What the Butler Saw
Synopsis
White golliwogs, cross-dressing coppers, bellboy rapists, insanity, incest, and Winston Churchill’s giant member all play their part in this BBC production of Joe Orton’s farcical, bitingly satirical 1969 play, in which the head psychiatrist of a lunatic asylum, when trying to conceal the attempted molestation of his new secretary from his wife, only succeeds in making himself (and everyone else) look completely round the bend.
Top Cast
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Barry Davis
- Screenplay & Story
- Joe Orton
- Original Score
- Jim Parker
- Original Title
- What the Butler Saw
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- BBC
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Barry Davis
Joe Orton
Jim Parker
Shaun Sutton
Department Leadership Roster
Barry Davis
Director
Bruce Macadie
Production Design
Joe Orton
Writer
Shaun Sutton
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for What the Butler Saw.
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Frequently Asked Questions About What the Butler Saw
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is What the Butler Saw about?
White golliwogs, cross-dressing coppers, bellboy rapists, insanity, incest, and Winston Churchill’s giant member all play their part in this BBC production of Joe Orton’s farcical, bitingly satirical 1969 play, in which the head psychiatrist of a lunatic asylum, when trying to conceal the attempted molestation of his new secretary from his wife, only succeeds in making himself (and everyone else) look completely round the bend.
Who directed What the Butler Saw?
What the Butler Saw was directed by Barry Davis.
Who stars in What the Butler Saw?
The principal cast of What the Butler Saw includes Dinsdale Landen, Prunella Scales, Timothy West, Tyler Butterworth, Tessa Peake-Jones.
When was What the Butler Saw released and how long is it?
What the Butler Saw was released in 1987 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
Who composed the musical score for What the Butler Saw?
The original motion picture soundtrack for What the Butler Saw was composed by Jim Parker.