Equus (film)
| Equus | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
|
| Directed by | Sidney Lumet |
| Produced by | Elliott Kastner Lester Persky Denis Holt |
| Screenplay by | Peter Shaffer |
| Based on | Equus by Peter Shaffer |
| Starring | Richard Burton Peter Firth Jenny Agutter Joan Plowright Colin Blakely |
| Music by | Richard Rodney Bennett |
| Cinematography | Oswald Morris |
| Editing by | John Victor-Smith |
| Studio | Winkast Film Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | October 1977 (United Kingdom) October 16, 1977 (United States) |
| Running time | 137 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
Equus is a 1977 British-American drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Richard Burton. Peter Shaffer wrote the screenplay based on his play Equus. The film also featured Peter Firth, Colin Blakely, Joan Plowright, Eileen Atkins, and Jenny Agutter.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Psychiatrist Martin Dysart (Richard Burton) investigates the savage blinding of six horses with a metal spike in a stable in Hampshire, England. The atrocity was committed by an unassuming 17-year-old stable boy named Alan Strang (Peter Firth), the only son of an opinionated but inwardly-timid father (Colin Blakely) and a genteel, religious mother (Joan Plowright). As Dysart exposes the truths behind the boy's demons, he finds himself face-to-face with his own; Jenny Agutter played Jill Mason, Alan's girlfriend, with whom he shares an extended full frontal nude scene in front of the horses in a stable.[1]
[edit] Cast
- Richard Burton as Martin Dysart
- Peter Firth as Alan Strang
- Colin Blakely as Frank Strang
- Joan Plowright as Dora Strang
- Harry Andrews as Harry Dalton
- Eileen Atkins as Hesther Saloman
- Jenny Agutter as Jill Mason
- Kate Reid as Margaret Dysart
- John Wyman as Horseman
- Elva Mai Hoover as Miss Raintree
- Ken James as Mr Pearce
[edit] Reception
Unlike the play, the film version was placed in a realistic setting, using real horses. Some critics and theatre purists found this objectionable, arguing that the spirit of the stage play was lost in the film. Others had praise for both Burton and Firth, who were in the stage versions of the play. The film received mixed reviews, currently holding a 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[2]
[edit] Accolades
- Academy Awards
- Best Actor - Richard Burton (nominated)
- Best Supporting Actor - Peter Firth (nominated)
- Best Adapted Screenplay - Peter Shaffer (nominated)
- Golden Globes
- Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama - Richard Burton (won)
- Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture - Peter Firth (won)
- Others
- BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress - Jenny Agutter (won)
- BAFTA Award for Best Film Music - Richard Rodney Bennett (won)
- Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor - Peter Firth (won)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Equus at the Internet Movie Database
- Equus at AllRovi
- Equus at Rotten Tomatoes
