Movies - Withnail and I

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	Movies - Withnail and I

Withnail and I is a cult British film made in 1987 by Handmade Films. Written and directed by Bruce Robinson, it was Richard E. Grant's first film role and launched him into a successful career. It also featured outstanding performances by Richard Griffiths as Monty, Paul McGann as Marwood/...& I and Ralph Brown as Danny. The film has spawned many popular quotations.

In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted Withnail and I the 3rd greatest comedy film of all time. In 2004 the same magazine named it the 13th greatest British film of all time. Withnail & I was 38th in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Films poll.

Plot

The film details the lives of two resting (struggling) actor friends, who, confined to a Georgian flat in Camden Town through their financial difficulties, decide to take a holiday to the country. The narrative is told in the first person by the character played by Paul McGann, named just once in passing in the film as Marwood (first name Peter) - and only credited as "& I".

Robinson's script is largely autobiographical. Marwood is Robinson; Withnail is based on a friend he shared a Camden house with - Vivian MacKerrell - who died young; and Uncle Monty is loosely based on the unwanted attentions he received from an amorous Franco Zeffirelli when he was a young actor . He lived in the impoverished conditions seen in the film and wore plastic bags as wellington boots. Robinson threw four or five years' of his real life into the script, condensing them into two weeks.

In many ways, the film is melancholy and deals with endings: the end of Withnail and Marwood's friendship; the end of the 1960s (the film begins with King Curtis performing "A Whiter Shade of Pale" - King Curtis was murdered in August 1971; Danny's speech about selling hippie wigs in Woolworths); the probable 'beginning of the end' for Withnail/MacKerrell as he delivers Hamlet's soliloquy to a pack of wolves, the film is in part set amidst the demolition of parts of Camden at the beginning of the film. In Withnail and I, there is a strong sense that the characters fear change: from Withnail clinging to Marwood until the very end, to Danny mourning the passing of the decade, to Uncle Monty pining for the pleasures of his lost youth and cursing his old age. The characters fear change and the dangers of uncertainty that this new change will bring; but deep down, accepting that change is inevitable. The film marks the end/passing of a 'golden age.' At one point, towards the end of the film, Withnail asks 'Let's have a drink' to which Marwood quickly and bluntly replies 'I don't have time for a drink.' Marwood is not merely telling Withnail that he doesn't have time for a drink; but rather, he no longer has time for him'. Whereas before, Marwood always had time for a drink(as is evident throughout the film) this is no longer the case. In refusing to drink with him, Marwood is implicitly telling Withnail that their time together is over; their friendship has come to an end.

Trivia

The film cost £1.1 million to make. Bruce Robinson received £1 for the script and £80,000 to direct it - £30,000 that he reinvested into the film to shoot scenes (such as the journeys to and from Penrith) that HandMade Films wouldn’t fund.

A scene which never made the final cut, involved Marwood and Withnail fencing. Marwood was the eventual winner.

During the filming of the scene in which the lighter fluid is consumed, Bruce Robinson changed the contents of the can, which had been filled with water, to vinegar. While the vomiting is scripted, the facial expression is purely natural.

Paul McGann was not first choice for the role of 'I'. Much like the casting of Harrison Ford in the role of Han Solo, McGann was employed to read in lines for other auditioning actors - it was only after a number of days the production team realised they had found 'I'.

Despite the first name (nor surname for that matter) of 'I' not being stated anywhere in the film, it is widely believed that the character's first name is 'Peter'. This rumour comes from the memorable occasion that Monty meets the two actors, Withnail asks him if he would like a drink. In his reply, Monty both accepts his offer and says "...you must tell me all the news, I haven't seen you since you finished your last film". While pouring another drink, and downing his own, Withnail replies that he has been "Rather busy uncle. TV and stuff". Then pointing at McGann he says "He's just had an audition for rep". Some fans hear this line as "Peter's just had an audition for rep" although DVD subtitles, the original shooting script and all commercially published versions of the script read "he's".

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Withnail and I ]

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Movies - Withnail and I

Plot

Trivia

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