Joan Plowright

Joan Plowright Movies / Drama

• A Pin for the Butterfly [1993]

  Marushka (Florence Hoath) lives with her grandmother (Joan Plowright) and grandfather (Ian Bannen) in 1950s Czechoslovakia. While the girl's mother (Imogen Stubbs) tries to advance her acting career by currying favor with Communist officials, Marushka's uncle (Hugh Laurie) is an outspoken dissident, drawing the attention of the authorities and causing tension in the family. When her uncle secretly prepares to escape to the West, Marushka hopes to go with him.… MORE

• A Place for Annie [1994]

  Susan Lansing (Sissy Spacek) is a veteran nurse and single mother who supervises an urban hospital's neonatal ICU. Increasingly estranged from her teenage son, David, she's drawn to one of her patients -- a 2-month-old, HIV-positive baby girl who was abandoned at a clinic. When the hospital is unable to find the child a foster home, she decides to take the baby in. Two years later, the girl's ex-addict mother (Mary-Louise Parker) resurfaces, preventing Susan from adopting the child.… MORE

• A Pyromaniac's Love Story [28 April 1995]

  Sergio works for Mr.Linzer, who bribes him to burn down his bakery, so that he can claim the damage from the insurance company. Sergio refuses the bribe but the damage is done. Who is the culprit?

• Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within [29 November 1998]

  When a CIA bureaucrat (Timothy Hutton) and his wife (Elizabeth Peña) amass huge debts, he decides to sell information to the KGB.

• Avalon [5 October 1990 (USA)]

  Sam and his family have migrated to the U.S and are trying to secure their personal and professional life, while adjusting to the American culture. Will they be able to survive in America?

• Bailey's Mistake [The Wonderful World of Disney (1997)]

  "Bailey's Mistake" is the name of a cold, dreary island that a bitter widow finds herself stuck on.

• Brimstone and Treacle [1982]

  Tom Bates (Denholm Elliott) and his wife, Norma (Joan Plowright), are initially overjoyed when a mysterious stranger named Martin (Sting) inserts himself into their lives, proving an enormous help with their domestic chores. They are especially pleased when he takes an interest in their disabled daughter, becoming her de facto caretaker. Gradually, however, they realize that he's not who he seems -- and Martin reveals himself to be a diabolical presence.… MORE

• Bringing Down the House []

• Britannia Hospital [27 May 1982 (United Kingdom)]

  The queen mother plans to visit Britannia Hospital, but administrator Vincent Potter (Leonard Rossiter) has problems to solve first. Outside, there's a union boss who won't let in any food trucks, and also a protest against private patients. Inside, the kitchen staff has joined the protest, and resident loony Professor Millar (Graham Crowden) is prepping a medical demonstration that's sure to shock the queen mum. Meanwhile, reporter Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell) is secretly documenting it all.… MORE

• Callas Forever [16 September 2002 (France)]

  Aging opera singer Maria Callas (Fanny Ardant) tries to make a comeback by performing in a production of Bizet's "Carmen."

• Curious George [10 February 2006 (USA)]

  Ted has to get some valuable artefacts from Africa that would attract a decent number of visitors to the museum where he works. During his voyage, he befriends George, a curious and naughty monkey.

• Dance with Me [21 August 1998 (USA)]

  On a trip to find his father, Rafael, a young man from Cuba, takes part in a dance competition in Las Vegas and becomes romantically involved with his dance partner Ruby.

• Enchanted April [5 April 1992 (United Kingdom)]

  When married British women Rose Arbuthnot (Miranda Richardson) and Lottie Wilkins (Josie Lawrence) decide to take a break from their respective spouses, they stay at a castle in Italy for a quiet holiday. Joining the ladies is Caroline Dester (Polly Walker), a young socialite, and Mrs. Fisher (Joan Plowright), an older aristocrat. Liberated from their daily routines, the four women ease into life in rural Italy, and each finds herself transformed by the experience.… MORE

• Equus [14 October 1977 (United Kingdom)]

  While treating a 17-year-old stable boy for blinding a stable full of horses, Martin Dysart, a psychiatrist, explores his own demons.

• Frankie and Hazel [2001]

  Two 12-year-old girlfriends (Ingrid Uribe, Mischa Barton) make waves in their New Jersey hometown when one runs for mayor and the other wants to play baseball on a boys' team.

• George and the Dragon [2004 (Russia)]

  Knight George (James Purefoy) returns to England for a peaceful life after the Crusades. But first he promises King Edgar (Simon Callow) to find his missing daughter, Princess Lunna (Piper Perabo), in exchange for a plot of land. George discovers the princess has been taken by a dragon, which apparently died after laying an egg. But Lunna refuses to abandon the unhatched dragon, so George must return both princess and egg to the king -- while avoiding Lunna's determined fiancé (Patrick Swayze).… MORE

• Global Heresy [3 September 2002]

  Global Heresy tries to put together new material without their frontman Ben (Alex Karzis), who has disappeared on the eve of their European tour. Things seem to fall into place with the addition of Nat (Alicia Silverstone), the beautiful and talented bass player who is called in to fill the void. It comes increasingly apparent that Nat is much better than Ben ever was. Just when things are looking up, Ben returns and informs the band that the whole thing has been a publicity stunt.… MORE

• Goose on the Loose [2011]

  A boy (Max Morrow) conspires to save a talking gander from a man (Chevy Chase) who plans to cook the bird in an upcoming culinary contest.

