Clockwise. Image shows from L to R: Brian Stimpson (John Cleese), Laura Wisely (Sharon Maiden)
Clockwise

Clockwise

  • 1986 film

Manic comedy about the misadventures of an obsessively punctual comprehensive school headmaster, starring John Cleese. Stars John Cleese, Penelope Wilton, Alison Steadman, Stephen Moore, Joan Hickson and more.

Clockwise. Brian Stimpson (John Cleese)

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1986
Stars
John Cleese, Penelope Wilton, Alison Steadman, Stephen Moore, Joan Hickson, Benjamin Whitrow, Geoffrey Palmer, Michael Aldridge and more
Writer
Michael Frayn
Director
Christopher Morahan
Producers
Michael Codron, Verity Lambert, Nat Cohen and Gregory Dark
Company

If you've ever been late you'll know what this film is all about...

Clockwise tells the farcical tale of headmaster Brian Stimpson and his efforts to get across the country from Gloucestershire to Norwich for a Headmasters' Conference, where he is to be the institution's first ever chairman from a state school.

Normally used to running his life with clockwork precision, Stimpson quickly finds that his perfectly-planned schedule can all-too-easily come crashing down around him, resulting in a series of escalating disasters.

Suddenly, Brian finds he is wanted by the police for car theft, kidnapping, trespassing, vandalism, car-jacking and robbery; all because of one wrong turn and his insistence to always be on time.

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Additional details

UK certificate
PG
Duration
96 minutes
Distributors

Thorn-EMI

Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Wednesday 21st April 2021 at 10:30am on TPTV
  • Wednesday 16th December 2020 at 2:30pm on TPTV
  • Thursday 28th May 2020 at 5:30pm on TPTV

Recording details

  • King Edward's School (Edgbaston) and Menzies High School (West Bromwich) - School locations
  • The British Horological Institute (Newark) - University of Norwich conference location
  • Hull Station - Railway station sequence

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