Butley (DVD)
Directed by Harold Pinter
Alan Bates
On any given day Ben Butley, a self-made train wreck of an English Literature professor at a London university, can shrug off everyone and everything with equal ease. But today, the disaster of Butley's proudly misspent life threatens to dwarf even his cynically fatalistic non-expectations. Arriving at his cramped cave of an office, Butley is informed that his adored Joey is moving in with another man, his estranged wife is re-marrying, and his seemingly untalented colleague has been published ahead of him.
As embodied by Alan Bates, Butley falls back on the surgically precise wit and savage eloquence that helped put him in his current circumstances in the first place. The blitzkrieg of vitriolic commentary with which Butley engages lovers, students, rivals, and allies, all with equal ferocity, becomes a glass bottom boat illuminating the churning depths of his bankrupted soul. Acclaimed playwright Harold Pinter, in what Time Magazine hailed as "a quite superior directorial debut," turns author Simon Gray's single-set, dialogue driven stage play into an irresistible dynamic visual experience that tracks Bates' hilarious and fearless performance with cunning precision.
Bates and an expert supporting cast, including Oscar® winner Jessica Tandy (Driving Miss Daisy), joust with a sly, self-referencing wit and an unselfconscious exuberance that is breathtaking. With every verbal parry and valedictory flourish of wordplay, Butley's life becomes more of an inescapable bear trap of thwarted ambition, clandestine affection, and squandered brilliance.
DVD Extras Include:
- Theatrical trailer
- "Simon Gray and Butley" - an essay by Michael Feingold, Chief Theater Critic, The Village Voice
- The AFT Cinebill for Butley
- Stills Gallery
- An interview with Edie Landau - Executive in charge, The American Film Theatre
- Ely Landau: In Front of the Camera - AFT promotional reel (1974)
- The American Film Theatre Trailer Gallery - Includes a complete list of the AFT films
- The American Film Theatre scrapbook
- Enhanced for 16 X 9 TVs
"An extraordinary success...a devilishly entertaining piece and showpiece for Alan Bates" - Stanley Eichelbaum, The San Francisco Examiner
To read more about Kino Lorber Edu's terms of use and ordering information,
visit Kino Lorber Edu.
Related Products
Country: U.S.
An invasion of friends and family pushes the repressed problems of a complacent marriage to the fore in this exceptional adapatation of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. More
Country: U.S., U.S.
An invasion of friends and family pushes the repressed problems of a complacent marriage to the fore in this exceptional adapatation of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S.
An invasion of friends and family pushes the repressed problems of a complacent marriage to the fore in this exceptional adapatation of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Taught adaptation of David Storey's emotionally-charged family drama. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Taught adaptation of David Storey's emotionally-charged family drama. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Taught adaptation of David Storey's emotionally-charged family drama. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
The American Film Theatre's Philadelphia, Here I Come! presents an ingenious glimpse into the stock-taking of young Gareth "Gar" O'Donnell on the eve of his emigration to America. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
The American Film Theatre's Philadelphia, Here I Come! presents an ingenious glimpse into the stock-taking of young Gareth "Gar" O'Donnell on the eve of his emigration to America. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
The American Film Theatre's Philadelphia, Here I Come! presents an ingenious glimpse into the stock-taking of young Gareth "Gar" O'Donnell on the eve of his emigration to America. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Two maids, in a sinister bond of roleplaying, take turns acting out an abusive employer-servant relationship. Adapted from Jean Genet's absurdist play, itself inspired from a true life case. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Two maids, in a sinister bond of roleplaying, take turns acting out an abusive employer-servant relationship. Adapted from Jean Genet's absurdist play, itself inspired from a true life case. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Two maids, in a sinister bond of roleplaying, take turns acting out an abusive employer-servant relationship. Adapted from Jean Genet's absurdist play, itself inspired from a true life case. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Two maids, in a sinister bond of roleplaying, take turns acting out an abusive employer-servant relationship. Adapted from Jean Genet's absurdist play, itself inspired from a true life case. More
With many films now transplanted to the Broadway stage and vice versa, it is easy to forget how remarkable a project The American Film Theatre was at its conception; utilizing the great artists of ou... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
A professor returns home after a long absence to introduce his wife to his father and two brothers, but the family reunion has unexpected and disturbing consequences. Based on one of Harold Pinter's... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
A professor returns home after a long absence to introduce his wife to his father and two brothers, but the family reunion has unexpected and disturbing consequences. Based on one of Harold Pinter's... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
