We Think the World of You

We Think the World of You is a 1988 film directed by Colin Gregg and starring Gary Oldman and Alan Bates. It is adapted from the 1960 J. R. Ackerley novel of the same name. It was produced by Tomasso Jandelli and Cinecom Pictures.

We Think the World of You
Directed by	Colin Gregg
Written by	J. R. Ackerley (novel) Hugh Stoddart (screenplay)
Produced by	Tomasso Jandelli Paul Cowan
Starring	Gary Oldman Alan Bates Max Wall Liz Smith Frances Barber
Cinematography	Michael Garfath
Edited by	Peter Delfgou
Music by	Julian Jacobson Jeremy Sands
Production company	Cinecom Pictures
Release date	22 September 1989 (1989-09-22) (UK)
Running time	92 min.
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	£1.36 million[1]
Box office	$20,998 (US)

Plot

In post-war London an aimless young married bisexual man, Johnny, is sent to prison. He is forced to entrust his beloved Alsatian dog, Evie, to the reluctant care of his down-trodden parents and older, middle-class ex-lover and best friend, Frank. After a series of visits to Johnny's parents' home, Frank bonds with the dog whose mischievous spirit reminds him of his incarcerated friend. As it becomes apparent to Frank that Johnny's father is beating the dog, who is left for days on end in a small yard, a class war erupts over Evie's welfare, exacerbated by Johnny's manipulative and antagonistic wife Megan, whose sole aim is to claim Johnny back from Frank on his forthcoming release. A set of tragi-comic relationships evolve with the dog coming to represent the hold they have over each other.

Cast

• Alan Bates as Frank Meadows
• Max Wall as Tom
• Liz Smith as Millie
• Frances Barber as Megan
• Gary Oldman as Johnny
• Barbara New as Mrs. Grant

Reception

We Think the World of You has not garnered enough reviews at Rotten Tomatoes to produce an overall rating. Roger Ebert gave the film 3/4 stars, writing: "This is a film that rewards attention. It is wise and perceptive about human nature and it sees how all of us long for love and freedom as well as how the undeserved, unrequited love of an animal is sometimes so much more meaningful than the crabbed, grudging, selfish terms that are often laid down by human beings."^[2]

Home Video

We Think the World of You was released in the US on VHS and laserdisc in 1989 by Orion Home Video. It was released in the UK on DVD in 2011 by Guerilla Films.