104-617: Robin Mark Askwith (born 12 October 1950) is an English actor and singer who has appeared in a number of film, television and stage productions. Making his film debut as Keating in the film if.... (1968), a role he would reprise in Britannia Hospital (1982), Askwith went on to appear in many films including Otley (1969), Alfred the Great (1969), Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) and The Canterbury Tales (1972),
208-465: A Founders' Day celebration at which many of the characters reunite. Mick Travis is now an Oscar-nominated movie star, eschewing England for Hollywood. Wallace is a military major who has lost his arm, Johnny is a clergyman, and Rowntree is the Minister of War. In the script, Rowntree is kidnapped by a group of anti-war students and saved by Mick and his gang, though not before Mick crucifies Rowntree with
312-494: A Pop Performer (1975), Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976) and Confessions from a Holiday Camp (1977). Although the Confessions series came to an end with Confessions from a Holiday Camp , a fifth and a sixth film, Confessions of a Plumber's Mate and Confessions of a Private Soldier had been planned. Askwith even expressed a desire to direct Private Soldier , but neither film materialised. Plans to shoot
416-419: A boys' boarding school. The film was the subject of controversy at the time of its release, receiving an X certificate for its depictions of violence. The pupils return after the summer for a new Michaelmas term at a traditional British public school for boys in the late 1960s. Mick Travis arrives hiding his moustache, which he quickly shaves off. He, Wallace, and Knightly are three non-conformist boys in
520-534: A close-up.' I said 'that's right.' He said 'do you remember...' I said 'yes. I smiled.' He said 'that's right. You gave them that smile. That sort of ironic smile,' he said 'and that's how you play Alex.' And I went 'my god, that's brilliant. That's brilliant.' That's all I needed and that was enough, and that is a brilliant piece of direction for an actor. If.... is the first film in the " Mick Travis trilogy", all starring Malcolm McDowell as everyman character Mick Travis. The others are: Those two movies do not follow
624-460: A collection of beautifully illuminated historical and literary manuscripts, many made specially for him by craftsmen in Bruges. His book purchases included books for entertainment and instruction, whose contents reveal his interests. They focus on the lives of great rulers, including Julius Caesar , historical chronicles, and instructional and religious works. In 1476, William Caxton established
728-771: A compromise, whereby Henry remained king, but York and his descendants were designated his successors. The implications of removing the legally accepted heir to the throne created substantial opposition to the Yorkist administration; in late 1460, Edward was given his first independent command and sent to deal with a Lancastrian insurgency in Wales. Warwick remained in London, while York, Salisbury, and Edmund marched north to suppress another in Yorkshire ; all three were killed following defeat at Wakefield on 30 December, leaving Edward as
832-415: A friend was Carry On actor Kenneth Connor , and so Askwith began attending a local amateur dramatics group. He also did a stint of modelling for catalogues and appeared in several commercials for baked beans and Fairy Liquid . After finishing at Orley Farm at the age of twelve, Askwith attended Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood . He found the school unduly strict and became a rebellious student to
936-475: A further made-for-video Confessions film in the 1980s also came to nothing, although by this time he was appearing in the poorly received ITV sitcom Bottle Boys (1984–1985). He has also had roles in the soap operas EastEnders , Doctors , Hollyoaks and Coronation Street where he played a holiday tour guide named Aidan. The episodes of the soap that featured Askwith were filmed in Malta , close to
1040-597: A habitual use of emetics , which allowed him to gorge himself at meals, then return after vomiting to start again. He fell fatally ill at Easter 1483, but survived long enough to add codicils to his will, the most important naming his brother as Protector after his death. He died on 9 April 1483 and was buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle . His twelve-year-old son, Edward V , was never crowned, Gloucester becoming King Richard III in July. The cause of Edward's death
1144-643: A hard-fought victory at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in Herefordshire . The battle was preceded by a meteorological phenomenon known as parhelion , or three suns, which he took as his emblem, the " Sun in splendour ". However, this was offset by Warwick's defeat at the Second Battle of St Albans on 17 February, the Lancastrians regaining custody of Henry VI. The two met in London, where Edward
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#17327877497251248-616: A large nail through his palm. King Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses , a series of civil wars in England fought between the Yorkist and Lancastrian factions between 1455 and 1487. Edward inherited
1352-598: A recurring role as Eddie in Please Sir! and its spin-off The Fenn Street Gang , before having his first regular role as Harvey Micklethwaite in the sitcom On The House in 1971. In 1970, Askwith starred in Scramble (1970), the first of four films he would make for the Children's Film Foundation , the others being All Coppers Are... (1971), Hide and Seek (1972) and The Hostages (1975). Askwith also had
1456-606: A role in Carry On Girls (1973) which also starred Sid James. Shortly after starring in Antony Balch 's Horror Hospital (1973), Askwith was offered the starring role in Confessions of a Window Cleaner (1974), directed by Val Guest . The part had been turned down by Richard Beckinsale , Richard O'Sullivan , Nicky Henson and Dennis Waterman . The success of the film led to three sequels, Confessions of
