Two reviews in two days. I am back with a vengeance. This one I got on Talking Pictures, again no charge but with commercials sadly.
If you haven’t seen Scandal you should watch it immediately, not only a sexy super well acted and directed film 1989 it covers a story not dissimilar to the current Jeffrey Epstein Scandal of today, of exploitation, untimely death and political downfall, men behaving particularly badly. Not to mis quote Mandy Rice Davies, but “They Would, Wouldn’t They.”
The film stars Joanne Whalley as Christine Keeler the model and showgirl to some, prostitute to others, either way paid by rich powerful men directly or indirectly for sexual favours, and John Hurt as the osteopath Stephen Ward who became famous for his role, as the real life Epstein character, pimping out beautiful young women to powerful men like Jack Profumo, expertly played by Ian McClellan, Minister for war in the 1960’s. Lord Astor, also central to the plot is played by Lesley Philips. Russian spy (Eugene)Yevgeny Ivanov played by Jeroen Krabbe, is the counter balance for the action as is Leon Herbert, Lucky who we meet early on in the film when the rich want to score weed and get an unsuspecting in experienced Christine to do the deal, which goes badly wrong when Lucky wants more from her and doesn’t fit into the higher eschelon, the circle she is now moving in as Jack Profumo’s mistress. They are all her lovers.
It’s a real life major Scandal that at the time rocked the British establishment and delivered death, imprisonment and political downfall, losing your job the least serious of the punishments, to many if not all involved. The girls inexperienced and naive just trying to get on.
At a party at the country estate of Lord Astor Clivedon on July 8, 1961, British Secretary of State for War John Profumo a rising 46-year-old conservative politician, was introduced to 19-year-old London dancer Christine Keller by Stephen Ward, the osteopath with contacts in both the British aristocracy and the underworld. Also present at this gathering was the Russian military attaché, Eugene (Yevgeny) Ivanov, who was also Keeler’s lover. Through Ward’s influence, Profumo began an affair with Keeler, and rumours of their involvement soon began to spread. In March 1963 Profumo lied about the affair to Parliament, stating that there was “no impropriety whatsoever” in his relationship with Keeler. Evidence to the contrary quickly became too obvious to hide and 10 weeks later Profumo admitted “with deep remorse” that he had deceived the House of Commons and resigned. The then Prime Minister Harold Macmillan continued in office until October, but the scandal was pivotal in his subsequent downfall, and within a year the opposing Labour Party defeated the Tories in the general election.
Stephen Ward is the central character, later accused of procuring women for powerful men. He was tried for living off immoral earnings but took a fatal overdose of sleeping pills before the verdict, dying three days later in hospital, a death suspected to be influenced by political pressure at time.
Christine Keeler served 9 months for committing perjury during the trial.
Mandy Rice Davies, Keller’s friend who admitted to sleeping with Lord Astor played spectacularly played by Bridget Fonda delivers the famous line “He would, wouldn’t he” in possibly the best movie courtroom scene ever.
During the trial scene, Ward's lawyer James Burge QC eloquently played by the brilliant Terence Rigby asks Rice-Davies whether she was aware that Lord Astor—a hereditary peer and Conservative politician—had denied having an affair with her. Her famous and off the cuff response made her famous the world over and is one of the best movie moments captured on camera. Fonda was recognised for her role receiving a prime time Emmy and nominated for a Golden Globe best supporting actress which launched her career in Hollywood.
It is possibly one of the best breakout roles ever for an actress. She met with the real life Rice Davis in secret whilst preparing for the role it was later revealed.
An absolutely astonishing timeless film written by Michael Thomas and directed by Michael Caton Jones and stands as a testament to what happens in the corridors of power, as we see the Jeffrey Epstein scandal unfurl, doesn’t change when it comes to the allure of beautiful young women. And how far men will go and how much they are prepared to risk for a moment in their intimate company.