In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60 year old taxi driver, steals Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60 year old taxi driver, steals Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60 year old taxi driver, steals Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.
- Awards
- 6 nominations
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaEON productions, who are the producers of the official James Bond film series are notoriously protective of their property and rarely give permission for clips to be used in other studio's movies for fear of the clips being misused or lampooned. In this case Dame Helen Mirren and director Roger Michell personally asked the Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson for permission to use the Scene from Dr No (1962) and promised the scene would be used in context and not adulterated in any way. A small fee was paid (which was donated to charity) and Broccoli and Wilson were allowed to view the finished film with the promise of that if they didn't like how the scene was used then it would be removed before release. Fortunately they had no complaints.
- GoofsWhen visiting Kempton in his remand cell to discuss his ongoing court case, his QC leans on the "brick" cell wall, which clearly bends and rebounds, seemingly made of a rubberised material cast to resemble old painted brickwork.
- Quotes
Kempton Bunton: I'd just finished reading Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness and I felt a need to explore Sunderland.
Featured review
Not really a heist, more a host
In 1961 the nation bought Goya's painting of the Duke of Wellington for £140,000, that's just over three million in today's money. Benwell (Newcastle upon Tyne) retired and disabled bus driver, Kempton Bunton, a crotchety anti-telly tax campaigner, had plenty to say on the subject.
In the fullness of time, the painting found its way into a false compartment in the spare bedroom wardrobe. The master plan was to raise money to pay for telly licences for pensioners and war veterans.
This well natured romp, replete with 1960's tropes, is well acted by Jim Broadbent in the main role, with nagging wife, Dorothy, played by Helen Mirren. Their canny son, Jackie, portrayed by Fionn Whitehead, propels the narrative with his cheeky chappy persona.
The film culminates in a court case where Bunton is brought up on charges of theft, and depriving the public of the painting for the four years he hid it in the bedroom. Facing an almost certain ten year prison sentence the outlook is gloomy. Even his clever barrister doesn't have many legal legs to stand on.
Bunton argues that he was merely borrowing the painting for the good of others.
The outcome is a surprise, with a clever twist right at the end. This is a jolly film with humour and a layer of pathos.
None of the exteriors were shot in Newcastle, and as a resident of that city, the Leeds and Bradford locations look out of place, even with the special effects department inserting the Tyne Bridge, Grey's Monument, Stella Power Station, and Scotswood Bridge in the backgrounds. Look out for a gable end advert for Beechams Pills with a spelling mistake!
In the fullness of time, the painting found its way into a false compartment in the spare bedroom wardrobe. The master plan was to raise money to pay for telly licences for pensioners and war veterans.
This well natured romp, replete with 1960's tropes, is well acted by Jim Broadbent in the main role, with nagging wife, Dorothy, played by Helen Mirren. Their canny son, Jackie, portrayed by Fionn Whitehead, propels the narrative with his cheeky chappy persona.
The film culminates in a court case where Bunton is brought up on charges of theft, and depriving the public of the painting for the four years he hid it in the bedroom. Facing an almost certain ten year prison sentence the outlook is gloomy. Even his clever barrister doesn't have many legal legs to stand on.
Bunton argues that he was merely borrowing the painting for the good of others.
The outcome is a surprise, with a clever twist right at the end. This is a jolly film with humour and a layer of pathos.
None of the exteriors were shot in Newcastle, and as a resident of that city, the Leeds and Bradford locations look out of place, even with the special effects department inserting the Tyne Bridge, Grey's Monument, Stella Power Station, and Scotswood Bridge in the backgrounds. Look out for a gable end advert for Beechams Pills with a spelling mistake!
helpful•191
- tim-935
- Feb 12, 2022
- How long is The Duke?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Wellington Dükü
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,526,970
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $25,776
- Apr 24, 2022
- Gross worldwide
- $14,233,027
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content