Ábrete de orejas

Título original: Prick Up Your Ears

1987
18
1h 45min

PUNTUACIÓN EN IMDb

7,1/10

6,6 mil

TU PUNTUACIÓN

Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, and Vanessa Redgrave in Ábrete de orejas (1987)

Biographer John Lahr is writing a book about playwright Joe Orton. Joe and Kenneth meet at drama school and live together for ten years as lovers and collaborators. Both want to be writers, but only one of them is successful.

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Biography Drama

El biógrafo John Lahr está escribiendo un libro sobre el dramaturgo Joe Orton. Ambos quieren ser escritores, pero solo uno de ellos tiene éxito.El biógrafo John Lahr está escribiendo un libro sobre el dramaturgo Joe Orton. Ambos quieren ser escritores, pero solo uno de ellos tiene éxito.El biógrafo John Lahr está escribiendo un libro sobre el dramaturgo Joe Orton. Ambos quieren ser escritores, pero solo uno de ellos tiene éxito.

Ver la información de la producción en IMDbPro

PUNTUACIÓN EN IMDb

7,1/10

6,6 mil

TU PUNTUACIÓN

Ver la información de la producción en IMDbPro

Nominado a 3 premios BAFTA
- 5 premios y 8 nominaciones en total

Curiosidades
As well as being an actor, Wallace Shawn (John Lahr) is an acclaimed playwright and screenwriter. Until her 1991 death, his theatrical agent was Margaret Ramsay, who was also Joe Orton's agent, and is portrayed in this movie by Dame Vanessa Redgrave.

Pifias
When Joe's agent first meets him in 1964, she asks him how he's been supporting himself. He tells her he's on public assistance, getting £3.10 per week. New pence weren't introduced until 1971. However, in the pre-decimal era, "Three pounds ten" would have been understood as "Three pounds and ten shillings", the present-day equivalent being £3.50. For example, "Maggie Mae", recorded by the Beatles in 1969 but based on a much older traditional song, includes the line "Two pounds ten a week, that was my pay."

Citas
[Halliwell puts his hand on Orton's leg. Orton brushes it off]
Joe Orton: No. Have a wank.
Kenneth Halliwell: Have a wank? Have a wank? I can't just have a wank. I need three days' notice to have a wank. You can just stand there and do it. Me, it's like organizing D-Day. Forces have to be assembled, magazines bought, the past dredged for some suitably unsavoury episode, the dog-eared thought of which can still produce a faint flicker of desire! Have a wank, it'd be easier to raise the Titanic.

Conexiones
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Making Mr. Right/Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn/Secret of My Success/Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

Banda sonora
Dancing Hearts
Music by Stanley Myers
Lyrics by Richard Myhill
Arranged by Richard Myhill

Reseñas de usuarios36

Comentarios

Reseña destacada

The Writer, The First Wife, The Widow

Director Stephen Frears has often picked up interesting subjects for his films. 'Prick Up Your Ears' is based on the relationship between famous writer Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell. Set in the 60s, this was during the time when 'being gay' in public was considered a criminal offense in parts of UK. Joe Orton is confident, talented, mellow and liked by everyone while his partner Halliwell is comparatively shy and distant and resentful of Joe's success as he claims to be the man behind his partner's success and complains about not receiving enough credit for it.

Frears depicts the relationship quite sensibly. There is almost always a conflict or a disagreement in Orton and Halliwell's sequences but the love is always apparent. While Kenneth's insecurity worsens as Joe climbs every step up towards success, Joe always stands by him. The viewer is also given brief glimpses of Joe's relationship with his mother, sister and confidant Peggy. The depiction of the 60's gay culture is also intriguing.

The execution isn't first rate as the cinematography is flat and the editing leaves a lot to be desired. The pacing is very slow. The lighting could have used some improvement.

The acting is superb. Gary Oldman is spellbinding as Joe Orton. Even though he is more commonly known for his villainous roles, movies like these prove what a versatile actor he is. Alfred Molina is brilliant as Kenneth. A foxy Julie Walters makes her presence felt in a limited role. Vanessa Redgrave is remarkable in a brief but memorable role.

'Prick Up Your Ears' is an interesting psychological character study and true crime drama. In addition to the wonderful performances, the writing is first rate, especially the witty dialogues loaded with humour. The movie ends on a note of leaving the viewer to wonder what would have become of Orton's life had he still lived. Here was a man who had everything going for him...except one thing that ended his life.