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IMDb > The Horse's Mouth (1958)

The Horse's Mouth (1958) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   1,452 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Joyce Cary (novel)
Alec Guinness (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Horse's Mouth on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 November 1958 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Smart Alec
Plot:
A somewhat vulgar but dedicated painter searches for the perfect realization of his artistic vision, much to the chagrin of others. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations more
User Reviews:
Ageless, clever, endearing comedy more (27 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Alec Guinness ... Gulley Jimson
Kay Walsh ... Dee Coker
Renee Houston ... Sara Monday
Mike Morgan ... Nosey
Robert Coote ... Sir William Beeder
Arthur Macrae ... A.W. Alabaster
Veronica Turleigh ... Lady Beeder
Michael Gough ... Abel
Reginald Beckwith ... Capt. Jones
Ernest Thesiger ... Hickson
Gillian Vaughan ... Lollie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Bull ... Man in taxi (uncredited)
Richard Caldicot ... Roberts (uncredited)
Terry Cashfield ... Bit role (uncredited)
Jack Chissick ... Bit role (uncredited)
Mary Davies ... Pretty girl (uncredited)
Fred Griffiths ... (uncredited)
May Hallatt ... Charwoman (uncredited)
Joan Hickson ... (uncredited)
Rose Howlett ... Cook (uncredited)
Jeremy Judge ... Dickie (uncredited)
John Kidd ... Pawnbroker (uncredited)
Rosalind Knight ... Bit role (uncredited)
Richard Leech ... Hodges (uncredited)
Garry Leeman ... Bit role (uncredited)
Jackie Martin ... Bit role (uncredited)
Sally Muggeridge ... Bit role (uncredited)
John Norman ... Bit role (uncredited)
Elton Ollivierre ... Negro model (uncredited)
Clive Revill ... Art student (uncredited)
David Robinson ... Bit role (uncredited)
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Directed by
Ronald Neame 
 
Writing credits
Joyce Cary (novel)

Alec Guinness (writer)

Produced by
John Bryan .... producer
Albert Fennell .... executive producer
Ronald Neame .... producer
 
Original Music by
Kenneth V. Jones 
 
Cinematography by
Arthur Ibbetson 
 
Film Editing by
Anne V. Coates 
 
Art Direction by
William C. Andrews  (as Bill Andrews)
 
Costume Design by
Julia Squire 
 
Makeup Department
Harold Fletcher .... makeup artist
Pearl Tipaldi .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
R.L.M. Davidson .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Colin M. Brewer .... assistant director (as Colin Brewer)
 
Art Department
John Bratby .... paintings
 
Sound Department
John Box .... sound supervisor
John Cox .... sound supervisor
Leslie Hodgson .... dubbing editor
Red Law .... sound recordist
George Stephenson .... sound recordist
 
Camera and Electrical Department
John Harris .... camera operator
Paul Wilson .... first assistant camera (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elsa Fennell .... wardrober
Julia Squire .... gowns: Veronica Turleigh
 
Music Department
Kenneth V. Jones .... music arranger
Muir Mathieson .... conductor
 
Other crew
Yvonne Axeworthy .... continuity
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
97 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Mike Morgan died ten days before the end of shooting. Some of his lines were dubbed by an unknown actor in post-production. more
Quotes:
Gulley Jimson: Go away. Scram. Tie lead weights to your feet, fireworks in your hair, kiss your mother goodbye and jump in the river. I don't know you. I don't want to know you. Buzz off! Explode! more
Movie Connections:
References Poruchik Kizhe (1934) more
Soundtrack:
LIEUTENANT KIJE more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
17 out of 17 people found the following review useful.
Ageless, clever, endearing comedy, 2 January 2005
8/10
Author: Lucky-63 from Seattle

"Horse's Mouth" certainly stands up well in it's advanced age; at 45 years old it has remained as timeless as any of the great comedic films.

One IMDb writer has tagged Gully as a "vulgar" painter, which goes to show that the sensitivities this film violated are still around. Pinching your loving ex's bum and tickling the rich lady's knee (shades of Groucho), though, are pretty tame today.

Gully Jimson is a rich character, Chaplin-like, who single-mindedly pursues painting while disillusioning aspiring young Nosey about the artist's life. All growled on tiptoes by one of film's classic great actors.

Jimson is a man who's given up all else, including health, wealth, conventional relationships, to live in a leaky houseboat with a vision. But as the story develops it, like all great literature, manages to puncture almost all of life's rationalizing balloons. Jimson is valorized as is Don Quixote, without suggesting that his hero's journey is a painless one.

All is set in a colorful environment with a delightful if conventionally unpolished cast, all the improbably gleeful turns that make the Marx movies so delightful, and a director who contrives seamlessly with Guiness to create a clever and hilarious marvel that can be enjoyed over and over.

Heck yeah, there's even a chase scene! And pull your socks up!

The DVD version includes a short by Pennebaker that feels as fresh and contemporary, accompanied by a Duke Ellington tune, which played along with "Horse's" original release.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
How did Mike Morgan die? stevem-26
DVD cover art zalkus
Who was the artist Jimson is based on? Meryllevykryza
Prints of the paintings? sissoed
Movies about artists latesnake
Lt. Kije nanonta
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