White Mischief (1988)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Michael Radford

Writers:

James Fox (novel)
Michael Radford (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

May 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

In England they were the elite, but bound by rules of society. In Kenya there were no rules, only glamour, decadence . . . and murder.

Plot:

A millionaire past his prime and his young wife arrive in Kenya circa 1940 to find that the other affluent...

Plot Keywords:

1940s | Shower Scene | Voyeurism | Beautiful Woman | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Greta Scacchi	...	Lady Diana Broughton
Charles Dance	...	Josslyn Hay: Earl of Erroll
Joss Ackland	...	Sir Henry 'Jock' Delves Broughton
Sarah Miles	...	Alice de Janzé
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Nina Soames
Ray McAnally	...	Morris
Murray Head	...	Lizzie
John Hurt	...	Gilbert Colvile
Trevor Howard	...	Jack Soames
Susan Fleetwood	...	Gwladys: Lady Delamer
Catherine Neilson	...	Lady June Carberry
Hugh Grant	...	Hugh
Alan Dobie	...	Harragin
Gregor Fisher	...	McPherson
Jacqueline Pearce	...	Idina
Tristram Jellinek	...	Land Agent
Tim Myers	...	Raymond de Trafford
Sean Mathias	...	Gerald Portman
Ron Donachie	...	Club Manager
Douglas Chege	...	Kiptobe, Soames' Servant
Wensley Pithey	...	Sheridan
Stephan Chase	...	Carberry
Clare Travers-Deacon	...	Muffin-faced Woman
Seipal Ngojine	...	Maasai Warrior
Pilip Saitoti	...	Maasai Warrior
Amanda Parkin	...	Nancy Wirewater
Louis Mahoney	...	Abdullah, Broughton's Servant
Ilario Bisi-Pedro	...	African Policeman
David Quilter	...	Chief Superintendant Poppy
John Rees	...	Baines
Olivier Pierre	...	Kaplan
Anthony Benson	...	Fox
Nigel Le Vaillant	...	Handsome Reporter
Basil Whybray	...	Spotty Reporter
John Darrell	...	Registrar
Bill Moody	...	Jury Foreman
Susannah Harker	...	Young Girl
Gary Beadle	...	African Servant
Edwin Mahinda	...	Boy Waiter at Wake
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tim Finn	...	Bandleader (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Radford

Writing credits
James Fox		(novel)
Michael Radford		(screenplay) and
Jonathan Gems		(screenplay)

Produced by
Simon Bosanquet	....	associate producer
Simon Perry	....	producer
Michael White	....	executive producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Roger Deakins		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tom Priestley

Casting by
Mary Selway

Production Design by
Roger Hall

Art Direction by
Len Huntingford
Keith Pain

Costume Design by
Marit Allen

Makeup Department
Suzanne Belcher	....	assistant makeup artist (as Susie Belcher)
Freda Hart	....	assistant hair stylist
Pat Hay	....	makeup supervisor
Meinir Jones-Lewis	....	key hair stylist
Madeleine Masters	....	assistant makeup artist
Liz Michie	....	hair stylist
Julia Wilson	....	assistant makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Dodds	....	second assistant director
Lee Hilton	....	third assistant director
Meja Mwangi	....	second assistant director
Chris Rose	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Lulu Archer	....	assistant production buyer: Kenya
Barry Arnold	....	chargehand propman
Amanda Bernstein	....	art department assistant
Dennis Bovington	....	construction manager
Karen Brookes	....	production buyer: Kenya
Derek Creedon	....	chargehand propman
Marianne Ford	....	set dresser
Louise Hardy	....	art department assistant
John Hedges	....	chargehand carpenter
Michael Hedges	....	supervising carpenter
John Hogan	....	propman
Robin Hollister	....	construction manager
Michael Jones	....	supervising painter
Norman North	....	painter
Ron Ross	....	carpenter
Robert Schofield	....	chargehand rigger
Len Serpant	....	stagehand
Dennis Simmonds	....	propman
John Sullivan	....	carpenter
Charles Torbett	....	property master
Peter Walpole	....	production buyer
Kenneth Welland	....	chargehand painter
Roger Willis	....	chargehand carpenter
David Wood	....	draughtsman
Robin Heinson	....	painter (uncredited)
Frank Howe	....	drapesman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bill Barringer	....	assistant sound effects editor
Joe Gallagher	....	assistant sound editor
Derek Holding	....	sound editor
Dean Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tony Jackson	....	sound recordist
Jacques Leroide	....	sound effects editor
Colin Miller	....	sound effects editor
Dominic Rahumbu	....	sound assistant
Rosie Straker	....	boom operator
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mohammed Athman	....	electrician
Richard Broome	....	camera grip
David Bryant	....	focus puller
Roger Deakins	....	camera operator
Bob Gomme	....	generator operator
Micky Hand	....	best boy electric (as Michael Hand)
Amiri Hassan	....	electrician
John Higgins	....	chief electrician
Wayne Leach	....	electrician
Mohamed Ngela	....	assistant camera
Ahmed Omari	....	electrician
Sarah Quill	....	still photographer
Ramadhani Rajadu	....	electrician
Michael Seymour	....	rigger
Andrew Speller	....	director of photography: second unit
David Vroegindeweij	....	playback operator (as David Vroegindewey)
Nikki Williams	....	clapper loader

