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John Cleese, Alison Steadman, Penelope Wilton, Stephen Moore, Joan Hickson ... see more see more... , Sharon Maiden , Michael Aldridge , Dickie Arnold , John Bardon , Jonathan Bowater , Mark Bunting , Mark Burdis , Nadia Carina , Peter Cellier , Constance Chapman , David Conville , Susan Field , Patrick Godfrey , Anthony Haygarth , Geoffrey Hutchings , Peter Jonfield , Pat Keen , Sheila Keith , Penny Leatherbarrow , Angus MacKay , Peter Needham , Geoffrey Palmer , Michael Percival , Richard Ridings , Leslie Schofield , Nick Stringer , Philip Voss , Ann Way , Benjamin Whitrow , Jeffry Wickham , Robert Wilkinson , Howard Lewis , Ann-Marie Gwatkin , Nicholas LePrevost , Charles Bartholomew , Geoffrey Davion , Alan Granton , Geoffrey Greenhill , Peter Lorenzelli , Rupert Massey , Alan Parnaby , Christian Regan , John Rowe , Ronald Sowton , Paul Stimpson Sweeney Chip , Mohammed Ashiq , Sydney Livingstone , Michael Glynn , Howard Lloyd-Lewis

John Cleese's knack for mining hilarity from the growing frustration of a dignified gentleman is fully exploited in the British comedy Clockwise. Cleese portrays Brian Stimpson, a perfectionist Englis... read more read more...h headmaster who has been selected to make an important presentation before a group of his peers. When Stimpson sets out upon his journey, however, he finds himself facing a seemingly never-ending series of delays and inconveniences, which range from missing a train to becoming a fugitive from the police. The film goes no deeper than its farcical surface, but is nevertheless consistently entertaining, thanks to former Monty Python member Cleese's precisely tuned transitions from composure to complete collapse. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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60% liked it

6,542 ratings

PG, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Christopher Morahan

Release Date: October 10, 1986

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DVD Release Date: December 4, 2001

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Stats: 290 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (290)

  • ironclad1609
    April 23, 2012
    ironclad1609
    When a perfectionist and always punctual headmaster gets on the wrong train, his well-organized world is falling to pieces and a trail of chaos ensues. Of course John Cleese is the perfect choice for the British gentleman who is set in his ways and stumbles into a series of misun... read morederstandings and inconveniences. He is easily selling this film even through his slower parts, but the script makes sure to add one wonderfully uncomfortable situation behind the other and makes for a very British, very entertaining experience, even if the film feels a bit dated. One cell phone call would solve the whole problem nowadays. Still, in a way it is sad that there are no such comedies anymore.
  • matertenebraum
    February 10, 2011
    matertenebraum
    A scrupulously punctual headmaster in an English comprehensive school sets off for the Headmaster's Conference to deliver a keynote speech. One little slip sees him boarding the wrong train, which leads to a chain of consequences conspiring to keep him from his goal. This is one ... read moreof the finest farces I've ever seen brought to the screen, written naturally enough by theatre farce-meister Michael Frayn. The frenetic energy of John Cleese in his prime really lifts this above the norm, as he hitches a ride with a student, bumps into and kidnaps an ex-girlfriend and winds up naked in a monastery. The climactic scenes at the HMC amount to perhaps the finest pay-off seen in farce. This is, indeed, a historic moment.
  • phubbs1
    August 1, 2010
    phubbs1
    A great forgotten comedy, makes me sweat and nervous everytime I watch it haha I just keep wanting him to succeed aarrrggghhhh there are some dull moments but also some truely inspired Cleese moments worthy of 'Fawlty Towers'. Evading the police, the final speech, in the fields, ... read morethe old ladies etc, when I was a kid this was christmas TV gold LOL!!
    'stimpsons supporters club?'
  • SirPant
    September 21, 2009
    SirPant
    Classic John Cleese doing what he does best. I must have watched this nearly 100 times as a child.
  • RossCollinsUK
    December 15, 2008
    RossCollinsUK
    Boy, has this movie dated but it does offer some 80s nostalgia. John Cleese playing a Basil Fawlty like character, as he does best, embarks on a journey that would mark the height of all his accomplishments in life. However, everything that can go wrong does go wrong. If you've e... read morever been in a situation where every decision you make just leaves you worse off then you'll be able to identify with this story: "It's not the despair. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."
  • Deano78
    September 6, 2008
    Deano78
    Things go from bad to worse in this funny British comedy starring John Cleese.
  • garyX
    March 26, 2007
    garyX
    A one idea british farce that's held together by John Cleese in his element, but there's very little little to it. Mildly amusing but never laugh out loud funny.
  • DrLappos
    August 10, 2007
    DrLappos
    John Cleese is a God and this was a quality comedy for its time. Very gentle.

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Critic Reviews

Luke Y. Thompson
December 11, 2003
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times

Should be funnier, but not bad.

Scott Weinberg
July 25, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Overlooked Cleese comedy.

September 18, 2008
Variety

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Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

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Paul Attanasio
January 1, 2000
Paul Attanasio, Washington Post

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Emanuel Levy
July 27, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Carol Cling
September 5, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

June 24, 2006
Time Out

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May 24, 2003
Film4

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Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Clockwise Trivia

  • Who am I?? I have starred in alot of films,Such as Fawlty Towers, Clockwise and Monty Python. I have worked with Prunella Scales Andrew Sachs and Connie Booth. I am actor John who?  Answer »
  • Who was the lead actor in the 1986 comedy 'Clockwise'?  Answer »
  • Which member of the Monty Python team starred in the 1985 comedy Clockwise?  Answer »
  • In "Clockwise" what is John Cleese's profession?  Answer »
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