Main Cast: Steven Waddington, Andrew Tiernan, Tilda Swinton, Nigel Terry, Kevin Collins
Release Year: 1992
Country: UK
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Two years before director Derek Jarman died of AIDS, he directed this extremely ambitious variation on Christopher Marlowe's 16th-century play. While Marlowe is the root of this film, Jarman has taken a great deal of leeway with the manner of presentation. The story revolves around King Edward's open homosexuality, which eventually led to his murder and succession. Instead of lush historical settings, the film uses bare walls and dirt floors and puts the cast into smart suits. This "staginess" works to the advantage of Jarman's design, and he takes every opportunity to anachronize. (For example, Annie Lennox shows up to provide a lovely rendition of Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye".) A striking film, and a high point of Jarman's career. ~ John Voorhees, All Movie Guide
Jerome Flynn - Kent; Dudley Sutton - Bishop of Winchester; John Lynch - Spencer; Jody Graber - Prince Edward; Annie Lennox - Singer; Christopher Adamson - Thug; Jill Balcon - Chorus of Nobility; Dinah Beamish - Elektra Quartet Member; Daniel Bevan - Youth; Andrew Lee Bolton - Masseur; Abigail Brown - Elektra Quartet Member; Andrew Charleson - Chorus of Nobility; Nigel Charnock - Dancer; Barry John Clarke - Man with Snake; Alan Corduner - Poet; Kim Dare - Wild Girl; Giles de Montigny - Soldier of the Guard; Robb Dennis - Soldier of the Guard; John Henry Duncan - Altar Boy; Danny Earl - Thug; Renee Eyre - Sexy Girl; Tony Forsyth - Captive Policeman; Ian Francis - Youth; David Glover - Chorus of Nobility; Roger Hammond - Bishop of York; Andy Jeffrey - Sailor; Chris McHallem - Thug; Andrea Miller - Chorus of Nobility; Sharon Munro - Sexy Girl; Barbara New - Chorus of Nobility; Lloyd Newson - Dancer; James Norton - Youth; Kristina Overton - Wild Girl; Jocelyn Pook - Elektra Quartet Member; John Quentin - Chorus of Nobility; Liz Ranken - Sexy Girl; Trevor Skingle - Gym Instructor; Sonia Slany - Elektra Quartet Member; Johnathan Stables - Soldier of the Guard; Kate Temple - Seamstress; Tristam V. Cones - Youth; Christopher Hobbs - Equery; David Oliver - Thug; Michael Watkins - Soldier of the Guard; Mark Davis - Sailor; Sandy Powell - Seamstress; Brian Mitchell - Chorus of Nobility
Credit
Nigel Charnock - Choreography, Lloyd Newson - Choreography, Sandy Powell - Costume Designer, Derek Jarman - Director, George Akers - Editor, Simon Fisher Turner - Composer (Music Score), Christopher Hobbs - Production Designer, Ian Wilson - Cinematographer, Steve Clark-Hall - Producer, Sarah Radclyffe - Producer, Antony Root - Producer, Steve Clark-Hall - Screenwriter, Derek Jarman - Screenwriter, Ken Butler - Screenwriter, Antony Root - Screenwriter, Christopher Marlowe - Play Author
The film is staged in a postmodern style, using a mixture of contemporary and medieval props, sets and clothing. (The date "1991" appears on a royal proclamation at one point.) The gay content of the play is also brought to the fore by Jarman, notably by adding a homosexual sex scene and by depicting Edward's army as gay rights protesters.
