IMDb >
The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Peter Greenaway (writer)
Release Date:
6 April 1990 (USA)
more
Tagline:
Lust...Murder...Dessert. Bon Appetit!
Plot:
The wife of an oafish restaurant owner becomes bored with her husband and considers an affair with a regular patron. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Restaurant
|
Food
|
Allegory
|
Sex
|
Cannibalism
more
Awards:
5 wins
&
3 nominations
more
User Comments:
Bon appetit.
more (151 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Richard Bohringer | ... | Richard Borst | |
| Michael Gambon | ... | Albert Spica | |
| Helen Mirren | ... | Georgina Spica | |
| Alan Howard | ... | Michael | |
| Tim Roth | ... | Mitchel | |
| Ciarán Hinds | ... | Cory | |
| Gary Olsen | ... | Spangler | |
| Ewan Stewart | ... | Harris | |
| Roger Ashton-Griffiths | ... | Turpin | |
| Ron Cook | ... | Mews | |
| Liz Smith | ... | Grace | |
| Emer Gillespie | ... | Patricia | |
| Janet Henfrey | ... | Alice | |
| Arnie Breeveld | ... | Eden | |
| Tony Alleff | ... | Troy |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Le cuisinier, le voleur, sa femme et son amant (France)
Spica
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
more
Spica
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
124 min | USA:98 min (R-rated version)
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 |
Canada:16+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2005) |
Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) |
Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) |
Belgium:16 (video rating) |
Belgium:KNT (original rating) |
India:A |
Iran:18+ |
USA:Open (rating surrendered: 1990) |
Australia:R (sexual references/scenes) |
USA:X (original rating) |
France:X (original rating) |
Argentina:18 |
Australia:R |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-18 |
France:-12 |
Hong Kong:III |
New Zealand:R18 |
Norway:18 |
Singapore:R21 |
South Korea:18 (heavily cut) |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18 |
USA:NC-17 |
USA:R (video rating) (cut) |
West Germany:18
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The film Michael refers to Georgina when talking about he once saw a film where none of the characters spoke, and when one did, he lost interest is the movie Paris, Texas (1984) by Wim Wenders.
more
Quotes:
Albert:
What you've got to realize is that the clever cook puts unlikely things together, like duck and orange, like pineapple and ham. It's called 'artistry'. You know, I am an artist the way I combine my business and my pleasure: Money's my business, eating's my pleasure and Georgie's my pleasure...
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Nanny: The Butler, the Husband, the Wife and Her Mother (#1.5)" (1993)
more
FAQ
What is the name of the restaurant in the film?What special features are on the DVD?
What was the MPAA ratings controversy all about?
more
more (151 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| C'est arrivé près de chez vous | The Pillow Book | 37°2 le matin | If.... | Ai no corrida |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Comedy section | IMDb France section | Add this title to MyMovies |


Writer/Director Peter Greenaway teams up again with cinematographer Sacha Vierny and composer Michael Nyman, delivering a banquet of sound and colour, light and dark. And dark and dark. A simple if disturbing morality tale sits atop a canvas of grotesque characters, carefully-composed frames and revolting details. The restaurant setting forces analogues with a meal, and it's easy to oblige - a rather formal affair, bordering on pretentious, with its influences conspicuous - sumptuous, exotic, intoxicating, memorable, if perhaps too rich and over-long, and it plays havoc with the digestion.
As acquired a taste as any of Greenaway's work, and by no means an unqualified triumph. This film does not deliver on all its promises. But at least they were big promises. Try a piece - if you don't like it, you can always go back to your burgers and fries.
Nine out of ten.
Notes:
1. Michael Gambon's "Albert Spica" (the Thief of the title) surely ranks as one of cinema's all-time nastiest villains. Sorry Darth - no cigar.
2. The title of this film has become a template for headlines in British newspapers, e.g. "The A, the B, his C and her D". Don't ask me why.
3. "Cook/Thief" is one of four similar and inter-related films that Greenaway made during the 1980s, the others being "The Belly of an Architect", "A Zed and Two Noughts" and "Drowning by Numbers". While "Cook/Thief" stole all the headlines with its snazzy visuals and outrageous grotesquery - not to mention various collisions with the censors - For me, "Drowning" is the best of the bunch. And somewhat easier on the eye (and stomach).