1560-598: A role in the epic film Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). He would then have roles in television series' including Dixon of Dock Green , Public Eye , The Main Chance and Bless This House , and in a deleted scene from the film Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972). Askwith also starred in a string of horror films: Tower of Evil (1972), The Flesh and Blood Show (1973) and Horror Hospital (1973). After appearing in Pasolini 's The Canterbury Tales (1972) and
1664-454: A school production of Richard III , Askwith was approached by film director Lindsay Anderson , who had been in the audience, and encouraged to audition for a role in his upcoming film if.... . Following a successful audition he played the role of Keating in the film. Following the success of if... , Askwith made his television debut as a yob in the BBC series Scene . He would also attend
1768-453: A second series to be broadcast in 2023. In December 2022, Askwith appeared in the fourth and final episode of the quartet, Strike: Troubled Blood , on BBC1. His character, Steve Douthwaite, plays one of the suspected killers in the J. K. Rowling-inspired mystery crime drama. In 2023, it was announced that he would appear in the eighth series of Inside No. 9 , and his name was used in the promotion for episode 5, Hold on Tight! . However
1872-554: A treaty with Louis XI of France , which included a suggested marriage between Edward and Anne of France or Bona of Savoy , respectively daughter and sister-in-law of the French king. In October 1464, Warwick was enraged to discover that on 1 May, Edward had secretly married Elizabeth Woodville , a widow with two sons, whose Lancastrian husband, John Grey of Groby , died at the Second Battle of St Albans. If nothing else, it
1976-616: A viable Lancastrian figurehead, and the 1450s was dominated by political conflict between the two factions. By the age of 17, the Earl of March was a political and military leader in his own right; after their defeat at the Battle of Ludford Bridge in 1459, his father and brother Edmund fled to Ireland, while the Earls of March, Salisbury and Warwick made their way to Calais. Edward's name appears alongside those of his father, Warwick and Salisbury in widely circulated manifestoes declaring their quarrel
2080-615: A year, but was caught and imprisoned in the Tower of London . There was little point in killing him while his son remained alive since this would have transferred the Lancastrian claim from a frail captive to one who was young and free. Most of the nobility had either remained loyal to Henry or stayed neutral, forcing Edward to rely heavily on the Nevilles. Consolidating the regime initially took precedence, but John Neville 's victory at
2184-403: Is a 1968 British satirical drama film produced and directed by Lindsay Anderson , and starring Malcolm McDowell as the character Mick Travis , who appeared in two further Anderson films. Other actors include Richard Warwick , Christine Noonan , David Wood , and Robert Swann . A satire of English public school life, the film follows a group of pupils who stage a savage insurrection at
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#17327877497252288-417: Is uncertain; allegations of poison were common in an era when lack of medical knowledge meant death often had no obvious explanation. Other suggestions include pneumonia or malaria , although both were well-known and easy to describe. One contemporary attributed it to apoplexy brought on by excess, which fits with what is known of his physical habits. Another theory is that Edward died of syphilis. While
2392-524: The Clockwork Orange protagonist, Alexander DeLarge. Having been given the script by Kubrick, McDowell was unsure how he should play the part of Alex, and so he contacted Lindsay Anderson, asking for advice. McDowell relates the story: Anyway, he said 'Malcolm, this is how you play the part: there is a scene of you, a close-up in If.... , where you open the doors to the gymnasium, to be beaten. You get
2496-603: The Corona Theatre School in between acting jobs. Askwith had roles in the historical epic film Alfred the Great (1969), the thriller Otley (1969), and, playing the title role, in the film version of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates (1969). In 1970, Askwith had his first major role in the comedy film Cool It Carol! (1970). Askwith then appeared on television in series' such as Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Father, Dear Father and
2600-615: The Siege of Neuss , Louis opened negotiations. Soon after Edward landed at Calais, the two signed the Treaty of Picquigny . Edward received an immediate payment of 75,000 crowns , plus a yearly pension of 50,000 crowns, thus allowing him to recoup the costs of his army. In 1482, Edward backed an attempt to usurp the Scottish throne by Alexander Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany , brother of James III of Scotland . Gloucester invaded Scotland and took
2704-476: The Yorkist claim to the throne at the age of eighteen when his father, Richard, Duke of York , was killed at the Battle of Wakefield in December 1460. After defeating Lancastrian armies at Mortimer's Cross and Towton in early 1461, he deposed King Henry VI and took the throne. His marriage to Elizabeth Woodville in 1464 led to conflict with his chief advisor, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick , known as
2808-475: The "Kingmaker". In 1470, a revolt led by Warwick and Edward's brother George, Duke of Clarence , briefly re-installed Henry VI . Edward fled to Flanders , where he gathered support and invaded England in March 1471; after victories at the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury (where both the Earl of Warwick and Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales , were killed), he resumed the throne. Shortly afterwards, Henry VI
