The History Boys
The History Boys

The History Boys

  • 2006 film

Film adaptation of Alan Bennett's acclaimed stage play about eight history students. Also features Stephen Campbell Moore, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Clive Merrison, Adrian Scarborough and more.

The History Boys

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
2006
Stars
Stephen Campbell Moore, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Clive Merrison, Adrian Scarborough, Penelope Wilton, Georgia Taylor, Samuel Anderson and more
Writer
Alan Bennett
Director
Nicholas Hytner
Producers
Damian Jones and Kevin Loader
Companies

In 1980s Britain, a group of young men at Cutlers' Grammar School have just achieved the highest A-Level grades in the institution's history, and will be staying on for a seventh term to sit the Oxbridge entrance exams. They have both the brains the will to earn the chance of getting accepted into the finest universities in the nation, but their essays, whilst correct and true, are desperately dull.

Despite the fine teaching by excellent professionals like Mrs Lintott in history and the intellectually enthusiastic Hector in General Studies, the Headmaster is not satisfied. He signs on the bright young teacher Irwin - only a few years older than the boys, and who claims to have been educated at Oxford University - to polish the students' style, encourage a dazzling capacity for critical thinking, and enable them to surprise and impress the dons of the dreaming spires.

In this mix of intellectualism and creative spirit that guides a rigorous preparation regime for that ultimate educational brass ring, the lives of the randy students and the ostensibly restrained faculty mesh together in a heady, pulsating rush.

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Additional details

Tagline
Meet The Boys Who Are Making History!
UK certificate
15
UK premiere
Monday 2nd October 2006, London
Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Thursday 9th July 2020 at 10:40pm on BBC4
  • Saturday 5th January 2019 at 12:20am on BBC2
  • Saturday 19th August 2017 at 11:40pm on BBC2