In 1940s Kenya, a married couple join other affluent British expatriates in a lifestyle of recklessness and excess, but soon find themselves in a troubling situation.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Sarah Miles | ... |
Alice
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| Joss Ackland | ... |
Broughton
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| John Hurt | ... |
Colvile
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| Greta Scacchi | ... |
Diana
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| Charles Dance | ... |
Erroll
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| Susan Fleetwood | ... |
Gladys
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Alan Dobie | ... |
Harragin
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| Hugh Grant | ... |
Hugh
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| Jacqueline Pearce | ... |
Idina
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| Catherine Neilson | ... |
June
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| Murray Head | ... |
Lizzie
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| Gregor Fisher | ... |
McPherson
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| Ray McAnally | ... |
Morris
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| Geraldine Chaplin | ... |
Nina
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| Trevor Howard | ... |
Soames
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Tristram Jellinek | ... |
Land Agent
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Tim Myers | ... |
Raymond de Trafford
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Sean Mathias | ... |
Gerald Portman
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| Ron Donachie | ... |
Club Manager
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Douglas Chege | ... |
Kiptobe
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Wensley Pithey | ... |
Sheridan
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| Stephan Chase | ... |
Carberry
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Clare Travers-Deacon | ... |
Muffin-Faced Woman
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Seipal Ngojine | ... |
Maasai Warrior
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Pilip Saitoti | ... |
Maasai Warrior
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Amanda Parkin | ... |
Nancy Wirewater
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| Louis Mahoney | ... |
Abdullah
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Ilario Bisi-Pedro | ... |
African Policeman
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David Quilter | ... |
Poppy
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John Rees | ... |
Baines
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Olivier Pierre | ... |
Kaplan
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Anthony Benson | ... |
Fox
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Nigel Le Vaillant | ... |
Handsome Reporter
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Basil Whybray | ... |
Spotty Reporter
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John Darrell | ... |
Registrar
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Bill Moody | ... |
Jury Foreman
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| Susannah Harker | ... |
Young Girl
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| Gary Beadle | ... |
African Servant
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Edwin Mahinda | ... |
Boy Waiter
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Tim Finn | ... |
Bandleader (uncredited)
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| Guy Standeven | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Michael Radford | ||
Written by
| James Fox | ... | (novel) |
| Michael Radford | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Jonathan Gems | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Simon Bosanquet | ... | associate producer |
| Simon Perry | ... | producer |
| Michael White | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| George Fenton | ||
Cinematography by
| Roger Deakins | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Tom Priestley | ||
Editorial Department
| Keith Mason | ... | second assistant editor |
| Kant Pan | ... | first assistant editor |
Casting By
| Mary Selway | ||
Production Design by
| Roger Hall | ||
Art Direction by
| Len Huntingford | ||
| Keith Pain | ||
Costume Design by
| Marit Allen | ||
Makeup Department
| Suzanne Belcher | ... | assistant makeup artist (as Susie Belcher) |
| Freda Hart | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Pat Hay | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Meinir Jones-Lewis | ... | key hair stylist |
| Madeleine Masters | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Liz Michie | ... | hair stylist |
| Julia Wilson | ... | assistant makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| John Dodds | ... | second assistant director |
| Lee Hilton | ... | third assistant director |
| Meja Mwangi | ... | second assistant director |