2912-453: The 1464 Battle of Hexham seemed to end the Lancastrian threat. This exposed internal divisions, particularly over foreign policy, which in this period largely focused on the relationship between England, France and the Duchy of Burgundy , with two of the parties manoeuvring to form an alliance against the third. Although Edward preferred Burgundy as a partner, he allowed Warwick to negotiate
3016-530: The 3 Bears and in various productions of Aladdin as Abanazar. More unusual stage roles include the title role in a production of Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui , and the Child Catcher in a 2006 touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang . Askwith had relationships with the actresses Cheryl Hall and later Linda Hayden during the 1970s. Askwith married actress Leonie Mellinger in 1988 but they later divorced. From 1996 to 2002, he
3120-528: The Duke of Clarence, who held estates adjacent to the Neville heartland in the north. Concerned by this, Edward blocked a proposed marriage between Clarence and Warwick's eldest daughter Isabel . In early July, Clarence defied his brother by travelling to Calais, where he married Isabel in a ceremony conducted by George Neville and overseen by Warwick. The three men issued a 'remonstrance', listing alleged abuses by
3224-572: The Duke of York, who was short and dark. His youngest brother, who later became King Richard III , closely resembled their father. During Edward's youth, there was economic decline in England and military defeat abroad, exacerbated by a weak and corrupt central government. Both Edward and his younger brother Edmund, Earl of Rutland , were born in Rouen, where their father, the Duke of York, served as governor of English lands in France until 1445, when he
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3328-686: The Hundred Years' War, which had been in abeyance since the Battle of Castillon in 1453. Following his sudden death in April 1483, Edward was briefly succeeded by his son Edward V ; his younger brother, Richard, was appointed Lord Protector of England for the duration of the new king's minority, but quickly seized the throne as Richard III . Edward was born on 28 April 1442 at Rouen in Normandy , eldest surviving son of Richard, 3rd Duke of York , and Cecily Neville . Until his father's death, he
3432-453: The Lancastrian nobility were enormous and explain the enduring bitterness among those who survived. Since 1996, excavations have uncovered over 50 skeletons from the battle; an analysis of their injuries shows the brutality of the contest, including extensive post-mortem mutilations. Margaret fled to Scotland with Edward of Westminster, while the new king returned to London for his 28 June 1461 coronation . Henry VI remained at large for over
3536-554: The Second World War and his mother in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRENs). As a young child, he swam in a pool contaminated with insects; later that day Askwith's mother found him fully submerged underwater in the bath. Taken to hospital in an ambulance, Askwith was found to have contracted polio and had to spend nine months in an isolation ward at Southport Infirmary and had to learn how to walk again. Shortly after this,
3640-513: The TV comedy drama Benidorm was broadcast in January 2016, and his episode of Casualty aired later that year. In 2021, he joined the cast of Channel 5's drama series The Madame Blanc Mysteries appearing alongside Sue Holderness , Sally Lindsay and Steve Edge as a series regular. The first series received a positive reception which led to a Christmas special broadcast in 2022 succeeded by
3744-663: The Vigo film's influence on If.... was structural rather than merely cosmetic. "Seeing Vigo's film gave us the idea and also the confidence to proceed with the kind of scene-structure that we devised for the first part of the film particularly." David Sherwin 's original title for the screenplay was Crusaders , during the writing of which he drew heavily from his experiences at Tonbridge School in Kent. In 1960, he and his friend and co-writer John Howlett took it to director Seth Holt . Holt felt unqualified to direct, but offered to produce
3848-479: The War of the Roses has been documented by numerous historians, Edward as an individual is less well known; 19th century historians like William Stubbs generally dismissed him as a bloodthirsty nonentity. The most comprehensive modern biography was written by Charles Ross in 1974, who concluded the peace and stability of his later reign was squandered in short-term aggrandisement. He further suggests that Edward "remains
3952-509: The Whips into giving them free rein in enforcing discipline. Some schoolmasters are shown behaving bizarrely. Mick and Johnny sneak off the school grounds and steal a motorbike from a showroom. They ride to a café staffed by an unnamed girl, about whom Mick fantasizes wrestling naked. Meanwhile, Wallace spends time with a younger boy, Bobby Philips, and later shares his bed. The three boys drink vodka in their study and consider how one man holds
4056-626: The Woodvilles and other advisors close to Edward and then returned to London, where they assembled an army to remove these 'evil councillors' and establish good government. With Edward still in the north, the royal army was defeated by a Neville force at Edgecote Moor on 24 July 1469. After the battle, Edward was held in Middleham Castle ; on 12 August, his father-in-law Richard Woodville and Richard's younger son, John Woodville , were executed at Kenilworth . It soon became clear there
4160-582: The Yorkist regime was deeply unpopular and the Lancastrians rapidly assembled an army of over 30,000; when John Neville switched sides, Edward narrowly escaped capture and was forced to seek refuge in Bruges . Edward took refuge in Flanders , part of the Duchy of Burgundy, accompanied by a few hundred men, including his younger brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Anthony Woodville and William Hastings. The Duchy
