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The Missionary

  • 19821982
  • RR
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Missionary (1982)
Trailer For The Missionary
Play trailer1:36
1 Video
35 Photos
  • Comedy

In the early 20th Century, devout Reverend Charles Fortesque returns to England from his missionary work in Africa and, despite plans to marry his childhood sweetheart, receives a most unusu... Read allIn the early 20th Century, devout Reverend Charles Fortesque returns to England from his missionary work in Africa and, despite plans to marry his childhood sweetheart, receives a most unusual assignment: minister to the local prostitutes.In the early 20th Century, devout Reverend Charles Fortesque returns to England from his missionary work in Africa and, despite plans to marry his childhood sweetheart, receives a most unusual assignment: minister to the local prostitutes.

IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Loncraine
  • Writer
    • Michael Palin
  • Stars
    • Michael Palin
    • Maggie Smith
    • Trevor Howard
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Loncraine
  • Writer
    • Michael Palin
  • Stars
    • Michael Palin
    • Maggie Smith
    • Trevor Howard
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Missionary
    Trailer 1:36
    The Missionary

    Photos35

    1 sheet movie poster
    The Missionary (1982)
    The Missionary (1982)
    The Missionary (1982)
    The Missionary (1982)
    The Missionary (1982)
    The Missionary (1982)
    Tricia George in The Missionary (1982)
    Tricia George in The Missionary (1982)
    Tricia George in The Missionary (1982)
    Tricia George in The Missionary (1982)
    Tricia George in The Missionary (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Palin
    Michael Palin
    • The Reverend Charles Fortescueas The Reverend Charles Fortescue
    Maggie Smith
    Maggie Smith
    • Lady Isabel Amesas Lady Isabel Ames
    Trevor Howard
    Trevor Howard
    • Lord Henry Amesas Lord Henry Ames
    Denholm Elliott
    Denholm Elliott
    • The Bishopas The Bishop
    Michael Hordern
    Michael Hordern
    • Slatterthwaiteas Slatterthwaite…
    Graham Crowden
    Graham Crowden
    • The Reverend Fitzbanksas The Reverend Fitzbanks
    David Suchet
    David Suchet
    • Corbettas Corbett
    Phoebe Nicholls
    Phoebe Nicholls
    • Deborah Fitzbanksas Deborah Fitzbanks
    Tricia George
    Tricia George
    • Adaas Ada
    Valerie Whittington
    • Emmelineas Emmeline
    Roland Culver
    Roland Culver
    • Lord Fermleighas Lord Fermleigh
    Rosamund Greenwood
    • Lady Fermleighas Lady Fermleigh
    Timothy Spall
    Timothy Spall
    • Parswellas Parswell
    Neil Innes
    Neil Innes
    • Singer in Gin Palaceas Singer in Gin Palace
    John Barrett
    John Barrett
    • Old Man outside Hotelas Old Man outside Hotel
    Dawn Archibald
    • Mission Girlas Mission Girl
    Frances Barber
    Frances Barber
    • Mission Girlas Mission Girl
    Debby Bishop
    • Mission Girlas Mission Girl
    • (as Debbie Bishop)
    • Director
      • Richard Loncraine
    • Writer
      • Michael Palin
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1905, after ten years of missionary work in Africa, the Reverend Charles Fortescue (Sir Michael Palin) is recalled to England, where his Bishop gives him his new assignment, to minister to London's prostitutes. Charles hopes Deborah Fitzbanks (Phoebe Nicholls), his fiancée, will object and give him an excuse to say no to the Bishop. But she is so imperturbably innocent that she totally fails to understand what he is being asked to do, and urges him to do his best. Wealthy Lady Isabel Ames (Dame Maggie Smith) is expected to fund the work, but once she makes it clear to Charles that there will be no contribution unless he shares her bed. —James Barrett <jbarrett@sbastk.ess.sunysb.edu>
    • memory loss
    • butler
    • boxing
    • bicycle
    • bishop
    • 27 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • He gave his body to save their souls.
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Richard Loncraine has said of this movie that it was "one of the happiest films I've ever made."
    • Goofs
      The Ames family home is described, by Deborah, as being on the Great Western line out of London. Later Fortescue is misidentified as the dog clipper from Faversham. But Faversham is on the other side of London, on the north coast of Kent. (This town being on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway, not the Great Western). It seems highly unlikely that the family would employ a dog clipper from so far afield.
    • Quotes

      Ada: Most o' my boys just want company... a bit o' cheerin' up. I'm like a mother to 'em! Only they can't fuck their mothers so they come 'ere.

    • Crazy credits
      Pay close attention to the photo album during the end credits, the photos reveal details about the characters after the events of the film.
    • Connections
      Featured in Live from the Lighthouse (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Put On Your Ta-Ta Little Girlie
      Written and Composed by Fred W. Leigh

      Sung by Neil Innes

    User reviews26

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    cool religion
    Despite the presence of Michael Palin, "The Missionary" is not a Monty Python movie. It certainly doesn't consist of the wry humor that Monty Python did. Rather, it's got the sort of humor where you sometimes have to listen hard to catch the jokes...that is, when the main stuff isn't happening. Palin plays a chaplain who returns from Africa to start a school to help the poor, but has to get on an aristocrat's (Maggie Smith) REALLY good side to acquire the funds. It appears to be the sort of movie that they made to have fun. The movies from George Harrison's company HandMade Films that I've seen (others include "Time Bandits" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels") have always been good ones. I certainly recommend this one. Worth seeing.

    Also starring Trevor Howard, Denholm Elliott, Michael Hordern, Graham Crowden, David Suchet, Phoebe Nicholls, Tricia George, Valerie Whittington, Roland Culver, Rosamund Greenwood, Timothy Spall and Neil Innes.
    helpful•5
    0
    • lee_eisenberg
    • Dec 23, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 5, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Handmade Films Website
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Missionar
    • Filming locations
      • Highclere Castle, Highclere, Hampshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • HandMade Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,241,180
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,864,852
      • Nov 7, 1982
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,241,180
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Interview: ‘Welcome to Essex’ actor Robert Stuart-Evans
    Apr 10Nerdly
    10 Things About... Michael Palin
    Nov 15Digital Spy

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