The Missionary poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Michael Palin, Maggie Smith, Trevor Howard, Denholm Elliott, Michael Hordern ... see more see more... , Graham Crowden , Phoebe Nicholls , David Suchet , Tricia George , Valerie Whittington , Dawn Archibald , Frances Barber , Ishaq Bux , Roland Culver , Julian Curry , David Dixon , Rosamond Greenwood , Arthur Howard , Anton Lesser , Derrick O'Connor , Timothy Spall , Tony Steedman , Sophie Thompson , Peter Vaughan , Tilly Vosburgh , Hugh Walters , John Barrett , Hugh Fraser , Neil Innes , David Leland , Charles McKeown , Damaris Hayman , Debbie Bishop , Ceri Jackson , Frank Mills , Sasha Mitchell , Rosamund Greenwood

Michael Palin wrote and stars in this comedy as The Reverend Charles Fortescue, an unassuming missionary called back to England after spending ten years in Africa teaching children in a native village... read more read more.... Upon arriving in London, he finds that his new assignment is to take charge of a slum mission for prostitutes. He obtains money for the running of the mission from a wealthy woman, Lady Ames (Maggie Smith), whom he meets on the boat sailing to England from Africa. Lady Ames guarantees Fortescue the money on the condition that he take it upon himself to add a little spice to her dormant sex life. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

39% liked it

1,051 ratings

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Richard Loncraine

Release Date: November 5, 1982

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: April 1, 2003

Get It:

Stats: 49 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

The Missionary
Upload a Photo | View All The Missionary Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (49)

  • SunilJawahir
    March 4, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    Quite a kinky comedy about a missionary and prostitutes.
  • DrLappos
    May 27, 2007
    DrLappos
    Palin in one of his stranger times...

View All The Missionary Reviews

Critic Reviews

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
February 4, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

The Missionary probes the world, the flesh and the devil in fresh and funny ways. Full Review

September 8, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 22, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Brian J. Arthurs
October 9, 2003
Brian J. Arthurs, Beach Reporter (Southern California)

No review available.

Jeffrey Westhoff
June 10, 2003
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Missionary : Watch Free on TV

The Missionary Trivia

  • Which movie stars Anne Hathaway as the girlfriend of a man who crosses the ocean to become a Mormon missionary in the Tongan islands?  Answer »
  • Which film is this the plot of? In Africa during WW1, a gin-swilling riverboat captain is persuaded by a strait-laced missionary to use his boat to attack an enemy warship.  Answer »
  • Who starred in the 80s film 'The Missionary'?   Answer »
  • *** A Scottish Missionary And A Jewish Student Train To Run In The Olympics. Name The Film.***  Answer »
More The Missionary Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Missionary. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Missionary to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?