Rowan Atkinson Movies
Best known to American audiences as the Black Adder and Mr. Bean, black-haired, bug-eyed, and weak-chinned comedian Rowan Atkinson is one of the most popular funnymen in England whose keen, often black humor and knack for physical comedy has earned him a huge international following. Born in Newcastle, Atkinson was educated at Newcastle University and Oxford. While at the latter, he teamed up with budding screenwriter Richard Curtis to write comedy reviews for the Oxford Playhouse. Shortly thereafter, the two created material for the Edinburgh Fringe. By 1978, Atkinson's humor had earned him a devoted fan base and he was offered leading roles in two British television comedies. Instead, Atkinson chose to get involved in the internationally acclaimed comedy series Not the Nine O'Clock News as a writer and a performer. His performances in the oft-distinguished show earned Atkinson a British Academy Award and got him designated "BBC Personality of the Year" in 1980. His stage performances also continued to significantly increase his popularity.In 1983, he and Curtis created the Black Adder, a cowardly and conniving Tudor Prince named Edmund who tries vainly to become King of England after inadvertently killing his father during a battle. Billed as a "situation tragedy" on the BBC, it ran three seasons and later spawned a couple of specials. Atkinson made his feature-film debut in the 1983 James Bond thriller Never Say Never Again. In the late '80s, he starred in a few films penned by Curtis. It was while they were filming The Tall Guy that Atkinson and Curtis created Mr. Bean, an average British Joe with a clumsy nature and a nasty streak and launched a series. Different from other shows in that it was largely silent, Atkinson's Bean demonstrated a rare gift for slapstick that has led to his being compared to Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. During its six year run, Mr. Bean became the most popular show in the U.K. and has since been shown in 89 countries where it has gained a cult following comparable to Monty Python and Fawlty Towers. Atkinson himself attributes his character's popularity to the fact that the socially awkward, middle-aged Bean's mundane adventures, largely due to his clumsy inability to cope with even the smallest of life's foibles, mirror the feelings and experiences of people the world over. In 1997, Atkinson brought the character to the big screen in Bean. Other notable Atkinson film performances include his voice characterization of Zazu in The Lion King and that of the hilariously inarticulate priest in Four Weddings and a Funeral. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1986
The second series of Blackadder episodes ended on February 20, 1986, with "Chains." In response to a series of high-profile political abductions, Queen Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson) adopts a strict no-ransom policy. Almost as if on cue, Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) and his crony Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry) are kidnapped by Prince Ludwig of Germany (Hugh Laurie). Edmund's peril intensifies when he is placed in the hands of a Spanish interrogator (Max Harvey) right out of a Monty Python sketch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, (more)
The title of the 1983 James Bond adventure Never Say Never Again is a self-mocking reference to star Sean Connery's insistence back in 1971 that he would never play Bond again. Reportedly, the huge salary offered Connery was but one consideration that brought him back to the 007 fold; the other was the producers' assurance that Connery would have full control over all aspects of production, a promise that was not kept often enough to the star's liking. Essentially, this film is a remake of the 1965 Bond flick Thunderball (the producers were able to get away with this due to a legal tangle involving the original 1961 Ian Fleming novel). Bond emerges from cozy retirement to cross swords with Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer), a megalomaniacal business exec who steals several nuclear missiles, intending to bring the World Powers to their knees. Kim Basinger plays Domino, Largo's mistress, whose loyalty Bond secures when she learns that Largo was responsible for the death of her brother. In addition to Basinger, the film boasts a toothsome villainess by the name of Fatima Blush (played by Barbara Carrera). After wrapping Never Say Never Again, Sean Connery swore that this was his absolutely final performance as James Bond; thus far, he's kept his word. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, Klaus Maria Brandauer, (more)
- 1983
The inaugural season of the British satirical comedy series The Black Adder ended on July 20, 1983, with the episode titled "The Black Seal." Having exhausted all efforts to usurp the throne of England, Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) resorts to drastic measures -- which, characteristically, are really drastic. Planning to seize the throne by force, Edmund enlists the aid of the Seven Most Evil Men in the land -- among them such worthies as Three-Fingered Pete (Roger Slomon), Sir Wilfred Death (John Hallam), and Mad Gerald (played by "himself," though he bears a marked resemblance to character comedian Rik Mayall). After "The Black Seal," The Black Adder would go on a lengthy hiatus, not to be seen again until 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, (more)
- 1983
It is now the year 1492: Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) is still jockeying to become King of England, while the actual monarch, Richard IV (Brian Blessed), is busily making enemies of everyone in Europe. In order to prevent a war with Spain, Edmund is ordered to marry that country's Princess Maria (Miriam Margoyles). This, he figures, will put him in an excellent position to fulfill his dream of ruling England -- but things don't quite work out as planned. The episode's funniest moments belong to Jim Broadbent as the Princess' interpreter, Don Speekingleesh. "The Queen of Spain's Beard" first aired on July 6, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, (more)
