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(1989 VHS Version) Author, screenwriter & playwright Joe Orton (Gary Oldman), quips in "Prick Up": "I always wanted to be an orphan. I could have, if it wasn't for my parents." Joe Orton (John Kingsley Orton), was rebellious, flamboyant, enigmatic & gay, when being gay in the UK was illegal. His creative & enthusiastic life ended in 1967 when his jealous life partner, Kenneth Halliwell (Alfred Molina), beat Orton to death. "Prick Up Your Ears" is a true story of Orton's volcanic rise to fame in British theatre after, "The Ruffian on the Stair" (play, 1966) & "Loot" (play, 1967). Actors deliver superb performances; especially Vanessa Redgrave as Peggy Ramsay, Orton's agent, who blends in so well as a comedian with Oldman & Shawn. Redgrave seems effortlessly witty. Redgrave's comic timing is cutting-edge with one-liners & a touch of smirk on her sexy lips. She's gorgeous & in her prime when this motion picture was filmed. "Prick Up Your Ears'" screenplay is befitting for Redgrave's & Oldman's acting. Though Orton's life ends tragically, according to Bennett's script, his relief was to engulf himself with the company of comedians: Peggy Ramsay (Redgrave): "Ken was the first wife. He did all the work & the waiting & then..." John Lahr (Shawn): "Well, first wives don't usually beat their husband's head in." Ramsay: "No. Though why I can't think." Lahr: "So what does that make you? The second wife?" Ramsay: "Better than that, dear. The widow." John Lahr's (Wallace Shawn) a reporter gathering data from Ramsay for a story about Orton's life & partnership with Halliwell. Learning the lovers started out swell, Ramsay reveals to Lahr, as Halliwell became Orton's shadow as Orton's name was renowned, green-eyed envy overtook him. Orton wasn't monogamous. For him, sex could be for the pleasure of sex (or as Foucault wrote "ars erotica"). Orton wrote sexually scandalous comical plays. A few are loosely based on his & Halliwell's lives. Since Halliwell wasn't credited for contributing to Orton's success & was dutiful while Orton shagged around, he flipped out in a murderous rage. Depicting true to reality gay life in London during the 1960's, when seeming gay was a crime, by default through his plays Orton was in-your-face out. Gay sex scenes in the film earn a R rating. A great (1987) movie: scene by scene stolen by Oldman & Redgrave. Some Awards Won (more nominations than I can list): 1987 New York Film Critics Circle Award: Best Supporting Actress, Vanessa Redgrave; nominated for a Golden Globe. 1988 London Critics Circle Film Award: Actor of the Year, Gary Oldman; Best Screenwriter of the Year, Alan Bennett. 1987 Cannes Film Festival Award: Best Artistic Contribution Composer: Stephen Myers. A Few of Orton's Works: "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" (play, 1964) "The Ruffian on the Stair" (play, 1966) "Loot" (play, 1967) "The Erpingham Camp" (play, 1967) "What the Butler Saw" (play, 1969) "The Good & Faithful Servant" (play, 1970) "Funeral Games" (play, 1970) "Head to Toe" (novel, 1971) "Orton: the Complete Plays" (book, 1976) "Up Against It" (screenplay, 1979 written for the Beatles at Sir Paul McCartney's request, broadcast on BBC Radio, September 21st, 1997)~Read full review
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