HE OUTRAGED HIS FRIENDS. HE REBELLED AGAINST HIS FAMILY. FINALLY, HE BETRAYED HIS COUNTRY.

In the 1930s, a gay student (Rupert Everett) at an Eton-type university grows increasingly tired of the school’s system of oppression and suppression.

The play is a British classic, especially because of all future great talents who acted in it on stage. The story stands on its own without the full context, but it was inspired by the fate of Guy Burgess (spy who betrayed his country) and John Cornford (Communist who fought and died in Spain during the civil war).

Everett is very good in an understated, intelligent film that uses its crisp Oxford locations well. 

1984-U.K. 90 min. Color. Directed by Marek Kanievska. W, Play: Julian Mitchell. Cast: Rupert Everett (Guy Bennett), Colin Firth (Tommy Judd), Cary Elwes (James Harcourt), Michael Jenn, Robert Addie, Rupert Wainwright.