Richard Curtis Movies

Comic actor Rowan Atkinson brought his bumbling character Mr. Bean from television to the big screen with this British comedy. Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) is a well-meaning but not especially bright fellow with a gift for making the worst of any situation. Bean is about to be fired from his job as a guard at the Royal Nation Art Gallery for sleeping on the job, but the Chairman (John Mills) intervenes at the last moment. To insure that his incompetence will manifest itself so completely that there will be no choice but to get rid of him, Bean's superiors come up with a plan -- they'll send him to America to speak at a posh private gallery owned by George Grierson (Harris Yulin), where General Newton (Burt Reynolds) will display the most recent addition to his art collection, "Whistler's Mother." It's even money whether or not the museum will still be standing before Bean is done; as if this weren't enough, while in L.A. Bean is mistaken for a surgeon and forced to operate on an injured police officer. Richard Curtis, one of the film's producers, said after viewing the final product, "It's an unpleasant family movie. I'm very pleased." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Rowan Atkinson returns to the role of royal scoundrel Edmund Blackadder in this hilariously skewered romp through British history. On the eve of the New Millennium, the latest incarnations of Blackadder and his eternal flunkey Baldrick step into a time machine, purportedly based on a design by Leonardo da Vinci. On a dare, the boys agree to check out a few historical high points -- only to become totally lost in time and space, bouncing back and forth (hence the title) from the Jurassic Period, to the era of Robin Hood, to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, back again to 1999, and back again "forward into the past." Several of the regular performers from the previous Black Adder TV series are once again in attendance, including stars Atkinson and Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Hugh Laurie, and Rik Mayall. Produced for exhibition at England's Millennium Dome on January 1, 2000, Black Adder V: Back and Forth was previewed on December 6, 1999, and subsequently telecast on the Sky TV satellite service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Again hoping to avoid WWI combat duty, Captain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) destroys the orders for "Operation Insanity" and eats the messenger pigeon. Alas, the bird was a particular favorite of General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett (Stephen Fry). As a result, Edmund, aka the "Flanders pigeon murderer," faces a court-martial and firing squad. "Plan B: Corporal Punishment" first aired on October 5, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As part of his never-ending efforts to avoid the German ground troops during WWI, Captain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) signs up with the Royal Air Corps. Crashing behind enemy lines, Edmund is captured by the enemy, forcing Baldrick (Tony Robinson) and Lord Flashheart (Rik Mayall) to race to his rescue -- if only they can outmaneuver Baron Von Richtoven (Adrian Edmondson). "Plan D: Private Plane" made its British broadcast debut on October 19, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Faced with the prospect of joining the AEF in the "big push" against the Germans, Captain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) goes insane -- or at least he pretends to. Only a last-minute phone call to Field Marshall Douglas Haig (Geoffrey Palmer) stands between Edmund and the Kaiser's guns. Will our "hero" be sacrificed to the Great Cause, or will there somehow be a fifth season of Blackadder episodes? "Plan F: Goodbyeee" was originally telecast on November 2, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Returning to British TV after a three-year absence, the satirical sitcom The Black Adder once again starred Rowan Atkinson, this time as Lord Edmund Blackadder, illegitimate great-great-grandson of the original series' delightfully scurrilous anti-hero. Blackadder II was ushered in on January 9, 1986, with the episode titled "Bells." The scene is England; the year, 1558. Lord Edmund can't understand why he is so attracted to his new manservant Bob. He gets his answer in a hurry: "Bob" is really Kate (Gabrielle Glaster), who has disguised herself as a boy to escape a life of prostitution. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Newly appointed the Lord High Executioner, Lord Edmund Blackadder takes his new responsibilities quite seriously. Assigned to remove the head of the "blasphemous" Lord Farrow, Edmund does so with dispatch and élan. Unfortunately, he discovers ex post facto that Lord Farrow has been pardoned by the Queen (Miranda Richardson). "Head" originally aired in England on January 16, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) seethes with jealousy when Sir Walter Raleigh, freshly returned from the New World, presents Queen Elizabeth (Miranda Richardson) with a potato. Vowing that anything Sir Walter can do, he can do better, Edmund sets out on an exploring expedition of his own. Alas and alack, he secures the services of England's least reliable mariner, Captain Redbeard Rum (Tom Baker). "Potato" was first telecast on January 23, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The third series of Blackadder episodes (logically telecast in England under the blanket title Black Adder the Third commenced on September 17, 1987, with "Dish and Dishonesty." Inasmuch as the series' time frame has been moved up to the late 18th and early 19th century, star Rowan Atkinson is now cast as the descendent to the two previously seen members of the odious Blackadder clan. As butler and Dogsberry to the Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie), Edmund Blackadder (Atkinson), and his crony Baldrick (Tony Robinson) continue their underhanded efforts to advance themselves in the British Higher Orders. In this episode, Blackadder manages to get Baldrick elected a Member of Parliament -- but only to keep himself from being banished from the Social Register by William Pitt the Younger (Simon Osborne). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie) agrees to act as patron for the "fat dictionary" being written by Dr. Samuel Johnson (Robbie Coltrane). Unfortunately, the boneheaded Baldrick (Tony Richardson) accidentally uses Dr. Johnson's manuscript for firewood. Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) is faced with the daunting task of recopying the dictionary -- within a 48-hour period. Other characters crucial to the action are a trio of "romantic junkie poets" named Shelley, Byron, and Coleridge. "Ink and Incapability" originally aired on September 24, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Surviving an assassination attempt, the Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie) concludes that he'd be more popular if learned to give decent speeches to the masses. To that end, the Prince hires a pair of noted thespians, Keanrick (Hugh Paddick) and Mossop (Kenneth Connor), to give him elocution lessons. But Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) and Baldrick (Tony Atkinson) have reason to suspect that the two actors are really anarchists. "Sense and Senility" was first telecast on October 8, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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

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