"Withnail & I": the thread, may we never be set free!

Cafe Society
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For this grand, majestic, squalid, astringent, screwball, poignant, and consistently hilarious film, the very definition of a “cult classic”…

For any & all things “Withnail”: wr./dir. Bruce Robinson, the actors, the music, the settings, the Criterion DVD, the related websites, late-60’s London, the heavy substance abuse, the gay-panic subtext, the British-isms, and, last but not least, the screenplay, performances and direction.

For newbies & hopeless obsessives alike – finally, a Dopers thread, just for us!

Lemme introduce myself, and I’ll try to keep this from sounding completely like a 12-step group intro:

I first saw the movie about 3 years ago, and have seen it at least 20 times since; bought the cropped & edited VHS U.S.-ed. video; bought Richard E. Grant’s memoir “With Nails”; lurked on the “Paul McGann Estrogen Brigade” and “Withnail & I” fan websites; have plied this film on unsuspecting family members and friends; have co-written, with a couple of friends, a clutch of songs for a never-to-be-completed “Withnail & I: The Off-Off-Broadway Musical” [scary truth: we were only half-kidding!]; have posted my $.02 review on this movie elsewhere; and have now bought the Criterion [TM] DVD – and it’s fantastic.

One of many details I just groove on: when you first see Danny the drug dealer, the way the camera settles on him but immediately pulls back, as if it’s recoiling in horror.

Or the “FAIRY”-brand cleaning products [??? – they never cleaned up anything!] in the kitchen, which I’d never been able to see clearly before in the old VHS version. Period props, presumably, but why the “Fairy” brand, eh? More evidence of the clever is-Withnail-gay subtext… In the old “artist intentionality” debate, I usually favor the “he knew it, he fully intended that” side. Robinson’s a genius.

Or the loopy, vertiginous, circus-y “caliope” theme, adapted throughout with different instruments, tempos, etc. for different moods…

So, favorite bits? Personal “Withnail” stories? Let’s have 'em!

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This is one of the few films that I will watch over and over again. Any time it comes on I will watch it.

My wife, who is from Glasgow, had never heard of it when we met. I had her watch it with me once and she is hooked now too. I can now get her to fall down laughing just by holding a chicken upright before putting it in the oven.

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God, I love this movie! Any and all fans are required to purchase a copy of “With Nails” by one Richard E. Grant and read the relevant sections. (and the rest; it’s a great book, but that’s beside the point.) I find that knowing some of the behind-the-scenes stuff makes the movie that much more enjoyable.

REG is my personal god.

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I know you’re probably referring to Grant, but “REG” could also stand for Richard E. Griffiths! :smiley:

Gawd, I forgot to include this earlier: I’ve also read [semi-auto-bio?] Robinson’s novel, about his boyhood. Not really bad, I guess, but I’d start with his other stuff.

Haven’t read REG [Grant]'s thinly-veiled novel about Hollywood, and I can’t believe I haven’t gotten around to that yet, esp. given that it got some pretty positive reviews.

I’ve also read a copy of the “W&I” screenplay that I found online for free, but I wasn’t sure of its accuracy.

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Because the DVD sports a somewhat-improved sound quality (and terrifically improved visuals – I swear, it’s like night and day), and optional English subtitles, I can now finally stop being a completely clueless yank and learn the dialogue properly.

Of course, there’s still the matter of certain British-isms… For three years, I’ve thought that Withnail was yelling “SCARLETS!!” at the schoolgirls. Well, that would make sense, wouldn’t it? That could be a reference to The Scarlet Letter, to whores & tarts, right? But no! It’s “SCRUBBERS,” and I need an explanation [and I want it here, and I want it now, along with my cake & fine wine].

So, what’s “scrubbers” all about?

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scrubber n. [1950s+] 1 a promiscuous woman, usually young [cf. slapper]. 2 (Irish) a common working-class woman, with no sexual implications. [? SE scrubber, a charwoman, one who scrubs; original slang usage was in the jazz community, where it described ‘a girl who slept with a jazzman but for her own satisfaction as much as his’ (George Melly, Owning Up, 1965). ? link to Australian term defined as ‘a mare that runs wild in the scrub country, copulating indiscriminately with stray stallions’ (quote cited in OED)].

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Whenever in a bad situation I often wail, “We’ve gone on holiday by mistake!”.

I’ve also been tempted to try to keep warm (or just spend an interesting weekend, for that matter) by drinking lighter fluid and smearing Ben Gay all over myself.

One of my favorite flicks.

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The words “butcher” and “weep” come to mind. As well as “burglary”.

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Coming from, presumably, a huge Marx Bros. fan, that’s high praise indeed!

Gad, I wish Bruce Robinson was more active! It was great getting to see him in “Strange Fruit,” though.

On my wish list: a pair of [prescription, alas] glasses like Marwood’s, with the flip-down shades, and a 3/4-length black leather coat… I’d love to ponce – I mean, prance – around in that outfit. :cool: :cool: :cool:

I don’t think that Jag would pass state inspection, though.

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I’m preparing myself to forgive you for starting this thread.

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Fairy brand is very common in England, or at least it was last time I was there. Just FYI :slight_smile:

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I haven’t seen it in awhile and now this is really bugging me. What did Danny the drug dealer call a spliff: Was it a Camden carrot or am I losing the plot – I think the latter ?

Great, great film, BTW :slight_smile:

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That was the infamous “Camberwell Carrot,” named because he invented it in Camberwell, and it’s shaped like a carrot.

I like the way Robinson shot that scene: he builds up the tension over just how one goes about cobbling together a 12-skin giant spliff, only to cut to Danny with the finished product, but shot dead on, so you can’t see the full length of the “carrot”. Then, shoulders and hands trembling, Danny slowly upturns his masterpiece…

Mind, I don’t speak from personal experience, but have it on good authority (from a drug-wise friend) that that is indeed, to paraphrase, “one F*@#ING HUGE spliff!”. :smiley:

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Capt. Spaulding *

I’ve also been tempted to try to keep warm (or just spend an interesting weekend, for that matter) by drinking lighter fluid and smearing Ben Gay all over myself.

Very dangerous words, mate… I’ve heard that Ben Gay can do nasty things to one’s nether regions.

Oh, and drinking lighter fluid isn’t good for you either. :smiley:

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The Camberwell Carrot ! how could I forget. I thang yew, The Scrivener. Yes, I too can only vouch for the authenticity by proxy.

:eek:

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I’m going to watch it again right now.

“You’ve got soup? why didn’t I get any soup?”

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Marwood: Coffee.

Withnail: Well, why don’t you use a cup like any other human being?

Marwood: Why don’t you wash up occasionally like any other human being?

(All together now, everyone…)
Withnail: How dare you? How dare you? How dare you call me inhumane?

(I’m not usually a one for quoting lines fron ‘in’ films, but, well, just this once)

My papa was an out of work actor in London at the arse end of the 60s. He says that Withnail and I is slightly exxagerated, but only slightly.

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Their flat (Withnail and Marwood’s) is about five minutes from me down in Camden, and it’s a much posher area than you’d think.