playgirl Mandy Rice-Davies, Ian McKellen as Profumo, Leslie Phillips as Lord Astor, and Britt Ekland as the orgiastic party thrower Mariella Novotny.
Jonathan Rosenbaum

Here, and above, is a clip from the film.

Newly remastered by the BFI from a 4K scan, Scandal will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on Monday February 24th.

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