Write it. Live it. But try not to be it.
Director: Mike Hodges
Writer: Mike Hodges
Producer: Michael Caine, Michael Klinger
A seedy writer of sleazy pulp novels is recruited by a quirky, reclusive ex-actor to help him write his biography at his house in Malta.
95 min
Rating: 5.7/10
Released
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Top Cast
Michael Caine
Mickey King
Mickey Rooney
Preston Gilbert
Lionel Stander
Ben Dinuccio
Lizabeth Scott
Princess Betty Cippola
Nadia Cassini
Liz Adams
Dennis Price
The Englishman
Movie Info
Director: Mike Hodges
Writer: Mike Hodges
Producer: Michael Caine, Michael Klinger
Production Companies: Three Michaels Film Productions
Countries: United Kingdom
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What Others Said
CinemaSerf:
Despite an half decent cast, Michael Caine ("King") just can't carry this and after about fifteen minutes, once we have established the premiss, it all just falls into a well trammelled line of mediocrity. He is a sort of penny dreadful style of author, who is offered the opportunity to write the biography of former Hollywood star "Preston Gilbert" (Mickey Rooney) at his Maltese home. Once there, he soon appreciates that his employer is the target of an assassin working for some mobsters. Suffice to say, he doesn't remain a target for long - and it falls to "King" to stay alive himself, whilst completing his story about the eccentric "Gilbert". It had potential, this - but sadly the plot runs out of steam very quickly, the humour is too sparse and contrived and though there are plenty of bit-part characterisations that try to keep the story interesting, it all just withers on the bough. Not terrible, but unremarkable.