A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL

UK, 2018, 180 minutes, Colour.
Hugh Grant, Ben Whishaw, Alex Jennings, Patricia Hodge, Paul Hilton, Morgan Watkins, Monica Dolan, Michelle Dotrice.
Directed by Stephen Frears.

The subject of this film, screened initially as a miniseries, was politician, Jeremy Thorpe, leader of the British Liberal Party in the 1960s and 1970s. He died in 2014.

The focus of the film is on Thorpe and his plan to have a former lover, Norman Scott, killed. Ultimately, the case went to trial, Scott and other witnesses called, but Thorpe found not guilty as were the other men alleged to have been part of the plan.

The film is a star vehicle for Hugh Grant, still with some of his ingratiating characteristics, but this time portraying a man who was presumptuous, committed as a politician to social causes, homosexual at a time when this was criminalised, covering his homosexuality with respectable marriages, wanting to hold onto his political career when it was threatened by a former lover. There were attempts on the lover’s life, arranged by a friend from school days, hiring some hitmen from Wales. The attempt failed.

Grant is matched in performance by Ben Whishaw as the lover, Norman Scott. Initially, a timid young man who worked in stables, mentally and emotionally unstable, takes up an offer by Thorpe for arranging a job. Thorpe has been attracted and they begin a relationship. Norman wants to break out of the relationship, accuses Thorpe of seducing him to homosexuality, writes a long letter to Thorpe’s mother. Norman also has to get out of England, Thorpe not having got him a card for Social Security and work – and he never did. Norman goes to Ireland, is sometimes successful as a photographic model, but succumbs to dissipation and makes the accusations.

Liberal party friend and colleague, Peter Bessel (Alex Jennings) does a lot of Thorpe’s negotiations and dirty work for him, visiting Ireland, offering payoffs. Later, Peter will be compromised and moves to the United States but is called back by police to witness in the court case but his credibility is undermined because he has sold his story to the newspapers.

While Thorpe marries, his wife somewhat disillusioned by the revelations crashes her car and Thorpe marries again, a member of the aristocracy who supports him right through the trials.

In the meantime, Norman has found a supporter in a woman who owns a hotel (Michelle.Dotrice) who also supports him during the trial. Ben Whishaw’s performance during the trial and his giving testimony, ingenuously since the, does make an impression. At the time of the making of this film, Norman Scott was still alive.

The film was directed by Stephen Frears who had a most successful career in direction for half a century, in England in cinema and for television, also working in the United States, a substantial number of films over the decades.

1. The title and tone?

2. Audience knowledge of the characters in the events?

3. British politics, the 1960s and the 1970s? The Parliamentary scenes, the work of parliamentarians, policies and issues? Speeches?

4. The background of social classes in the United Kingdom?

5. The structure of the film, the main action, the flashbacks, the building of attention about the case and the behaviour of Jeremy Thorpe?

6. Issues of sexual orientation, homosexuality, the law, the years? Changes in the law?

7. The portrait of Jeremy Thorpe, political background, class background, his schooling, living with his mother? A game and, in secret? Relationships? His friendship with Peter Bessell, discussion of the party, Peter’s support, their own sexual proclivities? The occasion in the country, Thorpe going to the stables, seeing Norman, his reaction, the attraction, giving him his card? The issues of the party, Thorpe becoming the leader? Antagonism from his rivals? Norman coming to Parliament house, the visit, Thorpe’s reaction, setting him up? Norman’s continuing concern about having his card and never getting it? Thorpe not wanting to be known to have obtained the card? The night at his mother’s house, the sexual behaviour, the aftermath, the relationship over some years?

8. The character of Norman, working in the stable, a nervous man, his response to Thorpe, getting Thorpe’s card, leaving employment, the clash with his boss? The visit to Parliament House, the flat, the relationship, his mental condition, emotional condition?

9. The writing of the letter to Thorpe’s mother, precipitating Thorpe’s crisis?

10. Thorpe to the one egocentric, his calm exterior and respectability, the problem, his expressions about killing Norman, the discussions with Peter, possible plans, Peter and the others not carrying out the plan? The years passing?

11. Peter, politician, loyalty to Thorpe, sexual orientation and behaviour, the cover, the visit to Norman in Ireland, the money, the issue of the card?

12. Norman, his reaction, saying that he was seduced by Thorpe, the letter to Thorpe’s mother, 17 pages, wanting his card? Wanting work and employment? Going to Ireland, his success as a model, photographs, poses, friends, the young woman? His dissipation, unable to concentrate? Peter’s visit, his holding out on Thorpe?

13. Politics, continuing, Thorpe and his re-election, his rivals, looking for opportunities to bring him down?

14. Thorpe, wanting respectability, looking for a wife, the marriage, the publicity, the birth of the child? His care for the child? His wife getting the news, crashing the car? His second wife, her social position, their loyalty to Thorpe, knowing the truth, in the courts, always for him?

15. Norman’s reappearance, change of name, becoming bolder, the revelations, Thorpe’s rivals and the use of the information, probing it?

16. Peter going to the US, his relationships there, the police coming to interview him? Returning as a witness?

17. Thorpe and his friendship with Michael, the contacts from school, Michael and his loyalty, the plan to kill Norman, the number of contacts in Wales, their personalities?

18. Norman, his friendship with Edna, at the pub, her life, her support of Norman?

19. The hotel, Norman, the attempts on his life, Newton and the meetings, driving him out, the nerves, the attempted shooting, the cover-up? Newton going to jail?

20. Norman bringing the court case, George Carman and his skill as a lawyer, the discussions with Thorpe, confiding his personal life to Thorpe?

21. In court, the prosecutor and the defender, the range of witnesses, the interrogations, Carman and his interrogating skills? The police watching? Peter and his being dismissed for having his story sold to the papers? Norman, his testimony, ingenuous, sincere, people’s reactions?

22. The judge, the jury, the judge’s dislike of Norman, his advice to the jury?

23. Thorpe, waiting for the sentence, his supporters? The sentence and his reaction? The conspirators or fountain not guilty?