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Prick Up Your Ears

Drama

Prick Up Your Ears

They shared everything... except success.

6.7(103) 4/17/1987 1h 51m
Drama

When the young, attractive Joe Orton meets the older, more introverted Kenneth Halliwell at drama school, he befriends the kindred spirit and they start an affair. As Orton becomes more comfortable with his sexuality and starts to find success with his writing, Halliwell becomes increasingly alienated and jealous, ultimately tapping into a dangerous rage.

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Trailer

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Top Cast

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman

Joe Orton

Alfred Molina

Alfred Molina

Kenneth Halliwell

Vanessa Redgrave

Vanessa Redgrave

Peggy Ramsay

Wallace Shawn

Wallace Shawn

John Lahr

Lindsay Duncan

Lindsay Duncan

Anthea Lahr

Julie Walters

Julie Walters

Elsie Orton

JG

James Grant

William Orton

Frances Barber

Frances Barber

Leonie Orton

Directed by

Stephen Frears

Production

Reviews

CinemaSerf

7/10

1/29/2025

Maybe now, a few decades after this was made and when the politically correct brigade advocate that only gay actors should play gay roles, they ought to watch this and see just how engagingly two straight blokes can do what it says on their CVs and act! This is quite a witty and telling retrospective on the turbulent lives of playwright John "Joe" Orton (Gary Oldman) and his general factotum, friend, confidante and part-time lover "Kenneth" (Alfred Molina) set at a time when homosexuality in the UK was starting to emerge from the shadows of illegaility and, even amongst the more theatrical fraternity, was still frowned upon. What now ensues sees their relationship vacillate wildly, temptation rear it's ugly head and an unattractive degree of thoughtless, even callous, behaviour creep into

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