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The Libertine (2004 film)

The Libertine
The Libertine film.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Laurence Dunmore
Produced by John Malkovich
Lianne Halfon
Russell Smith
Written by Stephen Jeffreys
Starring Johnny Depp
Samantha Morton
John Malkovich
Rosamund Pike
Music by Michael Nyman
Cinematography Alexander Melman
Edited by Jill Bilcock
Distributed by The Weinstein Company
Release date
  • 10 March 2006 (2006-03-10)
Running time
130 minutes (US)
114 minutes (UK)
Country United Kingdom
Australia
Language English
Budget $20 million
Box office $10,852,064

The Libertine is a 2005 British-Australian drama film, the first film directed by Laurence Dunmore. It was adapted by Stephen Jeffreys from his play of the same name, starring Johnny Depp, John Malkovich, Samantha Morton and Rosamund Pike.

Depp stars as John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, a notorious rake and libertine poet in the court of King Charles II of England. Samantha Morton plays Elizabeth Barry, an actress whose budding talent blossoms and makes her much in demand under Rochester's tutelage. Wilmot and Barry become lovers. John Malkovich plays King Charles II, who is torn between his affection for Wilmot and the danger posed by his displays of contempt for his sovereign. Themes explored in the film include the corruption of a people by their self-indulgent monarch and the pursuit of hedonism.

The film was shot on location in Wales.

The story begins with John Wilmot, Second Earl of Rochester (Depp), delivering his prologue, the main themes of which are his fondness for drink, his sexual proclivities, and his disdain for his audience.

King Charles II (Malkovich) decides to summon his great friend, the Earl, back to London, retracting a year-long banishment for humiliating him, after only three month's exile. Rochester arrives in London to find his friends in a bawdy house; they are known as the "Merry Gang" and include George Etherege (Hollander) and Charles Sackville (Vegas). On the street, Rochester comes across a thief, Alcock (Coyle), whose frankness about his dishonesty impresses Rochester. He hires Alcock as his gentleman on the spot. The Merry Gang introduce its newest member, 18-year-old Billy Downs (Friend). Rochester warns Downs, "Young man, you will die of this company."


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