The Duke (2020 film)

The Duke is a 2020 British comedy-drama film directed by Roger Michell, with a screenplay by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman. The film stars Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren, Fionn Whitehead, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Matthew Goode. It was Michell's final film before his death in 2021.

The Duke
Theatrical release poster with original release year
Directed byRoger Michell
Written by
Produced byNicky Bentham
Starring
CinematographyMike Eley
Edited byKristina Hetherington
Music byGeorge Fenton
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Entertainment UK[1]
Release date
  • 4 September 2020 (2020-09-04) (Venice)
  • 25 February 2022 (2022-02-25) (United Kingdom)
Running time
96 minutes[2]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The film was awarded 5 stars from The Guardian[3] and The Daily Telegraph[4] following the World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival.[5] It is scheduled to be released in cinemas in the UK on 25 February 2022.

Plot

We first see our protagonist Kempton Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent) in a court of law, pleading not guilty to charges of stealing Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.

We flashback six months, to spring 1961 in Newcastle England, 60-year-old self-educated working class Kempton has strong beliefs in supporting the common man Soon after sending a script to the BBC, he is jailed for not having a TV licence. He feels it's an unfair tax on ordinary people.

After 13 days in Durham prison, Kempton´s son Jackie goes with him to visit his sister Marion's grave on their way home. We see his wife Dorothy (Helen Mirren) is a housekeeper, Jackie an aspiring shipbuilder and their eldest Kenny (who officially lives in Leeds) is 'in construction' but up to some unnamed illegal activities. Kempton's vocal socialist beliefs makes it hard for him to keep his taxi job.

When Kempton is sacked, he tells Dorothy he's to London for two days to try and get attention from the press and parliament on his anti-TV tax campaign, after which he promises to get work. We watch The Duke as it's stolen from the National Gallery. Upon Kempton's return to Newcastle, we see he and Jackie making a false back to the wardrobe to hide it.

Kempton sends a series of ransom notes to the government, saying that he would return the painting on the condition that the elderly receive more benefits, specifically to be exempt from having to pay for a TV licence.

The decision to return The Duke was made by Kempton when Kenny's lover, who caught a glimpse of the hidden painting, 'wants in' on what she imagines his 'take' is. He proudly walks into the National Gallery with The Duke under his arm.

Now, in the trial, Kempton pleads not guilty to all charges. His solicitor attests that the bottom line is, if anything, he 'borrowed' the painting, with the intent of pressuring the government to aid the elderly and veterans. The jury acquits Kempton of all charges but the £80 picture frame. He is given a three-month sentence. Four years later, Jackie goes to the judge to confess his guilt, but he lets it go.

Forty years later, TV licences were made free to 75+ year olds.

Cast

Production

It was announced in October 2019 that a film about the 1961 theft of the Portrait of the Duke of Wellington was in development, with Jim Broadbent starring as the thief Kempton Bunton, and Helen Mirren playing his wife. Roger Michell was set to direct.[7] Fionn Whitehead was added the following month.[8]

Filming began in November 2019, with Matthew Goode joining the cast.[9] Location shooting took place in Bradford and the production team also used Prime Studios in Leeds.[10]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on 4 September 2020.[11] It was also selected to screen at the Telluride Film Festival in September 2020, prior to its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] Shortly after, Sony Pictures Classics acquired the US, Scandivanian and Latin American distribution rights to the film.[13] Pathé's distribution arm will release the movie in France and Switzerland.

The movie was originally scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom by 20th Century Fox via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on 6 November 2020,[14] but Pathé eventually pushed back the movie to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] On June 7, 2021, it was announced that Pathé would release the movie on September 3, 2021, after announcing a new distribution deal with Warner Bros. Pictures.[16] On July 23, Pathé announced that the movie would be pushed back again, this time to February 25, 2022.[17]

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, The Duke has a 94% approval rating based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10.[18]

References
  1. "Warner Bros, Pathé Strike U.K. Distribution Deal". 7 June 2021.
  2. "The Duke". Venice Film Festival. 20 July 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  3. "The Duke review – art thief takes one for the common man". The Guardian. 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  4. Collin, Robbie (2020-09-04). "The Duke review, Venice Film Festival 2020: Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent shine in this zingy Ealing-style caper". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  5. "Biennale Cinema 2020 | The Duke". La Biennale di Venezia. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  6. Maher, Kevin. "The Duke review — Jim Broadbent at his best in this foolish and infuriating role". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  7. Grater, Tom (29 October 2019). "Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren Art Heist Story 'The Duke' Greenlit At Pathé – AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  8. Grater, Tom (4 November 2019). "Fionn Whitehead Joins Jim Broadbent & Helen Mirren In Roger Michell's 'The Duke' For Pathé – AFM". Deadline. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  9. Grater, Tom (10 January 2020). "'The Duke': First Look At Jim Broadbent & Helen Mirren In Art Heist Story". Deadline. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  10. "First look at Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent in the Duke as filming starts in Yorkshire".
  11. Tartaglione, Nancy (July 28, 2020). "Venice Film Festival 2020: Competition Light On Studios, Strong On Global Arthouse & Women Directors – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  12. Keegan, Rebecca (August 3, 2020). "Inside the Telluride Film Festival That Would Have Been". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  13. Ramachdran, Naman (22 September 2020). "Sony Pictures Classics Nabs 'The Duke' For U.S., Latin America, Scandinavia From Pathe". Variety. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  14. "The Duke". Launching Films. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  15. "British Comedy-Drama the Duke" to Premiere at Venice Film Festival :: The Pavlovic Today". 29 July 2020.
  16. "Warner Bros, Pathé Strike U.K. Distribution Deal". 7 June 2021.
  17. @patheuk (July 22, 2021). "THE DUKE will be released in cinemas in Spring 2022" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. "The Duke". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
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