Casting Department
Lucy Boulting	....	additional casting
Davis Sindiyo	....	casting: Moosai, Kenya
Sarah Withey	....	local casting: Kenya

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sophia Ali Abdi	....	wardrobe assistant
Catherine Halloran	....	wardrobe supervisor
Stewart Meachem	....	wardrobe assistant
Amina Ali Ryback	....	wardrobe assistant
Elizabeth Ryrie	....	wardrobe assistant
Hilary Watson	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Keith Mason	....	second assistant editor
Kant Pan	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Simon Chamberlain	....	additional orchestrator
George Fenton	....	conductor
George Fenton	....	orchestrator
Keith Grant	....	music mixer
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestral contractor
John Warren	....	additional orchestrator
Gerry O'Riordan	....	assistant music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael Bevan	....	unit driver
Usuf Dwale	....	driver
Bernard Gatheru	....	assistant transportation coordinator: Kenya
Ogo Kanjora Sode	....	driver
Joseph Kimuru	....	driver
Geoff King	....	unit driver
Arnie Mitchell	....	transportation coordinator
Stephen Ndungu	....	driver
Samson Wanyonyi	....	driver

Other crew
Ann Addly	....	unit nurse: Kenya
Paul Babu Kamau	....	production runner
Susie Beavis	....	unit nurse
Simon Belcher	....	location runner
Stacy Bell	....	assistant: Simon Perry
Richard Bouma	....	liaison: Kenya
Roy Cahartley	....	animal handler
Clinton Cavers	....	location manager
Judy Craymer	....	assistant: Michael Radford
Con Cremins	....	production accountant: Kenya
Nick Daubeny	....	location manager
Robin Davis	....	animal handler
Annick Fordham	....	floor runner
Karen Halliday	....	assistant to choreographer
Lynn Hoey	....	production runner
Stuart Hopps	....	choreographer
Ian Johnson	....	film school attachment
Jackie Johnston	....	production assistant
Gilly Kelsey	....	assistant to location manager: Kenya
Lydia Kigada	....	assistant: Michael Radford, Kenya
Herman Mbugua	....	accounting assistant
Bob Morgan	....	security officer
Peter Murphy	....	jobfit attachment
Susan Muthoni	....	cashier
Susan Nicholson	....	assistant accountant
Maggie Phelan	....	production accountant
Zakiya Powell	....	unit publicist
Pat Rambaut	....	script supervisor
Luke Randolph	....	production controller
Mary Richards	....	production coordinator
Monty Ruben	....	production consultant
Marc Samuelson	....	production associate
Matthew Scudamore	....	floor runner
Sheila Slate	....	contact: London
Teresa Topolski	....	assistant: Mary Selway (as Tessa Topolski)
Jane Trower	....	accounts department assistant
Caroline Woodall	....	animal handler

Production Companies

• Goldcrest Films International
• Nelson Entertainment
• Power Tower Investments
• Umbrella Films

Distributors

• AMLF (1988) (France) (theatrical)
• Aquarius TV (2001) (Greece) (TV)
• Columbia Pictures (1988) (USA)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Kenya

Company:

Goldcrest Films International

Quotes:

Sir Jock Delves Broughton: These bankers are terrible, Abdullah.
Abdullah, Broughton's Servant: Yes, Bwana.
Sir Jock Delves Broughton: When it's dry they offer you no end of umbrellas; as soon as it starts raining they want them back.

Soundtrack:

The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

White Mischief

As a family member, related to the main character, Sir Jock obviously for myself, it was a very interesting piece to watch, having grown up with full knowledge of the story in its entirety.

It was fairly accurate, although, typically, like any Hollywood film, some artistic licenses were granted. In fact, in real life, Sir Jock, a typical aristocrat of his time, had been in other troubles before, such as insurance fraud, and to this day I am somewhat surprised even with his titles, money, etc, he actually got away with this crime, for everyone strongly feels he did do it.

"The Sixth Earl of Carnarvon, Lord Porchester, was a close friend of Sir Delves, and a horse-racing jockey. Upon hearing of Jock's acquittal, he sent the famous cable: 'HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS UNDERSTAND YOU WON A NECK CLEVERLY REGARDS PORCHEY'. "

I loved the film, loved the decadence, and from what I have been told, this was all very typical of its time in Happy Valley Kenya. I gather both the Queen, as well as Bill Wyman from the Rolling Stones, each called it their favorite film for that year. Anyone especially familiar with British life, humor, etc, would find this most interesting.

SHELAGH DELVES BROUGHTON