• Hotel Sorrento [20 April 1995 (Australia)]

  Sisters Meg (Caroline Goodall), Pippa (Tara Morice) and Hilary (Caroline Gillmer) gather in their family home for their father's funeral. In the 10 years since they saw each other last, they have taken different paths. While Hilary still lives at home, Pippa resides in New York City but wants to start an Australian sandwich franchise -- and Meg has written a book that her sisters know isn't fictional, as she claims. Their family reunion brings up past resentments that aren't so easily forgiven.… MORE

• I Love You to Death [6 April 1990]

  Joey, a married man, is a womaniser and cheats on his wife Rosalie regularly. When Rosalie finds out about it, she decides to take revenge by killing Joey and hires two hit-men.

• Knife Edge [19 October 2009]

  A successful Wall Street trader returns to England with her new husband and five-year-old son, but their new start together turns into a nightmare when they move into a country house which contains a terrible secret.

• Last Action Hero [13 June 1993 (USA)]

  Danny Madigan is an ardent fan of a Hollywood superstar. His best friend gives him a magical ticket, which teleports him into the world of his favourite star.

• Mr. Wrong [16 February 1996 (USA)]

  Just before her younger sister's marriage, Martha finds her 'Mr. Right' who goes by the name of Whitman. But, she soon realises that Whitman is rather quirky and appears to have a split personality.

• Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont [25 November 2005 (USA)]

  After the death of her husband, Mrs. Palfrey (Joan Plowright) moves to London with the hope of gaining her independence and seeing her grandson. While she is staying at a residential hotel for senior citizens, she meets writer Ludovic Meyer (Rupert Friend) when she trips and falls on the street in front of his home. An unlikely friendship flourishes between them, bolstered by the fact that the residents are under the impression that Ludovic is Mrs. Palfrey's estranged grandson.… MORE

• Revolution [25 December 1985 (USA)]

  The American war for independence as seen through the eyes of an illiterate trapper who joins the revolution to protect his son who has been captured by the British army.

• Summer House, The [1993]

  Margaret (Lena Headey) has agreed to marry Syl (David Threlfall) ; the problem is, she accepted the proposal to please her aging mother, Monica (Julie Walters), and secretly has no interest in her listless fiancé. As the wedding date draws nearer, friends and family of the bride-to-be begin to arrive, including the free-spirited Lili (Jeanne Moreau), an old friend of Monica's. Luckily, Lili quickly realizes that Margaret and Syl don't gel, and comes up with a brilliant plan to stop the wedding.… MORE

• Surviving Picasso [4 September 1996 (USA)]

  Francoise Gilot struggles through the abusive relationship with her lover, the famous artist Pablo Picasso. In spite of his affairs, she continues to find her ground, but not for long.

• The Assistant [1 May 1998 (Canada)]

  A drifter (Gil Bellows) helps rob a Depression-era shopkeeper (Armin Mueller-Stahl), then goes to work for him and falls for his daughter (Kate Greenhouse).

• The Entertainer [3 October 1960 (USA)]

  Archie Rice, a pathetic music hall comic, plagued by debts, manipulates those around him in a defiant and selfish attempt to survive against improbable odds.

• The Merchant of Venice [7 October 1973]

• The Return of the Native [1994]

  The young and beautiful Eustacia Vye (Catherine Zeta-Jones) visits her grandfather in Egdon Heath, a country area in northern England, but quickly becomes bored and dreams of city life in Paris. When Egdon Heath native Clym Yeobright (Ray Stevenson) returns from Paris and falls in love with Eustacia, she agrees to the courtship in hopes of moving to the city with Clym. But Eustacia's attraction to the handsome Damon Wildeve (Clive Owen) forces her to choose between the two men.… MORE

• The Spiderwick Chronicles [18 April 2008 (India)]

  Twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace move into Spiderwick Estate with their mother and sister. Once there, they find themselves surrounded by magical creatures.

• Three Sisters [2 November 1970]

  Based on the play by Anton Chekhov, this drama focuses on the three Prozorov sisters -- Olga (Jeanne Watts), Masha (Joan Plowright), and Irina (Louise Purnell) -- who long to escape their small Russian town and return to Moscow, where they grew up. Entering the women's melancholy orbit are military men such as Dr. Chebutikin (Laurence Olivier) and Colonel Vershinin (Alan Bates), who serve mostly to complicate the sisters' lives, particularly when Vershinin and Masha begin an ill-advised affair.… MORE

• Time Without Pity [March 1957 (United Kingdom)]

  When an innocent man is sentenced to death for murder, his father takes matters into his own hands. A day before his son's execution, Canadian writer David Graham (Michael Redgrave) delves into England's criminal underworld and turns to increasingly desperate measures in an 11th-hour attempt to uncover any scrap of evidence that may exonerate his condemned son. Graham's search begins at the luxurious home of automotive industry giant Robert Stanford (Leo McKern).… MORE

• Tom's Midnight Garden [2 July 1999 (Italy)]

  A teenage boy is sent to live with an uncle and aunt while his sick brother recovers at home. He finds that their clock always strikes thirteen at midnight at which point the litter-strewn alleyways outside become a wonderful garden paradise.

• Uncle Vanya [20 November 1963 (United Kingdom)]

  A 1963 Chichester Festival production of Anton Chekhov's play about nobility and ill-fated love in czarist Russia.

• Widows' Peak [15 April 1994 (Ireland)]

  When the elegant Edwina Broome (Natasha Richardson) moves to Kilshannon, a small town in Ireland, she must contend with the local matriarchs, particularly the feisty Mrs. Doyle-Counihan (Joan Plowright) and the guarded Miss Katherine O'Hare (Mia Farrow), who immediately clash with the new arrival. As the three women verbally spar and scheme, certain secrets eventually come to light, revealing that their quaint village may not be so proper after all.… MORE

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