IMDb RATING
7.9/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
The life and times of Quentin Crisp, an outrageous and flamboyant homosexual, coming of age and growing into old age in conservative England.The life and times of Quentin Crisp, an outrageous and flamboyant homosexual, coming of age and growing into old age in conservative England.The life and times of Quentin Crisp, an outrageous and flamboyant homosexual, coming of age and growing into old age in conservative England.
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 3 wins & 1 nomination total
Photos
Katherine Schofield
- Mrs. Pole
- (as Katharine Schofield)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring filming, it was discovered that Sir John Hurt had painted Quentin Crisp when he was a life studies model at the art school that Hurt attended.
- GoofsCrisp's parents are identified as Mr. and Mrs. Crisp. In actuality, their names were Spencer Charles Pratt and Frances Marion Pratt. Furthermore, Quentin Crisp was born Denis Charles Pratt. Crisp changed his name, after leaving home, in his 20s.
- Quotes
Young Queer-baiter: See that copper over there? If you don't give us a quid each, right? I'm gonna tell him you been fiddling with these two.
Quentin Crisp: I defy you to do your worst. It can hardly be my worst. Mine has already and often happened to me. You cannot touch me now. I am one of the "stately homos of England".
- ConnectionsFeatured in Television: The Rise and Fall of the Documentary (1985)
Featured review
Funny and touching
I had the good fortune to meet the late Quentin Crisp several times. This film is a delightful and moving story of his evolution as a human being.
Like Oscar Wilde, he was the brunt of jokes and nasty stories because he dared to be himself -- and, to use his own word, a very "autre" self indeed. John Hurt does a wonderful job showing us the spirit of a man who didn't grovel to the conventions of society and dared to give the world a free spirit.
The ironic conclusion of the film is an observation by Crisp himself that the "autre" which was once his alone became the commonplace of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
This is an unusual film worth seeing for the performances as well as for its lessons in living. We are who we let ourselves be. We can be who we desire to be, or we can surrender to the drab molds of the society around us.
Like Oscar Wilde, he was the brunt of jokes and nasty stories because he dared to be himself -- and, to use his own word, a very "autre" self indeed. John Hurt does a wonderful job showing us the spirit of a man who didn't grovel to the conventions of society and dared to give the world a free spirit.
The ironic conclusion of the film is an observation by Crisp himself that the "autre" which was once his alone became the commonplace of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
This is an unusual film worth seeing for the performances as well as for its lessons in living. We are who we let ourselves be. We can be who we desire to be, or we can surrender to the drab molds of the society around us.
helpful•194
- mermatt
- Jul 5, 2000
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Wie man sein Leben lebt
- Filming locations
- Kings Road, Chelsea, London, England, UK(1975: Quentin walks along)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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