Withnail and I

Original title: Withnail & I

1987
R
1h 47m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

49K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,917

Play trailer2:06

4 Videos

99+ Photos

Buddy Comedy Dark Comedy Comedy Drama

In 1969, two substance-abusing, unemployed actors retreat to the countryside for a holiday that proves disastrous.In 1969, two substance-abusing, unemployed actors retreat to the countryside for a holiday that proves disastrous.In 1969, two substance-abusing, unemployed actors retreat to the countryside for a holiday that proves disastrous.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

49K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,917

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Videos4

Trailer 2:06

Watch Withnail And I

Clip 4:16

Watch 6 Movie & TV Podcasts When You Need a Binge Break

Clip 1:38

Watch Withnail And I

Clip 1:38

Watch Withnail And I: Clip 1

Photos195

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The first preview screening appeared to be a total disaster - the audience sat there stony-faced, never laughing once. It was only after the screening had concluded that a distraught Bruce Robinson discovered that the audience was comprised entirely of non-English speaking German tourists who were all staying at a hotel nearby.

Goofs
The same cluster of vehicles is seen following the titular characters on both the outward and return journeys to Monty's cottage.

Quotes
Withnail: Are you the farmer?
Marwood: Shut up, I'll deal with this.
Withnail: We've gone on holiday by mistake. We're in this cottage here. Are you the farmer?
Marwood: Stop saying that, Withnail! Of course he's the fucking farmer!

Crazy credits
The end credits contain the following: "...& I Paul McGann" The triple dots are as it follows Richard E. Grant's credit as Withnail (hence matching the movie title). While McGann's character's name is never referenced in the movie, either spoken or written, it has been identified as Marwood in materials issued in relation to the movie.

Alternate versions
The original cinema version of this film was shorter than the one that has since been released on video, laserdisc and DVD. Changes include:
Marwood's opening voice-over has been redubbed.
Marwood's speech about his thumbs having gone weird has been cut. The scene thus goes from the line "I don't feel good" to "Look at my tongue".
Withnail's "I'm gonna pull your head off" has been cut.
Danny's anecdote about The Coalman has been cut.
Some dialogue concerning Withnail's current work and Marwood also being a thespian has been cut out of the scene at Monty's home.
The scene of Marwood slipping in the mud and then angrily persuading Withnail to have another look at the shed has been cut.
The first part of Withnail and Marwood's conversation with the major, concerning Withnail having been in the Territorials, has been cut. The scene in this version simply dissolves from Withnail and Marwood walking to the pub with Marwood's voice-over to the major bringing up the subject of Jake. Marwood's line about why Withnail lied to the major has understandably also been cut.
The word Saveloy has been redubbed to Sausage.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: RoboCop/The Squeeze/Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs/Withnail and I (1987)

Soundtracks
A Whiter Shade of Pale
Performed by King Curtis
Written by Keith Reid, Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher (uncredited)
1969 Published by Westminster Music Ltd.
Original Sound Recording made by Warner Bros. Records

User reviews260

Review

Featured review

Role of a lifetime

Richard E Grant is simply perfect as Withnail, the addled but undoubtedly well-equipped "actor" on holiday with his pal, the "I" in the title. His soliloquy from Hamlet in the final scene is one of the best readings of that scene anyone's done in film. This is a film with a point, and a great way of avoiding making it too emphatically. I love every character, and every line. When Withnail frantically searches for antifreeze after drinking lighter fluid in a crazed attempt to become drunk, "I" says, "Everyone knows you shouldn't mix your drink!" Superb!