4264-486: The Yorkists at Edgecote in 1469 and his defection confirmed Clarence's decision to switch sides; as they marched south, more recruits came in, including 3,000 at Leicester. Edward entered London unopposed and took Henry prisoner; Warwick was defeated and killed at the Battle of Barnet on 14 April, while a second Lancastrian army was destroyed at the Battle of Tewkesbury on 4 May. Sixteen-year-old Edward of Westminster,
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4368-594: The agreement needed to shoot there. The then headmaster, David Ashcroft, persuaded the school governors to agree that the film could be made. Aldenham School in Elstree , Hertfordshire, was used for later scenes filmed after previous summer commitments prevented further shooting at Cheltenham. The sweat room scenes were filmed in the School Room in School House at Aldenham School (though they were redesigned for
4472-532: The chapel scenes for colour filming would have taken much longer than for black and white. The time they could use the school chapel was limited, so Anderson opted to not shoot those scenes in colour. Liking the effect this gave, he then decided to shoot other sequences in black and white to improve the 'texture' of the film. As a child, he was impressed watching a gangster film which started in black and white and then turned to colour. The black and white sequence featuring Mrs. Kemp (Mary MacLeod) walking naked through
4576-400: The comedy film Four Dimensions of Greta (1972), Askwith played Mike Abbot in film version of television sitcom Bless This House (1972). During filming, Askwith became good friends with co-star Sid James . Other members of the cast included comedy stalwarts Peter Butterworth , Terry Scott , June Whitfield and Wendy Richard . Impressed by his performance, the producers offered Askwith
4680-465: The daughters of the Earl and Countess of Warwick and heirs to their mother's considerable inheritance. Many of the estates held by the brothers had been granted by Edward, who could also remove them, making them dependent on his favour. This was not the case with property acquired through marriage and explains the importance of this dispute. The last significant rebellion ended in February 1474 with
4784-488: The dining hall is of Aldenham School's founder, Richard Platt. The Hall scene was an amalgamation of the school halls at Cheltenham and Aldenham. Carew Manor , in Beddington , Surrey, was used for the opening staircase scene and for several other scenes. It was filmed during the summer when the school had closed for holidays. Some scenes were shot at the former Trinity School of John Whitgift in central Croydon, before it
4888-578: The economy recovered from the depression of 1450 to 1470 , Edward's spending habitually exceeded income; on his death in 1483, the Crown had less than £1,200 in cash. His close relationship with the London branch of the Medici Bank ended in its bankruptcy; in 1517, the Medicis were still seeking repayment of Edward's debts. Economics was closely linked to foreign policy; Edward's reign was dominated by
4992-450: The episode was fake and never produced, instead the hoax quiz show 3 by 3 was episode 5 of the series. In 2024 Askwith appeared in the ninth series of Inside No. 9, trying to get Shearsmith and Pemberton to create a real-life version of Hold on Tight!. Askwith's extensive work on stage, includes numerous farces such as Run For Your Wife , Casanova's Last Stand , One for the Road plus
5096-484: The events of May 1968 in Paris. Along with The White Bus [1967], it put Anderson into a pretty high league." Variety wrote: "Timely and timeless, this is a punchy, poetic pic that delves into the epic theme of youthful revolt. ...The script has the expert blend of heightened reality and lyricism enforced by the brilliant direction and the playing of a cast of unknowns." The Radio Times Guide to Films gave
5200-660: The evidence for these is circumstantial. Edward IV's eldest son, also named Edward, was made Prince of Wales when he was seven months old and given his own household at the age of three. Based in Ludlow Castle , he was supervised by his uncle, Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, who also acted as his regent for the Council of Wales and the Marches . The historical consensus is he and his brother Richard were killed, probably between July and September 1483; debate on who gave
5304-407: The extent that Askwith and two friends stole several rifles from the school armoury and held up Pinner post office stealing hundreds of pounds' worth of stamps with the intention of returning them the following week. Askwith also persuaded a crane operator, who was carrying out work at the school, to lift the headmaster's car onto the school roof. As a result of playing King Edward IV during
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#17327877497255408-402: The eyes. The battle continues, and the camera closes in on Mick's face as he keeps firing. The film's surrealist sequences have been compared to Jean Vigo 's French classic Zéro de conduite (1933). Anderson acknowledged an influence, and described how he arranged a viewing of that film with his screenwriters, Sherwin and Howlett, at an early stage in production planning, though in his view
5512-694: The family moved from Southport to Eastcote , London where Askwith was educated at Orley Farm in nearby Harrow . Particularly sporty at school, Askwith represented the school at football, rugby and cricket and after joining the Ruislip and Northwood Swimming Club, he represented the South Counties at backstroke. Askwith began an interest in acting because his neighbour was the floor manager at Pinewood Studios where he and his neighbour's son would watch movies being filmed, including The Servant (1963) and Cleopatra (1963). The next-door neighbour of
