The Horse’s Mouth Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A broke, grumpy painter keeps getting out of jail just to find new walls to vandalize with giant murals, mostly involving feet, until everyone gets annoyed and chases him again.

🍿 The Horse’s Mouth: Detailed Plot Synopsis

An Artist’s Release and Schemes

The film introduces us to Gulley Jimson, a charismatic but penniless and eccentric painter, being released from prison for harassing a wealthy art collector, Mr. Hickson. Immediately, Gulley resumes his pursuit of money and paintings, particularly those sold off by his ex-wife, Sarah Monday, to settle his debts. His schemes involve trying to wheedle funds and retrieve his work, often relying on his long-suffering friend and pub owner, Dee Coker, who he owes money. Gulley’s interactions are marked by his disregard for social norms and a singular focus on his artistic vision.

The Impromptu Mural Commission

Seeking potential patrons, Gulley visits the elegant apartment of Sir William and Lady Beeder. Captivated by a large blank wall, he proposes painting a grand mural, even though the Beeders are leaving the next day for vacation. Gulley manages to obtain access to the apartment and, with the help of a young admirer named Nosey, begins his ambitious project. His stay quickly descends into chaos as he sells off the Beeders’ possessions for supplies and allows fellow artist Abel, a sculptor, to move in, leading to accidental destruction of the apartment’s structure. The resulting mural, depicting the resurrection of Lazarus, is a massive undertaking that consumes him.

The Final Grand Project

After the disastrous outcome of the Beeder apartment project, Gulley finds himself back on his houseboat, now joined by the displaced Dee Coker. He learns that Mr. Hickson has died and willed his paintings to the nation, leading to an exhibition. Gulley attempts one last time to retrieve a specific painting, “Woman in the Bath,” from his ex-wife Sarah, but is ultimately unsuccessful. Seeking a new, vast canvas, Gulley finds a bombed-out church scheduled for demolition. He organizes local amateurs and students to help him paint a large mural of Noah’s Ark on the building’s wall, a final, grand artistic endeavor.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Gulley Jimson (Alec Guinness): The eccentric, penniless artist driven by an uncontrollable compulsion to create, often at the expense of others.
• Dee Coker (Kay Walsh): Gulley’s long-suffering pub owner friend who provides reluctant support despite being owed money.
• Nosey (Mike Morgan): A naive young man who admires Gulley and follows him hoping to become an artist.
• Sara Monday (Renee Houston): Gulley’s ex-wife who sold his early paintings to settle debts and still possesses a valuable work he seeks.
• Mr. Hickson (Ernest Thesiger): A wealthy art collector and Gulley’s former patron who is perpetually harassed by the artist seeking money or paintings.
• Sir William Beeder (Robert Coote): A wealthy art patron whose apartment becomes the site of one of Gulley’s destructive mural projects while he is on vacation.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Gulley Jimson: “Go and do something sensible, like shooting yourself! But don’t be an artist!” – Gulley cynically advises the aspiring young Nosey against pursuing a life as an artist.
• Gulley Jimson: “Half a minute of revelation’s worth a million years of know-nothing.” – Gulley expresses his belief in the value of artistic vision and intuition over conventional understanding.
• Gulley Jimson: “Why doesn’t it fit… like it does in the mind?” – Gulley expresses frustration that the finished painting doesn’t live up to the perfect vision he had for it in his imagination.
• Gulley Jimson: “Old women’s feet…thin, flat, long…clinging to the ground like reptiles.” – Gulley observes a charwoman’s feet with the intense, sometimes unusual, perspective of an artist seeking inspiration everywhere.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Horse’s Mouth Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, wow. I went into this not knowing much, and I was completely charmed! Alec Guinness as Gulley Jimson is just phenomenal; he doesn’t feel like a character, he feels like a real, wonderfully annoying person. His voice alone is a performance! I loved watching him scheme and bumble his way through London, causing chaos just because he *had* to paint that wall or get that money for paint. The scene where he takes over the rich couple’s flat? Absolute madness, and I couldn’t stop laughing when the sculptor showed up. It made me think about what it really means to be driven by something, even if it makes you a total pain. The ending, with him sailing away, felt really profound and fitting. It’s just a genuinely funny, unique movie that made me feel something about the sheer force of creativity.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic British comedy”
  • “Viewers interested in films about artists and the creative process”
  • “Admirers of Alec Guinness’s versatile acting”
  • “Those who appreciate quirky and character-driven stories”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Some instances of vulgar language (characteristic of the main character)”
  • “Protagonist engages in dishonest and destructive behavior (played for comedy)”
  • “Depicts themes of poverty and social class struggles”