| Chris Rose | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Lulu Archer | ... | assistant production buyer: Kenya |
| Barry Arnold | ... | chargehand propman |
| Amanda Bernstein | ... | art department assistant |
| Dennis Bovington | ... | construction manager |
| Karen Brookes | ... | production buyer: Kenya |
| Derek Creedon | ... | chargehand propman |
| Marianne Ford | ... | set dresser |
| Louise Hardy | ... | art department assistant |
| John Hedges | ... | chargehand carpenter |
| Michael Hedges | ... | supervising carpenter |
| John Hogan | ... | propman |
| Robin Hollister | ... | construction manager |
| Michael Jones | ... | supervising painter |
| Norman North | ... | painter |
| Ron Ross | ... | carpenter |
| Robert Schofield | ... | chargehand rigger |
| Len Serpant | ... | stagehand |
| Dennis Simmonds | ... | propman |
| John Sullivan | ... | carpenter |
| Charles Torbett | ... | property master |
| Peter Walpole | ... | production buyer |
| Kenneth Welland | ... | chargehand painter |
| Roger Willis | ... | chargehand carpenter |
| David Wood | ... | draughtsman |
| Robin Heinson | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Frank Howe | ... | drapesman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Bill Barringer | ... | assistant sound effects editor |
| Joe Gallagher | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Derek Holding | ... | sound editor |
| Dean Humphreys | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Anthony Jackson | ... | sound recordist (as Tony Jackson) |
| Jacques Leroide | ... | sound effects editor |
| Colin Miller | ... | sound effects editor |
| Dominic Rahumbu | ... | sound assistant |
| Rosie Straker | ... | boom operator |
| Lionel Strutt | ... | adr mixer (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Mohammed Athman | ... | electrician |
| Richard Broome | ... | camera grip |
| David Bryant | ... | focus puller |
| Roger Deakins | ... | camera operator |
| Bob Gomme | ... | generator operator |
| Micky Hand | ... | best boy electric (as Michael Hand) |
| Amiri Hassan | ... | electrician |
| John Higgins | ... | chief electrician |
| Wayne Leach | ... | electrician |
| Mohamed Ngela | ... | assistant camera |
| Ahmed Omari | ... | electrician |
| Sarah Quill | ... | still photographer |
| Ramadhani Rajadu | ... | electrician |
| Michael Seymour | ... | rigger |
| Andrew Speller | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| David Vroegindeweij | ... | playback operator (as David Vroegindewey) |
| Nikki Williams | ... | clapper loader |
| Dean Kennedy | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Paul Nash | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Lucy Boulting | ... | additional casting |
| Davis Sindiyo | ... | casting: Moosai, Kenya |
| Sarah Withey | ... | local casting: Kenya |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Sophia Ali Abdi | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Catherine Halloran | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Stewart Meachem | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Amina Ali Ryback | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Elizabeth Ryrie | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Hilary Watson | ... | wardrobe mistress |
Location Management
| Simon Belcher | ... | location runner |
| Clinton Cavers | ... | location manager |
| Nick Daubeny | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Simon Chamberlain | ... | additional orchestrator |
| George Fenton | ... | conductor / orchestrator |
| Keith Grant | ... | music mixer |
| John Warren | ... | additional orchestrator |
| Stuart Brooks | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Isobel Griffiths | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
| Gerry O'Riordan | ... | assistant music engineer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Pat Rambaut | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Michael Bevan | ... | unit driver |
| Usuf Dwale | ... | driver |
| Bernard Gatheru | ... | assistant transportation coordinator: Kenya |
| Ogo Kanjora Sode | ... | driver |
| Joseph Kimuru | ... | driver |
| Geoff King | ... | unit driver |
| Arnie Mitchell | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Stephen Ndungu | ... | driver |
| Samson Wanyonyi | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Ann Addly | ... | unit nurse: Kenya |
| Paul Babu Kamau | ... | production runner |
| Susie Beavis | ... | unit nurse |
| Stacy Bell | ... | assistant: Simon Perry |
| Richard Bouma | ... | liaison: Kenya |
| Roy Cahartley | ... | animal handler |
| Judy Craymer | ... | assistant: Michael Radford |
| Con Cremins | ... | production accountant: Kenya |
| Robin Davis | ... | animal handler |
| Annick Fordham | ... | floor runner |
| Karen Halliday | ... | assistant to choreographer |
| Lynn Hoey | ... | production runner |
| Stuart Hopps | ... | choreographer |
| Ian Johnson | ... | film school attachment |
| Jackie Johnston | ... | production assistant |
| Gilly Kelsey | ... | assistant to location manager: Kenya |
| Lydia Kigada | ... | assistant: Michael Radford, Kenya |
| Herman Mbugua | ... | accounting assistant |
