[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Charlie Bubbles

  • 1968
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
906
YOUR RATING
Albert Finney and Liza Minnelli in Charlie Bubbles (1968)
A married writer has an affair with his secretary.
Play trailer2:23
1 Video
26 Photos
ComedyDrama

A married writer has an affair with his secretary.A married writer has an affair with his secretary.A married writer has an affair with his secretary.

  • Director
    • Albert Finney
  • Writer
    • Shelagh Delaney
  • Stars
    • Albert Finney
    • Colin Blakely
    • Billie Whitelaw
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    906
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Albert Finney
    • Writer
      • Shelagh Delaney
    • Stars
      • Albert Finney
      • Colin Blakely
      • Billie Whitelaw
    • 16User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 3 wins total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:23
    Trailer

    Photos26

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 19
    View Poster

    Top cast32

    Edit
    Albert Finney
    Albert Finney
    • Charlie Bubbles
    Colin Blakely
    Colin Blakely
    • Smokey Pickles
    Billie Whitelaw
    Billie Whitelaw
    • Lottie Bubbles
    Liza Minnelli
    Liza Minnelli
    • Eliza
    Timothy Garland
    • Jack Bubbles
    Richard Pearson
    Richard Pearson
    • Accountant
    Nicholas Phipps
    Nicholas Phipps
    • Agent
    Peter Sallis
    Peter Sallis
    • Solicitor
    Charles Hill
    • Head Waiter
    Charles Lamb
    • Mr. Noseworthy
    Margery Mason
    • Mrs. Noseworthy
    Diana Coupland
    • Maudie
    George Innes
    George Innes
    • Garage Attendant
    Arthur Pentelow
    Arthur Pentelow
    • Man With Car
    Alan Lake
    • Airman
    Yootha Joyce
    Yootha Joyce
    • Woman in Cafe
    Peter Carlisle
    • Man in Cafe
    Wendy Padbury
    Wendy Padbury
    • Girl in Cafe
    • Director
      • Albert Finney
    • Writer
      • Shelagh Delaney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    6.3906
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6CinemaSerf

    Charlie Bubbles

    This is a surprisingly pedestrian affair from Albert Finney as he directs herself in the title role as a writer who has made plenty of money from his career. He has a lovely convertible Rolls Royce, a home with staff and a rather prurient security system and even manages the odd high-class food fight with his friend "Smokey" (Colin Blakely) but he is divorced, has a wayward young son and very little fulfilment in his life. It's on a trip to visit his former family with his secretary (Liza Minnelli) that we learn a little more about the causes of his divorce and of his new attentions as we meet ex-wife "Lotte" (Billie Whitelaw) and son "Jack" (the frequently scene-stealing Timothy Garland) and appreciate the somewhat enthusiastic interest in his visit by the local media. This has something of the stage play to it, and perhaps it might have worked better within the confines of a theatre giving it a degree more intensity. As it is, though, I found it all a rather lacklustre observation of the life of a man about whom I really didn't care. Aside from the aforementioned food fight, there is very little humour here and to be honest I was more than a little disinterested in his problems and peccadilloes by the end. Minnelli doesn't really feature enough to make that much difference although there is one rather awkward scene that is perhaps not one you'd probably ever have expected to see but that isn't really enough to kickstart or sustain this. It's all very proficiently put together but is an unremarkable ninety minutes, sadly.
    8gsygsy