- 1983
The Black Death has not only decimated half of England, but has also forced King Richard IV (Brian Blessed) into his sick bed. Hoping to curry favor with the populace and become King himself, the duplicitous Edmund declares that the plague is the result of witchcraft, thus he hires the infamous Witchsmeller (Frank Finlay) to root out all sorcerors in the land. Alas, the first "witch" whom the Witchsmeller smells is Edmund himself! "The Witchsmeller Pursuivant" was originally telecast on July 13, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, (more)
- 1983
The second episode of The Black Adder's first season, "Born to Be King," was a reworking of the series' unsold pilot episode. Having inadvertently placed Richard IV (Brian Blessed) on the throne of England, the scheming Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) must find some way to discredit the heir apparent Prince Harry (Robert East) and thereby become king himself. Slowing down his efforts in this episode are the preparations for the Queen's birthday party and the planned assassination of disagreeable Scottish war hero McAngus (Alex Norton). "Born to Be King" was originally telecast on June 22 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, (more)
- 1983
Though he'd much rather be King of England, Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) is willing to accept the lesser post of Archbishop of Canterbury. But there's a catch: the Archbishop is out of favor with King Richard IV (Brian Blessed), thus all of Edmund's predecessors have met with sudden and violent deaths. How, pray tell, can our "hero" turn this situation to his advantage? "The Archbishop" first aired in England on June 29, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, (more)
- 1983
"The Foretelling" marked the official inauguration of the satirical British comedy series The Black Adder. The year is 1485: Riding out of the nowhere into the now is Edmund (Rowan Atkinson), Duke of Edinburgh -- better known as The Black Adder -- the demented, embittered, and ruthlessly ambitious son of an obscure British king. Arriving late at the Battle of Bosworth, Edmund accidentally kills King Richard III (Peter Cook), whom he mistakes for a horse thief, thereby placing Richard IV (Brian Blessed) on the throne of England. Edmund must now hide his brother Henry Tudor (Robert East), the Prince of Wales, in his own quarters, as part of a master plan to claim the throne for himself. "The Foretelling" originally aired on June 15, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, (more)
- 1982
- R
The highlights of two benefit concerts staged in support of Amnesty International are collected in this British performance film, which features ample helpings of both music and comedy. The members of the Monty Python comedy troupe serve as headliners, performing live variations on some of their most famous sketches. Additional humor is provided by such luminaries as Peter Cook, while the musical segments include performances by Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, and Sting, amongst others. While all of the performers deliver the goods, the film's overall effectiveness is unfortunately limited by the purely functional direction and often poor image quality. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pete Townshend, Rowan Atkinson, (more)
- 1982
Written by series star Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, the pilot episode of the satirical British comedy series The Black Adder (aka Blackadder is substantially the same as the latter episode "Born to Be King," with the scurrilous Prince Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) being charged with the responsibility of arranging a birthday party for the Queen of England (Elspeth Gray) -- all the while planning the assassination of fraudulent Scottish war hero McAngus (Alex Norton) and casting doubts on the legitimacy of his brother (and heir to the throne) Prince Harry. All in all, Edmund lives up to his family motto "Veni Vidi Castratavi Illegitimos" ("I Came, I Saw, I Castrated the Bastards!") Major differences include the presence of Philip Fox in the role of Baldrick rather than Tony Robinson, John Savident instead of Brian Blessed as King Richard IV, and Robert Bathurst instead of Robert East as Prince Harry. This pilot episode was never aired, though it has been released to home video. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Tim McInnerny, (more)
- 1979
- R
Some of the biggest and brightest stars in British comedy appear in this performance film, which documents a revue staged by John Cleese of Monty Python as a benefit for the human rights group Amnesty International. In addition to Cleese and fellow Python members Michael Palin and Terry Jones (who reprise skits from the Python show as well as its lesser-known predecessor At Last The 1948 Show), The Secret Policeman's Ball includes sketches featuring Rowan Atkinson (shortly before his breakthrough success on the UK television series Not The Nine O'Clock News), Peter Cook (who performs classic material from the show Beyond The Fringe), Eleanor Bron, Clive James and The Kevin Campbell Road Show. The show also includes acoustic musical performances from Pete Townshend of the Who, classical guitarist John Williams (who joins Townshend for a version of "Won't Get Fooled Again") and activist singer/songwriter Tom Robinson. The Secret Policeman's Ball was the third in a series of benefits shows organized by Cleese for Amnesty International, and the name was recycled for several filmed stage shows that followed. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Cleese, Peter Cook, (more)
