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IMDbPro

Dean Spanley

  • 20082008
  • PGPG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
Dean Spanley (2008)
Set in Edwardian England, Fisk Senior has little time or affection for his son, but when the pair visit an eccentric Indian, they start a strange journey that eventually allows the old man to find his heart.
Play trailer2:40
1 Video
8 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
Set in Edwardian England where upper lips are always stiff and men from the Colonies are not entirely to be trusted, Fisk Senior has little time or affection for his son, but when the pair v... Read allSet in Edwardian England where upper lips are always stiff and men from the Colonies are not entirely to be trusted, Fisk Senior has little time or affection for his son, but when the pair visit an eccentric Indian, they start a strange journey that eventually allows the old man ... Read allSet in Edwardian England where upper lips are always stiff and men from the Colonies are not entirely to be trusted, Fisk Senior has little time or affection for his son, but when the pair visit an eccentric Indian, they start a strange journey that eventually allows the old man to find his heart.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Toa Fraser
  • Writers
    • Alan Sharp
    • Lord Dunsany(novel: "My Talks with Dean Spanley")
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Northam
    • Sam Neill
    • Bryan Brown
Top credits
  • Director
    • Toa Fraser
  • Writers
    • Alan Sharp
    • Lord Dunsany(novel: "My Talks with Dean Spanley")
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Northam
    • Sam Neill
    • Bryan Brown
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 42User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos1

    Dean Spaley: Trailer
    Trailer 2:40
    Dean Spaley: Trailer

    Photos8

    Jeremy Northam and Peter O'Toole in Dean Spanley (2008)
    Bryan Brown in Dean Spanley (2008)
    Peter O'Toole in Dean Spanley (2008)
    Peter O'Toole in Dean Spanley (2008)
    Jeremy Northam and Bryan Brown in Dean Spanley (2008)
    Jeremy Northam and Peter O'Toole in Dean Spanley (2008)
    Dean Spanley (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeremy Northam
    Jeremy Northam
    • Fisk Junioras Fisk Junior
    Sam Neill
    Sam Neill
    • Dean Spanleyas Dean Spanley
    Bryan Brown
    Bryan Brown
    • Wratheras Wrather
    Peter O'Toole
    Peter O'Toole
    • Fisk Senioras Fisk Senior
    Judy Parfitt
    Judy Parfitt
    • Mrs. Brimleyas Mrs. Brimley
    Art Malik
    Art Malik
    • Swami Nala Prashas Swami Nala Prash
    Ramon Tikaram
    Ramon Tikaram
    • Nawab of Ranjiputas Nawab of Ranjiput
    Xavier Horan
    • Harrington Fiskas Harrington Fisk
    Barbara Wilshere
    Barbara Wilshere
    • 1st Ladyas 1st Lady
    Angela Clerkin
    • 2nd Ladyas 2nd Lady
    Dudley Sutton
    Dudley Sutton
    • Marriotas Marriot
    Shaughan Seymour
    • Wine Shop Proprietoras Wine Shop Proprietor
    Charlotte Graham
    • Woman in Cloistersas Woman in Cloisters
    Haydon Downing
    • Boy in Cloistersas Boy in Cloisters
    Miriama McDowell
    Miriama McDowell
    • Foxy Ladyas Foxy Lady
    Bruce Hopkins
    Bruce Hopkins
    • Shepherdas Shepherd
    Elizabeth Goram-Smith
    • Young Lady of Statureas Young Lady of Stature
    • (uncredited)
    Roopesh Janday
    • Indian Waiteras Indian Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Toa Fraser
    • Writers
      • Alan Sharp
      • Lord Dunsany(novel: "My Talks with Dean Spanley")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Peter O'Toole said the use of comedy to explore the relationship between a father and son was part of what attracted him to the film. He remarked: "All of us had difficult familial relationships. I think it's a film for all of us who understand the relationship between a father and son. It's been interesting watching various members of the crew looking at the monitors during scenes. They come up to me then and say "I had the same thing with my father."
    • Quotes

      Fisk Senior: Very handy, Thursday. Keeps Wednesday and Friday from colliding.

    • Soundtracks
      Wrather's Gramophone
      Performed by The Stevens Sisters

      Written by Don McGlashan

    User reviews42

    Review
    Top review
    'Trippingly on the tongue'
    Shakespeare addresses the joys of hearing the English language spoken as perfectly and beautifully as every actor does in this thoroughly delightful film DEAN SPANLEY: 'Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounc'd it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as many of our players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines.' Based on the novel 'My Talks with Dean Spanley' by the colorful writer Lord Dunsany (Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, July 24, 1878 in London, England, UK - October 25, 1957 (age 79) in Dublin, Ireland) and adapted for the screen with great dexterity and gentility by Alan Sharp, the story is a study in the meaning of reincarnation in the most delightful sense of the term!

    Set in Edwardian England where upper lips are always stiff and men from the Colonies are not entirely to be trusted, Fisk Senior (Peter O'Toole) is caustic, nihilistic has little time or affection for his son Fisk Junior (Jeremy Northam) - they visit only on Thursdays and then in only the most routine of circumstances: even the housekeeper Mrs. Brimley (Judy Parfitt) knows to only fix one boring Hot Pot for them to eat. Fisk Senior seems to have placed all his hopes on his other son who was killed in the Boer War of 1899 to 1902. Fisk Junior encouraged by his friend Wrather (Bryan Brown) breaks tradition and takes his father to a talk by the guru Nawab of Ranjiput (Ramon Tikaram) where they hear about the Indian concept of reincarnation and the inferiority of cats. The lecture is attended also by a vicar named Dean Spanley (Sam Neill) and what follows is a series of conversations and revelations over glasses of Tokay that seem to open up the vicar's remembrance of past lives - a fact that eventually relates to Fisk Senior and manages to change the grumpy old man's outlook on life.

    Directed by Toa Fraser with terrific atmosphere and Edwardian elegance, the actors are all superb, but one of the most satisfying aspects of this film is simply hearing a screenplay of perfect English spoken symphonically. It is a thoroughly delightful film on every level. Highly Recommended.

    Grady Harp
    helpful•30
    2
    • gradyharp
    • Sep 13, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 12, 2008 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • New Zealand
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official site (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • My Talks with Dean Spanley
    • Filming locations
      • Norwich Cathedral, Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • New Zealand Film Commission
      • Atlantic Film Productions
      • General Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,455,824
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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