5616-480: The film 4/5 stars, writing: "With its surrealistic elements, it was something of a departure for This Sporting Life [1963] director Lindsay Anderson, but he succeeds in both capturing the atmosphere and absurdities of public school life and investing the satire with plenty of venom. Malcolm McDowell gives a blistering performance in what is a key film in British cinema history." Leslie Halliwell , dissenting from
5720-544: The film holds a 90% approval rating based on 49 reviews, with an average score of 7.9/10. According to the site's critical consensus, "Incendiary, subversive, and darkly humorous, If.... is a landmark of British countercultural cinema." If.... won the Palme d'Or at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival . In 1999, the British Film Institute named it the 12th greatest British film of the 20th century ; in 2004,
5824-606: The film). The dormitory scenes were also at Aldenham—specifically The Long Room for the junior boys, and the room with the wooden partitions called Lower Cubs (short for cubicles). The shower scene and toilets were in School House changing rooms. The transport cafe was the (now demolished) Packhorse Cafe on the A5/Watling Street in Kensworth , Dunstable, Bedfordshire, close to the Packhorse Pub. The painting in
5928-401: The film. They also took it to Sherwin's hero, Rebel Without a Cause director Nicholas Ray , who liked it but had a nervous breakdown before anything came of it. Holt introduced Sherwin to Lindsay Anderson in a Soho pub. The school used for the early filming on location was Anderson's alma mater , Cheltenham College , Gloucestershire, but this was not made public at the time under
6032-530: The first English printing press in the outbuildings of Westminster Abbey ; on 18 November 1477, he produced Sayengis of the Philosophres , translated into English for Edward by his brother-in-law Anthony Woodville . It is not known where or how Edward's library was stored, but it is recorded that he transferred volumes from the Great Wardrobe to Eltham Palace and that he had a yeoman "to kepe
6136-478: The funds instead to finance his household expenditures. Under his rule, ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster was transferred to the Crown, where it remains today. In 1478, his staff prepared the so-called 'Black Book', a comprehensive review of government finances, still in use a century later. He invested heavily in business ventures with the City of London , which he used as an additional source of funding. Although
6240-415: The general praise for the film, wrote that "Allegorical treatment of school life with much fashionable emphasis on obscure narrative, clever cutting, variety of pace, even an unaccountable changing from colour to monochrome and vice versa. Intelligence is clearly at work, but it seems to have suffered from undigested gobs of Pinter , and the film as a whole makes no discernible point." On Rotten Tomatoes ,
6344-424: The grounds his brother's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was invalid. The Titulus Regius argued that the alleged pre-contract of marriage between Edward IV and Lady Eleanor Talbot rendered his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville void. Both Eleanor and Edward were dead, but according to Philippe de Commines , Robert Stillington, Bishop of Bath and Wells, claimed to have carried out the ceremony himself. Once secure on
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#17327877497256448-502: The heir to the throne, died on the battlefield, with surviving leaders like Somerset executed shortly afterwards. This was followed by Henry's death a few days later; a contemporary chronicle claimed this was due to "melancholy" but it is generally assumed he was killed on Edward's orders. Although the Lancastrian cause seemed at an end, the regime was destabilised by a quarrel between Clarence and his brother Gloucester. The two were married to Isabel Neville and Anne Neville , respectively,
6552-754: The horror films Tower of Evil (1972), The Flesh and Blood Show (1972) and Horror Hospital (1973) and the comedy films Bless This House (1972), Carry On Girls (1973) and No Sex Please, We're British (1973). However it was his role as Timothy Lea in the Confessions film series that would make him a household name. He has appeared on television as Fred Pickering in Beryl's Lot (1973–1975), Dave Deacon in Bottle Boys (1984–1985) and Ritchie de Vries in Coronation Street (2013–2014). In 1975, at Drury Lane's New London Theatre , he
6656-608: The island of Gozo where he lived for many years. Askwith returned to Coronation Street on 11 December 2013 as musician Ritchie de Vries . Askwith published his autobiography, titled The Confessions of Robin Askwith in 1999. In 2000, Askwith had a role in the horror film The Asylum .. Askwith made a cameo appearance in the film Run For Your Wife , released in the UK on 14 February 2013. Askwith also appeared in an episode of Emmerdale in 2015. His role as con-man Marcus Hornby in
6760-586: The king's bookes". More than forty of his books survive intact from the 15th century, which suggests they were carefully stored, and are in the Royal Collection of manuscripts , held by the British Library. Edward spent large sums on Eltham Palace , including the extant Great Hall, the site of a feast for 2,000 people in December 1482, shortly before his death in April. He also began great improvements to St George's Chapel, Windsor , where he
6864-550: The lands known as the Burgundian Netherlands , became part of the Holy Roman Empire and France acquired the rest. Edward and his successors lost much of their imfluence. Edward's court was described by a visitor from Europe as "the most splendid ... in all Christendom ". He spent large amounts on expensive status symbols to show off his power and wealth as king of England, while his collecting habits show an eye for style and an interest in scholarship, particularly history. He acquired fine clothes, jewels, and furnishings, as well as
