Equus (film)
| Equus | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sidney Lumet |
| Screenplay by | Peter Shaffer |
| Based on | Equus by Peter Shaffer |
| Produced by | Elliott Kastner Lester Persky |
| Starring | Richard Burton Peter Firth Jenny Agutter Joan Plowright Colin Blakely |
| Cinematography | Oswald Morris |
| Edited by | John Victor-Smith |
| Music by | Richard Rodney Bennett |
Production company | Winkast Film Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates |
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Running time | 137 minutes |
| Countries | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $4 million |
Equus is a 1977 psychological drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and written by Peter Shaffer, based on his 1973 play of the same name. The film stars Richard Burton, Peter Firth, Colin Blakely, Joan Plowright, Harry Andrews, Eileen Atkins, Kate Reid and Jenny Agutter. The story concerns a psychiatrist treating a teenager who has blinded horses in a stable, attempting to find the root of his horse worship.
Lumet's adaptation of the acclaimed play to film incorporated realism through the use of real horses rather than human actors and provided a graphic depiction of the blinding incident. Despite some criticism regarding this approach, the film was praised for the performances of its cast.
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Burton and Best Supporting Actor for Firth. The two both won Golden Globe Awards for their performances. The film was also nominated for four BAFTA Awards, with Jenny Agutter winning for Best Supporting Actress.