Prick Up Your Ears

Director: Stephen Frears

1987

105 mins Film4 Archive

Stephen Frears' biographical drama, starring Gary Oldman as British playwright Joe Orton

The true story of British playwright Joe Orton and how his skyrocket to fame ended in his own brutal, shocking murder by his longtime lover in 1967. Based on the book by John Lahr.

Awards

Prick Up Your Ears was nominated for three BAFTA awards in 1988: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay. Composer Stanley Myers was awarded the Best Artistic Contribution prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987.

Director

Stephen Frears
Screenplay

Alan Bennett
Producer

Andrew Brown
Cast

Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave, Gary Oldman, Wallace Shawn, Julie Walters, Frances Barber, Margaret Tyzack, Lindsay Duncan