| Bob Morgan | ... | security officer |
| Peter Murphy | ... | jobfit attachment |
| Susan Muthoni | ... | cashier |
| Susan Nicholson | ... | assistant accountant |
| Maggie Phelan | ... | production accountant |
| John Porter | ... | world distribution director |
| Zakiya Powell | ... | unit publicist |
| Luke Randolph | ... | production controller |
| Mary Richards | ... | production coordinator |
| Monty Ruben | ... | production consultant |
| Marc Samuelson | ... | production associate |
| Matthew Scudamore | ... | floor runner |
| Sheila Slate | ... | contact: London |
| Teresa Topolski | ... | assistant: Mary Selway (as Tessa Topolski) |
| Jane Trower | ... | accounts department assistant |
| Caroline Woodall | ... | animal handler |
| Gary Bunn | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Michael Culling | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
| Jed Edge | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
| Steve Edge | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
| Duncan Hamilton | ... | ice sculptor (uncredited) |
| Jamie Hamilton | ... | ice sculptor (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Columbia Pictures (presents)
- Nelson Entertainment (presents)
- Goldcrest Films International (presents)
- Michael White Productions
- Umbrella Films
- Power Tower Investments (in association with)
- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (in association with)
- Nelson Entertainment (co-production)
Distributors
- Columbia-Cannon-Warner (1987) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (through)
- AMLF (1988) (France) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1988) (United States) (theatrical)
- Vestron Video International (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- SF Studios (1988) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Nelson Entertainment (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- Concorde Film (1989) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Herald Film Company (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
- Aquarius TV (2001) (Greece) (tv)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
- Columbia Pictures (1987) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (through Columbia-Cannon-Warner)
- Medusa Distribuzione (1988) (Italy) (theatrical)
- The Cannon Group (1987) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (through Columbia-Cannon-Warner)
- Warner Bros. (1987) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (through Columbia-Cannon-Warner)
- Arthaus (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Concorde Video (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
- EuroVideo (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
- Media Transfer International (1989) (Sweden) (VHS)
- Movie Mix (2014) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- Pidax Film (2022) (Germany) (DVD)
- Polyband (Germany) (VHS) (unknown)
- Sony Corporation of America (1988) (United States) (video) (Video 8)
- Vestron Video International (Belgium) (VHS)
- Vestron Video International (1988) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Vestron Video International (Netherlands) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Shepperton Studios (movie studio)
- Abbey Road Studios (music mixed at)
- Abbey Road Studios (music recorded at)
- Hamilton Ice Sculptors (ice sculpture)
- Joe Dunton & Company (camera equipment provided by)
- Lee Lighting (grip and lighting equipment)
- Sapex Scripts (post-production script services)
- Visual Icon (exclusive clip and still licensing)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A millionaire past his prime, and his young wife, arrive in Kenya circa 1940 to find that the other affluent British expatriates are living large, as the homefront gears up for war. They are busy swapping partners, doing drugs, and attending lavish parties and horse races. She begins a torrid affair with one of the bon vivants, and her husband finds out and confronts them. The husband and wife decide to break up peacefully, but the bon vivant is murdered, and all the evidence points to the husband.
Written by Ed Sutton |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | In England they were the elite, but bound by rules of society. In Kenya there were no rules, only glamour, decadence . . . and murder. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $5,300,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The producers wanted to fire Trevor Howard from this movie, due to his alcoholism, but Sarah Miles insisted he should stay. See more » |
| Goofs | The courtroom scenes include counsel shouting "Objection!" and the Judge replying "Sustained" or "Overruled" and occasionally ordering things "stricken from the record". These terms are routine in courts in the United States but are never heard in courts based on English jurisprudence, as was the case in colonial Kenya in 1941. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Episode #8.15 (1988). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Alphabet Song See more » |
| Quotes |
Alice de Janze:
Oh God, not another fucking beautiful day. See more » |