6968-455: The latter orders the boys to drop their weapons, Mick assaults him and cows him into submission. As punishment for their actions, the trio are ordered by the headmaster to clean out a large storeroom beneath the main school hall. They discover a cache of firearms, including automatic weapons and mortars . Joined by Philips and the girl from the café, they commit to revolt against the establishment. On Founders' Day, when parents are visiting
7072-449: The loss of Gascony , an English possession for over 300 years. The Duke of York took over the government, his chief supporters being Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury , and Salisbury's eldest son, Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick . In January 1454, 12-year-old Edward accompanied his father to London to attend the Great Council . The birth of King Henry VI's son, Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales , in October 1453 created
7176-420: The losses, was appointed King Henry's chief minister. English politics became dominated by the struggle between the Yorkists and supporters of the House of Lancaster , or Lancastrians, notably the Duke of Somerset, William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk , and King Henry VI's wife, Margaret of Anjou . Matters came to a head in August 1453 when King Henry VI collapsed into a catatonic stupor on hearing news of
7280-400: The lower sixth form , their penultimate year. They are watched and persecuted by the "Whips", upper sixth-formers given authority as prefects over the other boys. The junior boys are made to act as personal servants for the Whips, who discuss them as sex objects . The headmaster is remote from the boys and the housemasters. The protagonists' housemaster, Mr. Kemp, is easily manipulated by
7384-480: The magazine Total Film named it the 16th greatest British film of all time. In 2017 a poll of 150 actors, directors, writers, producers and critics for Time Out magazine ranked it the 9th best British film ever. McDowell's performance in If.... caught the attention of Stanley Kubrick , who subsequently cast him in his 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess 's A Clockwork Orange . Additionally, McDowell used his performance in If.... in his inspiration for
7488-416: The marriage was an impulsive decision, but differ on whether it was also a "calculated political move". One view is the low status of the Woodvilles was part of the attraction, since unlike the Nevilles, they were reliant on Edward and thus more likely to remain loyal. Others argue if this was his purpose, there were far better options available; all agree it had significant political implications that impacted
7592-481: The new head of the Yorkist party. At this stage of Edward's career, contemporaries like Philippe de Commines described him as handsome, affable, and energetic. Unusually tall for the period at 6 feet 4 inches (193 centimetres), he was an impressive sight in armour, and took care to wear splendid clothes. This was done deliberately to contrast him with King Henry VI, whose physical and mental frailties undermined his position. On 2 February 1461, Edward won
7696-513: The new regime. Backed by wealthy Flemish merchants, in March 1471 Edward landed near Hull , close to his estates in Yorkshire. Supporters were reluctant to join him; the important northern city of York opened its gates only when he claimed to be seeking the return of his dukedom, like Henry IV seventy years earlier. The first significant contingent to join was a group of 600 men under William Parr and James Harrington . Parr fought against
7800-459: The only king in English history since 1066 in active possession of his throne who failed to secure the safe succession of his son. His lack of political foresight is largely to blame for the unhappy aftermath of his early death." Commentators observe a marked difference between Edward's first period as king, and the second. The failure of attempts to reconcile former enemies like Somerset meant he
7904-593: The orders, and why, continues, although their uncle Richard III was the beneficiary. By mid-August, Elizabeth Woodville was certain of the deaths of her sons; after her initial grief turned to fury, she opened secret talks with Margaret Beaufort. She promised her support in return for Henry's agreement to marry her eldest daughter Elizabeth. In December 1483, Henry swore an oath to do so, which he duly carried out after his coronation in October 1485. Prior to his succession, Richard III declared his nephews illegitimate, on
8008-444: The particular ethos of a public school and the general flavour of any structured community, thus achieving a clear allegorical force without sacrificing a whit of his exploration of an essentially British institution. The impeccable logic of the conclusion is in no way diminished by having been lifted from Vigo 's Zéro de Conduite [1933], made thirty-five years earlier. If... was also a timely film – shooting began two months before
8112-419: The potential to "change the world with a bullet in the right place." Their clashes with school authorities become increasingly contentious. Eventually, a brutal caning by the Whips spurs them to action. During a school Combined Cadet Force military drill, Mick acquires live ammunition, which he, Wallace, and Knightly use to open fire on a group of boys and masters, including Kemp and the school chaplain. When
8216-728: The rest of Edward's reign. One reason for this was that twelve of the new queen's siblings survived into adulthood, creating a large pool of competitors for offices and estates, as well as in the matrimony market. Resentment built when her sisters made a series of advantageous unions, including that of Catherine Woodville to Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham ; Anne Woodville to William, heir to Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex ; and Eleanor Woodville with Anthony, heir to Edmund Grey, 1st Earl of Kent . In 1467, Edward dismissed his Lord Chancellor , Warwick's brother George Neville, Archbishop of York . Warwick responded by building an alliance with Edward's disaffected younger brother and heir,
