THE LIBERTINE

Year: 2004
USA: The Weinstein Company
UK: Entertainment Film Distributors
Cast: Johnny Depp, Paul Ritter, John Malkovich, Stanley Townsend, Francesca Annis, Rosamund Pike, Tom Hollander, Johnny Vegas, Richard Coyle, Tom Burke, Hugh Sachs, Rupert Friend, Kelly Reilly, Jack Davenport, Trudi Jackson, Samantha Morton, Claire Higgins, Freddie Jones, Robert Wilfort, Jake Curran, Paul Chahidi, Kevin Doyle, Morgan Walters, Niall Buggy, Peter Howell, T P McKenna, Richard Wills-Cotton, Kate Olivia Higginbottom, Cara Horgan, Liam Mckenna, Laurence Spellman, Robert Sterne, Anna Serena Bindra, Natascha Falter, Julia Hickman, Harriette Quarrie, Susanna Valerio
Director: Laurence Dunmore
Country: UK
USA: 130 mins
UK: 114 mins
USA Rated: R fro strong sexuality including dialogue, violence and language
UK Certificate: 18 contains very strong language and sexual references
USA Release Date: 10 March 2006
USA Release Date: 25 November 2005 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 18 November 2005
UK DVD Release Date: 24 April 2005

Synopsis

Johnny Depp stars as John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester in THE LIBERTINE, a 17th century drama based on the story of John Wilmot, the notorious Earl and poet, famed for his debauched, hell-raising lifestyle and his lascivious writing. The iconic Johnny Depp (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY) takes the lead role of the errant Earl, with Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Samantha Morton (SWEET AND LOWDOWN, IN AMERICA, MINORITY REPORT) co-starring as the Restoration actress Elizabeth Barry who became his lover. Rising star Rosamund Pike (DIE ANOTHER DAY, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE) plays Rochester's beautiful heiress wife Elizabeth Malet. Celebrated actor/director/producer and Academy Award nominee John Malkovich takes on the role of King Charles II and produces with partners Lianne Halfon and Russ Smith through their production company Mr Mudd.

The film follows the Earl's adventures in London, from his passionate romance with a young actress, to the writing of a scurrilous play which blisteringly and bawdily lampoons the very monarch who commissioned it, Charles II, leading to the Earl's banishment and eventual downfall.

Co-starring Kelly Reilly, Tom Hollander, Johnny Vegas, Jack Davenport and Francesca Annis, THE LIBERTINE is executive produced by Chase Bailey, Steve Christian, Marc Samuelson and Peter Samuelson.

THE LIBERTINE marks the directorial debut from director Laurence Dunmore

"The wildest and most fantastical odd man alive."
- John Wilmot, the 2nd Earl of Rochester, in a description of himself

In every generation, there comes along a person so scandalous, so rebellious, so willing to break taboos that they topple the world's ideas of what being a free spirit truly means. In the 17th century that person was unequivocally John Wilmot, AKA the 2nd Earl of Rochester - the wily and talented rogue who lived his short, wild life like a Restoration rock star and become known all at once as a troublemaker, a genius and one of history's most irrepressible believers in liberty.

Now, in Laurence Dunmore's THE LIBERTINE, two-time Academy Award nominee Johnny Depp brings forth the sexy, irreverent and ultimately moving adventures of a man who broke all the rules at a time when the rules of modern society were first being written. With a gritty and raw realism, the film brings to life the swinging times of 60s London - 1660's London, that is.

Set against the extraordinary backdrop of The Restoration - a pivotal age of enlightenment when rapid-fire new developments in science, religion and the arts, as well as a growing new sensual freedom, created the modern world as we know it - THE LIBERTINE follows the meteoric rise and fall of the Earl. As the story begins, he is drawing acclaim with his daring writing and raising eyebrows as a gifted rogue with a lascivious lifestyle. A close confidante of the high-living King Charles II (two-time Academy Award nominee John Malkovich), the Earl delights in lampooning England's royals with his subversive wit and scandalizing London society with his sexual escapades - all the while revelling in getting away with anything he can.

But when the Earl falls in love with Elizabeth Barry (two-time Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton), the theatrical protege he plans to turn into England's biggest star, their affair and a subsequent betrayal will be the start of the Earl's plunge from the heights of social celebrity to the depths of ruin, as he seeks his final redemption.

THE LIBERTINE marks the feature film debut of acclaimed British commercials and music video director Laurence Dunmore. The screenplay is by Stephen Jeffreys based on his acclaimed stage play of the same name. Co-starring Rosamund Pike, Kelly Reilly, Tom Hollander, Johnny Vegas, Jack Davenport and Francesca Annis, the film is executive produced by Chase Bailey, Steve Christian, Marc Samuelson, Peter Samuelson, Ralph Kamp and Louise Goodsill. THE LIBERTINE is produced by John Malkovich, Lianne Halfon and Russell Smith through their production company Mr Mudd.

DVD EXTRAS

Director's Commentary
Deleted scenes