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Scandal 18 rating

A fictionalised account of the 1963 ‘Profumo Affair’ that rocked the government of British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Starring John Hurt, Joanne Whalley, Bridget Fonda, Ian McKellen and Leslie Phillips.

Drama 1989 114 mins

Director: Michael Caton-Jones

CC

Overview

After becoming enchanted by a young exotic dancer, Christine Keeler (Joanne Whalley), an English doctor (John Hurt) invites her to live with him. Through his contacts and parties she and her friend (Bridget Fonda) meet and begin to date various members of the ruling Conservative Party. When Christine’s affair with the Secretary of State for War John Profumo (Ian McKellen) goes public, scandal tears through the government and threatens the lifestyles and freedom of those involved. Legendary producer Stephen Woolley (The Company of Wolves, The Crying Game) and director Michael Caton-Jones (Rob Roy, Our Ladies) caught the zeitgeist with this hugely successful political drama that screened in competition at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival.

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