A professor returns home after a long absence to introduce his wife to his father and two brothers, but the family reunion has unexpected and disturbing consequences. Based on one of Harold Pinter's... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Considered the definitive film version of one of Eugene O'Neill's greatest plays, this simple tale of a birthday celebration at a saloon takes a devastating look at disillusionment and dashed hopes. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Considered the definitive film version of one of Eugene O'Neill's greatest plays, this simple tale of a birthday celebration at a saloon takes a devastating look at disillusionment and dashed hopes. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Considered the definitive film version of one of Eugene O'Neill's greatest plays, this simple tale of a birthday celebration at a saloon takes a devastating look at disillusionment and dashed hopes. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Considered the definitive film version of one of Eugene O'Neill's greatest plays, this simple tale of a birthday celebration at a saloon takes a devastating look at disillusionment and dashed hopes. More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
The film version of Eugene Ionesco's absurdist play tells of a French city where the citizens begin to turn mysteriously into rhinoceroses. Zero Mostel creates his Tony-winning Broadway role. ... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
The film version of Eugene Ionesco's absurdist play tells of a French city where the citizens begin to turn mysteriously into rhinoceroses. Zero Mostel creates his Tony-winning Broadway role. ... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
The film version of Eugene Ionesco's absurdist play tells of a French city where the citizens begin to turn mysteriously into rhinoceroses. Zero Mostel creates his Tony-winning Broadway role. ... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
The film version of Eugene Ionesco's absurdist play tells of a French city where the citizens begin to turn mysteriously into rhinoceroses. Zero Mostel creates his Tony-winning Broadway role. ... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Based on the play by Bertolt Brecht (originally translated by Charles Laughton), GALILEO explores not merely the infamous historical figure, but the philosophical concepts for which he was both... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Based on the play by Bertolt Brecht (originally translated by Charles Laughton), GALILEO explores not merely the infamous historical figure, but the philosophical concepts for which he was both... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Based on the play by Bertolt Brecht (originally translated by Charles Laughton), GALILEO explores not merely the infamous historical figure, but the philosophical concepts for which he was both... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Lost in the Stars transforms Alan Paton's world-famous novel of racial oppression, Cry the Beloved Country, into a tragic and beautiful film musical unlike any you've ever seen. Gilded by Maxwell... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Lost in the Stars transforms Alan Paton's world-famous novel of racial oppression, Cry the Beloved Country, into a tragic and beautiful film musical unlike any you've ever seen. Gilded by Maxwell... More
Country: U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Lost in the Stars transforms Alan Paton's world-famous novel of racial oppression, Cry the Beloved Country, into a tragic and beautiful film musical unlike any you've ever seen. Gilded by Maxwell... More
RT' @CinemaTropical': A disaster in the making... A fire has been reported at the Cinemateca Brasileira' https://t.co/gzfwGFYdWR'
RT' @DedzaFilms': Our friends at' @vidiots' are fundraising to renovate the historic Eagle Theatre in LA for their Spring 2022 opening. Pleas…
RT' @HorrorHammer1': Coming next month. A Bluray upgrade from' @KinoLorber'' https://t.co/uetqGIVtGk'' https://t.co/fWW90IQdi5'
RT' @NorthParkTheatr': What if David Lynch directed a superhero movie? Find out this week with hypnotic Polish satire NEVER GONNA SNOW AGAIN…
RT' @PasteMovies': Oh cool! This was one of the more exciting films' @bernieteeters' put on our radar with her 50 year rundown of lesbian cinem…
We’re proud to play a small part in the overdue recognition of Michelle Handelman’s BLOODSISTERS as a classic of qu…' https://t.co/5TTOOKXucr'
The film’s controversial nature resulted in it being largely left out of the New Queer Cinema canon, despite having…' https://t.co/tk6TTqB48F'
At the time, Sen. Barbara Boxer told director Michelle Handelman that clips from BLOODSISTERS were shown to congres…' https://t.co/uEPcziUqKw'
When the NEA came up for ratification in 1997, BLOODSISTERS was attacked in Congress by Donald Wildmon and the Amer…' https://t.co/7kw7Iq5QVF'
The soundtrack of BLOODSISTERS is 🔥. Produced by industrial music pioneer Monte Cazazza, its theme is by SF-based,…' https://t.co/EnktHWMWxW'
General Inquiries
333 W. 39th St., Ste. 503
New York, NY 10018
Tel. (800) 562-3330
Fax. (212) 714-0871
Press & Media
For publicity assistance and press inquiries please contact us by emailing dninh@kinolorber.com or calling 212-629-6880.
Educational
Please visit our educational site at www.KinoLorberEDU.com
For assistance with educational orders, please contact us at:
Phone:212-629-6880
Fax: 212-714-0871
email: edu@kinolorber.com
