The Fool (1990 film)

The Fool
Directed by	Christine Edzard
Produced by	Celia Bannerman
Written by	Christine Edzard Olivier Stockman
Starring	Derek Jacobi Cyril Cusack Ruth Mitchell (actor)
Music by	Michel Sanvoisin
Cinematography	Robin Vidgeon
Edited by	Olivier Stockman
Production company	Sands Films
Distributed by	Barcino Barcino Films S.A.
Release dates	December 7, 1990 (UK)
Running time	140 minutes
Country	UK
Language	English

The Fool is a 1990 British film, produced and directed by Christine Edzard from a script by Edzard and Olivier Stockman.

Plot

The narrative is grounded in the double life of a humble clerk who poses as the reclusive, but widely respected "Sir John." He thus moves in wealthy upper class circles and participates in grand investment schemes while living in a London slum. The movie's grand-eloquent socialist soliliquaies and detailed evocation of life in Victorian London drew on the vast personal archive of interviews about contemporary London life by Henry Mayhew.

Cast

• Derek Jacobi as Mr. Frederick / Sir John
• Cyril Cusack as The Ballad Seller
• Ruth Mitchell (actor) as The Girl
• Maria Aitken as Lady Amelia
• Irina Brook as Georgiana Shillibeer
• Paul Brooke as Lord Paramount
• Richard Caldicot as Duke
• James Cairncross as Mr. Trott
• Jim Carter as Mr. Blackthorn
• Jonathan Cecil as Sir Martin Locket
• Maria Charles as The Pure Gatherer
• Richard Clifford as George Locket
• James Cosmo as Mr. Bowring
• Rosalie Crutchley as Mrs. Harris
• Chris Darwin as Theatre Doorman

Production

Jacobi and Cusack had previously worked with Edzard on her film adaptation of Charles Dickens Little Dorrit in 1988.

The atmospheric camerawork was by British cinematographer Robin Vidgeon.

References

• Halliwell's Film Guide 2008, HarperCollins (2007)

External links

• The Fool at the Internet Movie Database