8320-495: The roof were filmed at Cheltenham College after term ended. The Speech Day interior was filmed inside St John's Church on Albion Street, Cheltenham . The church was later demolished. The motorbike shop was filmed at the Broadway Motor Company on Gladstone Road, Wimbledon . The film makes use of black and white sequences. In the audio commentary to the 2007 DVD release, Malcolm McDowell confirmed that lighting
8424-417: The same continuity of the first film, and have little in common other than the main character of Mick Travis and several identically named characters in similar roles (on the commentary track for O Lucky Man! , Malcolm McDowell refers to it as a "so-called trilogy"). At the time of Anderson's death he had completed a final draft of a proper sequel to If.... , but it was never made. The sequel takes place during
8528-845: The school was allowed by the then Secretary of the Board of the British Board of Film Censors , John Trevelyan , on the condition that shots of male genitalia from the shower scene were removed. Music featured in the film includes the 'Sanctus', from the Missa Luba , a rendering of the Roman Latin mass sung to African beat by a Congolese choir. The film closed the London Film Festival on 5 December 1968 before opening in London later that month. Time Out wrote: "A modern classic in which Anderson minutely captures both
8632-476: The school, the group starts a fire under the hall, smoking everyone out of the building. They then open fire on them from the rooftop. Led by a visiting General who had been giving a speech, the staff, students, and parents break open the Combined Cadet Force armoury and begin firing back. The headmaster tries to stop the fight, imploring the group to listen to reason . The girl shoots him between
8736-719: The stage Confessions sequel The Further Confessions of a Window Cleaner and Terry Johnson 's Dead Funny . From 11 December 2012 – 27 January 2013, he appeared at the Mill at Sonning , Reading, Berkshire in Ray Cooney 's farce Caught in the Net . In pantomimes , Askwith has appeared with the Chuckle Brothers in Dick Whittington, with Frank Bruno and Sooty in a Wolverhampton production of Goldilocks and
8840-509: The surrender of John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford , who survived to command the Lancastrian army at Bosworth in 1485. Clarence was widely suspected of involvement, a factor in his eventual execution in the Tower on 18 February 1478; claims he was "drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine" appears to have been a joke by Edward, referring to his favourite drink. In 1475, Edward allied with Burgundy and declared war on France. With Duke Charles busy with
8944-401: The three-sided diplomatic contest between England, France, and Burgundy, with two of the three seeking to ally against the third. As Flemish merchants were the largest buyers of English wool, Edward was generally pro-Burgundian, although Duke Charles' reluctance to support him in 1471 cooled their relationship. The death of Charles in 1477 led to the 1482 Treaty of Arras ; Flanders, along with
9048-543: The throne, Henry VII annulled the Titulus Regius and arrested Stillington, who died in prison in 1491. Despite this apparent resolution, the Yorkist cause continued well into the 16th century. The most famous are the pretenders Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck , but Yorkist challengers remained a concern for Henry VII and his son. In 1541, Henry VIII executed Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury , daughter of
9152-421: The town of Edinburgh , but not Edinburgh Castle , where James was being held prisoner by his nobles. Albany switched sides and without siege equipment, the English army was forced to withdraw, with little to show for an expensive campaign, apart from the capture of Berwick Castle . Edward's health began to fail, and he became subject to an increasing number of ailments; his physicians attributed this in part to
9256-533: Was Jane Shore , later compelled by Richard III to perform public penance at Paul's Cross ; Thomas More claimed this backfired, since "albeit she were out of al array save her kyrtle only: yet went she so fair & lovely ... that her great shame wan her much praise." Edward had several acknowledged illegitimate children; There are claims for many others, including Mary, second wife of Henry Harman of Ellam, and Isabel Mylbery (born circa 1470), who married John Tuchet, son of John Tuchet, 6th Baron Audley . However,
9360-412: Was a clear demonstration he was not in control of the king, despite suggestions to the contrary. Edward's motives have been widely discussed by contemporaries and historians. Although Elizabeth's mother, Jacquetta of Luxembourg , came from the upper nobility, her father, Richard Woodville, Lord Rivers , was a middle-ranking provincial baron. The Privy Council told Edward with unusual frankness that "she
9464-618: Was buried in 1483; later completed by Henry VII, it was badly damaged during the First English Civil War , and little of the original work remains. Edward had ten children by Elizabeth Woodville , seven of whom survived him; they were declared illegitimate under the 1484 Titulus Regius , an act repealed by Henry VII, who married Edward's eldest daughter, Elizabeth. Edward had numerous mistresses, including Lady Eleanor Talbot and Elizabeth Lucy , possibly daughter of Thomas Waite (or Wayte), of Southampton. The most famous
9568-636: Was compensated with the title Marquess of Montagu , but this was a significant demotion for a key supporter. In March 1470, Warwick and Clarence exploited a private feud to start the 1470 Lincolnshire Rebellion ; when it was defeated, the two fled to France in May 1470. Seeing an opportunity, Louis XI persuaded Warwick to negotiate with his enemy, Margaret of Anjou; she eventually agreed, first making him kneel before her in silence for fifteen minutes. With French support, Warwick landed in England on 9 September 1470 and announced his intention to restore Henry. By now,
