The missionary

Movie
German title	The missionary
Original title	The Missionary
Country of production	Great Britain
original language	English
Publishing year	1982
length	90 minutes
Rod
Director	Richard Loncraine
script	Michael Palin
production	George Harrison , Denis O'Brien , Michael Palin, Neville C. Thompson
music	Mike Moran
camera	Peter Hannan
cut	Paul Green
occupation
Michael Palin : Reverend Charles Fortescue Maggie Smith : Lady Isabel Ames Trevor Howard : Lord Henry Ames Denholm Elliott : Bishop Michael Hordern : Slatterthwaite / narrator Graham Crowden : Reverend Fitzbanks David Suchet  : Corbett Phoebe Nicholls : Deborah Fitzbanks Roland Culver : Lord Fermleigh Rosamund Greenwood : Lady Fermleigh Timothy Spall : Parswell Neil Innes : singer at Gin Palace

The Missionary is a British feature film from 1982 . The comedy was directed by Richard Loncraine and produced by George Harrison , Denis O'Brien, Michael Palin and Neville C. Thompson. On a budget of two million pounds sterling, he grossed $ 7,241,180 .

action

1905: After ten years as a missionary in Africa , the English Reverend Charles Fortescue is brought back to England by his bishop . Here he is supposed to take on a new and piquant task: to dissuade London's prostitutes in the East End from their work and bring them back into the bosom of the church. Fortescue doesn't feel like doing it and is looking for an excuse not to take on the task. As the Reverend, he is bound by instructions and must obey the orders. However, he hopes that his fiancée Deborah vetoed and that he can talk his way out of the bishop. Deborah does not participate in the game and sees this task as a noble challenge. Fortescue takes up his duties in a sullen mood. The whole operation is financed by the rich Lady Ames, who demands that Fortescue sleep with her.

After several other sexual escapades Fortescue will eventually by the Church of England laicized .

criticism

The New York Times praised the leading actor's performance. The plot is also entertaining, apart from a few brief dry spells.

background

The historical role model was probably Reverend Harold Davidson, nicknamed "the Prostitutes' Padre ", who proselytized among prostitutes and was laicized in 1932 by the Church of England . In 1906, King Edward VII of England called for the Church to fight prostitution in London.

Web links

• The missionary in the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Robert Sellers, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: The Inside Story of HandMade Films , Metro 2003, pp. 111-120
2. ↑ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=missionary.htm
3. ↑ Review in the New York Times
4. ↑ Review in the New York Times