The Horse’s Mouth (1958) DVD Color Shown in original aspect ratio Approx. 95 min. Playable in North America (the US, Canada, Mexico, etc.) A Beautiful print. In English with optional English subtitles/close captions.
Starring: Alec Guinness, Kay Walsh, Renée Houston, Mike Morgan and Robert Coote. Written by Alec Guinness (based on “The Horse's Mouth” 1944 novel by Joyce Cary) Directed by Ronald Neame.
An ill-behaved, lovably scruffy painter, Gulley Jimson (Alec Guinness) searches for a perfect canvas, determined to let nothing come between himself and the realization of his exalted vision. He is broke, difficult, conniving, uncouth, and a welcher, but an artist. The visions in his head may not really satisfy him when realized, but the quest continues, for the perfect wall. The Beeders (Robert Coote and Veronica Turleigh) leave for six weeks of vacation and return to find the wall of their living room a national treasure, even though living with a huge mural of feet is not quite their cup of tea.
The expressionistic paintings featured in the film are actually the work of John Bratby, a member of the English provincial realist artist group known as the kitchen sink school. To prepare for the film, Guinness observed Bratby at work in his home studio.