WITHNAIL AND I
UK, 1987, 105 minutes, Colour.
Richard E.Grant, Paul Mc Gann, Richard Griffiths, Michael Elphick.
Directed by Bruce Robinson.
Withnail and I is an eccentric black British comedy. It was written and directed by Bruce Robinson (writer of The Killing Fields and Mountains of the Moon as well as directing and writing How to Get Ahead in Business). The film is semi-autobiographical. It is set in London's Camden town in 1969, out-of-work actors living in hunger, cold and squalor and having a break in the countryside. The film relies on the eccentric characterisations, especially by Richard E.Grant as Withnail. Paul Mc Gann as I is a much more sensible person. Richard Griffiths is the eccentric Uncle Monty.
The film captures some of the atmosphere and the language of the time - with the characters wanting to get acting roles, smoking and drinking, taking drugs and becoming more and more offbeat and off the planet. It is interesting that Robinson went on to serious writing - and looks back and assesses the experience of the late '60s.
1.Impact of the film? Offbeat and black? Cult movie? The kind of audience that it appeals to?
2.The atmosphere of the late '60s, Britain in decline, Camden town in winter? The streets, homes, flats? Squalor? The contrast with the wintry countryside? The country mansion, the country pubs? The atmosphere? The musical score, especially the use of `A Whiter Shade of Pale'?
3.The structure: the title, I offering the narrative and the perspective? The admiration for and bemusement by Withnail? The director's memoir of the times?
4.The portrait of Withnail and I, the out-of-work actors, the poor lifestyle, the ugly area of London, comic, eccentric? The question of money, buying drinks? Drinks at the pub? Smoking and drugs? The waiting?
5.Actors, the opportunities, the types of parts offered? Withnail as theatrical and histrionic in his manner, way of speaking, verbal dexterity? The real Withnail - or always acting? Hopes and self-esteem?
6.The decision to go to the country, the visit to Uncle Monty, the warmth, able to have something to eat, something to drink? The arguments with him? The reaction to his homosexuality? Yet the desire to go to the country, to have something to eat and to get warm? The dependence of each on the other? Going to the country, the farm, the house, empty? The unneighbourly women? The farmer on the tractor and buying food? The plastic? The gift of the hen, the attempts to kill it, pluck it and cook it? Going to the inn and drinking? The poacher and the eel, conflict? The later gift of the rabbit at the door? The contrast between life in the city and life in the country?
7.The portrait of Withnail: tall, angular, coat and scarf, histrionic style, cigarettes and drugs, continual drinking? The offer of jobs and his refusal? His relationship with Monty? Going to Montys's house? His manner of talking, interests? His lies about I being gay? His cowardice - the bull and the gate, the poacher and the rabbit on the door and his hiding? Life in the country, food and drink? Drinking with Monty, the upset in the restaurant? The meal, the night, his fears at hearing sounds outside before Monty arrived? His angers? Driving back to London, speeding, pulled up by the police - and his friend with the variety of inventions - especially to outwit the breathalyser test? The return home, the squatters and his relationship with them? What future?
8.I: more serious, earnest about jobs, fascinated by Withnail, friendly, dependent or not? The cold and the hunger in the flat? The lack of food? Smoking and drinking? Going to Monty's house, wary of his sexuality? Going to the country, managing, the farmer and the bull at the gate? The gift of the rabbit? Withnail's moods? Killing the chicken and cooking it? Withnail's fears and getting into the bed? The arrival of Monty, avoiding him, the cooking, Monty's proposition? The advances? His escaping, explaining the situation? The attack on Withnail for his lies? Monty's departure - and his respect for I's stance? The return to London, the offer of the job, his cutting his hair, less bohemian? A future?
9.The squatter friends, dress and manner, smoking and drugs? Moving in and out? Their background? Taking over, the clashes?
10.The portrait of Monty, wealthy type, living alone, relationship with Withnail? His house, food and drink? His memoirs of the theatre? Arriving at the farm, his plan for I? The cooking, eye-contact with I? Pursuing him? The advances, the rejection? His humiliation and leaving the note? His departure?
11.The people of the countryside, the farmer and the eggs, the women, the bull at the gate and I closing the gate, the poacher, the people in the pub? The contrast with the elegant restaurant, the manager, the wealthy women, the demands for cake?
12.An eccentric memoir of the '60s - and the changes into the '80s, an '80s perspective?