9672-475: Was demolished to make way for the Whitgift Centre ; pupil extras from the separate Whitgift School were engaged at £5 per day. Anderson originally approached Charterhouse School and later Cranleigh School for permission to shoot the film: negotiations were going well until the schools discovered the content of the film and pulled out. The outside shots of the school including the final showdown on
9776-478: Was found dead in the Tower of London , possibly killed on Edward's orders. Despite facing an overseas threat from Henry Tudor , the last remaining Lancastrian claimant, Edward reigned in relative peace for the next twelve years. Edward nearly restarted the Hundred Years' War , following his invasion of France in 1475, but he was assuaged by Louis XI in the Treaty of Picquigny . This treaty formally ended
9880-506: Was hastily appointed king, before marching north, where the two sides met at the Battle of Towton . Fought on 29 March in the middle of a snowstorm, it was the bloodiest battle ever to take place on English soil, and ended in a decisive Yorkist victory. Estimates of the dead range from 9,000 to 20,000; figures are uncertain, as most of the mass graves were emptied or moved over the centuries, while corpses were generally stripped of clothing or armour before burial. Nevertheless, casualties among
9984-621: Was known as the Earl of March . Both his parents were direct descendants of King Edward III , giving Edward a potential claim to the throne. This was strengthened in 1447, when York became heir to the childless King Henry VI on the death of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester . Allegations of illegitimacy were discounted at the time as politically inspired, and by later historians. Edward and his siblings George, Duke of Clarence , and Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy , were physically very similar, all three being tall and blonde, in contrast to their father,
10088-616: Was little support for Warwick or Clarence; Edward was released in September and resumed the throne. Outwardly, the situation remained unchanged, but tensions persisted and Edward did nothing to reduce the Nevilles' sense of vulnerability. The Percys, traditional rivals of the Neville family in the North, fought for Lancaster at Towton; their titles and estates were confiscated and given to Warwick's brother John Neville. In early 1470, Edward reinstated Henry Percy as Earl of Northumberland ; John
10192-471: Was married to Mary Smith, an aromatherapist . Askwith lives on Gozo , a Mediterranean island near Malta , having moved there in 1991, where his hobbies include swimming, underwater diving and yachting , however he regularly returns to the UK for tours, events and filming. Askwith is a great-nephew of the comic Robb Wilton . He is a passionate cricket follower and also a supporter of Queens Park Rangers F.C. (incomplete) If.... If....
10296-405: Was no wife for a prince such as himself, for she was not the daughter of a duke or earl." The marriage was certainly unwise and unusual, although not unheard of; Henry VI's mother, Catherine of Valois , married her chamberlain, Owen Tudor . By all accounts, Elizabeth possessed considerable charm of person and intellect, while Edward was used to getting what he wanted. Historians generally accept
10400-406: Was noticeably more ruthless after 1471, including the execution of his brother Clarence. In his youth, Edward was a capable and charismatic military commander, who led from the front, but as he grew older, the energy noted by contemporaries became less apparent. One effect of this was that Parliament became increasingly reluctant to approve taxes for wars which Edward failed to prosecute, then used
10504-552: Was only with Henry's evil counsellors. In 1460, Edward crossed the English Channel with Warwick and Salisbury, and marched into London. At Northampton in July, he commanded one of three divisions in a Yorkist victory that led to the capture of Henry VI. York returned from Ireland; on entering the Palace of Westminster , he declared himself king, a claim greeted by the assembled lords in silence. The Act of Accord agreed
10608-592: Was replaced by Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset . Edward and Edmund were probably brought up at Ludlow Castle , in the Welsh Marches , where the Duke of York was the dominant landowner. In 1447, the Duke of York was made chief governor of Ireland , although he did not take up the post until 1449. Most of Normandy was recaptured by the French, leaving Calais as the last English possession in Northern France; Somerset, whom many held responsible for
10712-677: Was ruled by Charles the Bold , husband of his sister Margaret; he provided minimal help, something Edward never forgot. The restored Lancastrian regime faced the same issue that dominated Henry's previous reign. Mental and physical frailties made him incapable of ruling and resulted in an internal struggle for control, made worse because the coalition that put him back on the throne consisted of bitter enemies. Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset , held Warwick responsible for his father 's death in 1455, while he had executed his elder brother in 1464; Warwick and Clarence quickly found themselves isolated by
10816-684: Was voted "Most Promising Newcomer – Male" at the Evening Standard British Film Awards . Askwith's most recent television roles include Emmerdale , Benidorm and a main role in The Madame Blanc Mysteries . Askwith was born in Southport , Lancashire , England, the eldest child of Nelson and Hazel Askwith (née Cookson). His father was an accountant but served in the Royal Navy during
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