The Honorary Consul | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | John Mackenzie |
Produced by | Norma Heyman |
Screenplay by | Christopher Hampton |
Based on |
The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene |
Starring | |
Music by | Paul McCartney |
Cinematography | Phil Méheux |
Edited by | Stuart Baird |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date
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Running time
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103 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom Mexico |
Language | English |
Budget | $8 million |
Box office | $5,997,566 |
The Honorary Consul, also known as Beyond the Limit, is a 1983 British-Mexican drama film directed by John Mackenzie and starring Michael Caine, Richard Gere, Bob Hoskins and Elpidia Carrillo. It is based on the novel The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene. The title is a reference to the diplomatic position known as an honorary consul.
Set in a small politically unstable Latin American country, the story follows the half English and half Latino Dr. Eduardo Plarr (Richard Gere), who left his home to find a better life. Along the way he meets an array of people, including British Consul Charley Fortnum (Michael Caine), a representative in Latin America who is trying to keep a Revolution from occurring, and is also a remorseful alcoholic. Another person the doctor meets is Clara (Elpidia Carrillo), whom he immediately desires, but there is a problem: Clara is Charley's wife.
The film was produced by Norma Heyman, marking the first time that a British woman entirely produced an independent feature film in history.
The movie was filmed on location in Veracruz, Mexico, Mexico City, and at the Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England.
The film did good business in Europe, and particularly in England as it was a British production. In the United States, it only earned about $6 million in box office receipts and was not well received by critics.