Professional Reviews

• Fictional Film Quarterly: “Alec Guinness delivers a masterclass in charming irascibility as Gulley Jimson, an artist whose chaotic pursuit of his vision clashes hilariously with polite society. The film feels less like a traditional plot and more like a series of delightfully absurd encounters, perfectly capturing the spirit of artistic obsession. London in the late ’50s is rendered in vibrant color, providing a lively backdrop to Jimson’s antics. It’s a unique, witty experience that stays with you.
• The London Chronicle: “Ronald Neame’s direction, coupled with Guinness’s sharp adaptation, creates a buoyant portrait of the artistic struggle. While Jimson is undoubtedly difficult, Guinness imbues him with a captivating, almost childlike single-mindedness. The visual gags land beautifully, especially the escalating destruction in the Beeder’s apartment. It’s a film that finds humor in desperation and beauty in unexpected places, elevated by strong supporting performances.
• Independent Film Journal: “”The Horse’s Mouth” is a quirky delight, anchored by Alec Guinness’s bold, physical performance. He fully embodies the eccentric artist, making his often outrageous behaviour feel strangely understandable. The film doesn’t shy away from the messiness of the creative process, both literally and figuratively. It’s a funny, sometimes poignant look at what drives someone to create, regardless of the cost. A memorable and unique British comedy.

Audience Reactions

Alec Guinness is hilarious and captivating as the eccentric artist.: Viewers consistently praise Guinness’s performance as the heart and soul of the film, finding the character both maddening and lovable.

The film’s unique humor and chaotic situations are highly entertaining.: Many enjoy the screwball comedy elements and the unexpected turns the plot takes, appreciating its distinctly British wit.

Overall Consensus: A highly regarded British comedy classic celebrated for Alec Guinness’s incredible, eccentric performance as an unapologetically chaotic artist, offering a humorous yet insightful look at the creative drive.

Awards

1. Venice Film Festival (Volpi Cup for Best Actor)- 1958
2. Sant Jordi Awards (Best Performance in a Foreign Film)- 1961

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Alec Guinness wrote the screenplay for the film, which was his only credited screenwriting work.”
• “The paintings featured in the film were created by contemporary British artist John Bratby, whose expressionistic style was chosen to match the character of Gulley Jimson.”
• “Mike Morgan, the young actor who played Nosey, tragically died of meningitis shortly before the film’s completion, leading to some of his lines being dubbed by another actor.”
• “The film’s distinctive musical score is composed entirely of selections from Sergei Prokofiev’s ‘Lieutenant Kijé Suite’, arranged by Tristram Cary.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Horse’s Mouth?

As a classic film, ‘The Horse’s Mouth’ may not be available on major subscription streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. It can typically be found for digital rent or purchase on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. For physical media enthusiasts and collectors, the film has been released as part of the prestigious Criterion Collection, offering high-quality Blu-ray and DVD options often available for purchase via online retailers like Amazon.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Horse’s Mouth, you might like these similar films:

• Lust for Life (1956): A biographical drama about Vincent van Gogh, exploring the passionate, sometimes tormented life of an artist dedicated entirely to his vision, similar to Gulley Jimson’s obsession.
• Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949): Another classic British comedy starring Alec Guinness, known for its dark humour, witty dialogue, and focus on eccentric characters operating outside conventional society, mirroring some of ‘The Horse’s Mouth’s themes.
• The Card (1952): Also starring Alec Guinness and directed by Ronald Neame, this film features a charming rogue who navigates society with ingenuity and unconventional methods, sharing a tone of witty British comedy.
• Withnail & I (1987): A beloved British cult classic about two eccentric, struggling actors living in squalor, capturing a similar spirit of artistic aspiration and bohemian absurdity against a backdrop of British life.
• Pollock (2000): A modern biographical film about the abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock, depicting the intense, often destructive, drive of a singular artistic talent.

🛒 The Horse’s Mouth Related Products

• The Horse’s Mouth (Criterion Collection Blu-ray): This special edition features a newly restored digital transfer, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content that delves into the making of the film and the art featured within it.
• The Horse’s Mouth by Joyce Cary (Paperback or Kindle): Read the acclaimed novel by Joyce Cary that served as the source material for the film, exploring the character of Gulley Jimson in even greater depth.
• Alec Guinness: A Life (Biography Book): An in-depth biography exploring the life and diverse career of Sir Alec Guinness, the legendary actor behind Gulley Jimson, providing context for his iconic performances.
• Classic British Comedies Film Collection (DVD/Blu-ray): A collection featuring iconic British Ealing comedies and similar films from the era, showcasing the style and humor that influenced ‘The Horse’s Mouth’.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Horse’s Mouth features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Lieutenant Kijé Op. 60” – performed by Sergei Prokofiev

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

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