    Excellent, under-rated movie

    This excellent film is about the effects of displacement, of being a fish out of water. Working-class Charlie Bubbles has ascended from his humble origins to become a successful writer. He has clearly not handled the transition well from within, but it's hardly surprising when there are so many hurdles to overcome in the world outside of himself. The story would have been familiar to a lot of people in Britain in the 60s, as the first generation to benefit from the post-WW2 welfare state came to adulthood. CHARLIE BUBBLES nails this more effectively than any other film I know. Playwright Shelagh (A TASTE OF HONEY) Delaney's script is full of acute observation; the acting is marvellous, the cinematography (by a young Peter Suschitzky, now better known as David Cronenberg's DOP) noticeably European, the charming score (by Misha Donat - Mr Suschitzky's sister) a nod to to the work of Georges Delerue and Nino Rota. Indeed, the movie as a whole leans more towards New Wave and Fellini than the realistic school in which Finney made his name as an actor. Here he is also the director - his one and only feature film in that capacity - and a very creditable achievement it is too. How CHARLIE BUBBLES reads to people unfamiliar with its social and historical background, I don't know. For me it is one of the finest British films of the sixties, but it somehow gets overlooked in the enthusiasm for THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG-DISTANCE RUNNER, A KIND OF LOVING and of course Saturday NIGHT AND Sunday MORNING. They are all fine films, but so is this one. Re-assessment in its favour is long overdue.
    9stuhh2001

    one of finney's finest

    Although the apparent unhappiness of Finney as a successfull, and rich writer might seem difficult to accept, think of all the things you thought of as beyond you as a kid. Some of the people reading these words are making a lot of money, live in a beautiful house, have a beautiful, handsome, wife, husband, and dread each new day. Some of it is good old chemical deppression, and some of it is, who the hell knows. That Finney, a working class kid, realized this at such a young age makes me respect him even more than my admiration for him as an actor. The film I feel looks back to the post WW2 Italian existential movies where very little happens. Life is almost slow motion wandering around. Witness Finney's pitiful relationship with his son and his complete lack of interest in his legal an financial affairs with his lawyers in the opening scene. The cast is wonderful. I'm sure the idea of Liza Minelli as his assistant was laughed at. Liza, playing with British pros? Are you kidding? But it works. Billie Whitelaw was born for the movies, and is incidentally Samuel Beckett's favorite actress. She has premiered many of his plays. That Julia Roberts is a superstar, and few people know who Billie Whitelaw is, says something about "something". As a personal aside, one of the great supporting character actors, the late Colin Blakely, who plays Finney's failed sidekick and I, met in front of a London theatre. I told him I came all the way from the US to tell him how wonderful I thought he was. "Did you see my show tonight", he asked. "No sir, I haven't had a chance yet", I replied. He quickly turned away, and walked in a different direction!!!!
    5moonspinner55

    The distinction of the British classes...

    Interesting but ultimately unmoving drama (with quirks) has the title-named character, a rich writer who lives in plushy comfort, unable to get over his guilt of having money. When Charlie visits his Northern haunts, where the streets are filled with potholes and the surroundings match the sky--all in gray--we wonder, "Why is he so obsessed with his early poverty?" and "Why can't he get on with his life?" Director-star Albert Finney doesn't give us much to go on (or maybe you have to be British to understand the symbols inherent in British society) and most of his film feels like a put-on. Liza Minnelli has a small part as an American secretary, and she occasionally pushes her kooky "Americanisms" too far; however, though the role isn't much, Minnelli has a strange, slightly zonked/slightly exotic presence, and when she performs in a low-key she's appealing. As Mrs. Bubbles, Billie Whitelaw got most of the acclaim, but it's Liza we remember. As for the much-talked about finale, I thought it profound in its fantastic way, but, like the rest of "Charlie Bubbles", it exists to please and understand itself, leaving the rest of us on the outside looking in. ** from ****
    8Capboy

    Mostly remembered as Liza's first film, this is worth your time

    "Charlie Bubbles" actually won Billie Whitelaw a Best Supporting Actress award from the New York Film Critics circle back in 1968, but it is mostly remembered today as Liza Minnelli's film debut. She's in it for about a third of the running time, and it's an assured comic performance, quite different from her later screen personas. Albert Finney's direction and performance are fresh and intriguing, and Whitelaw deserved her accolade--she walks off with the last third of the film. You'll either love or hate the ending.

    More like this

    Samedi soir, dimanche matin
    7.5
    Samedi soir, dimanche matin
    Gumshoe
    6.4
    Gumshoe
    Loin de la foule déchaînée
    7.2
    Loin de la foule déchaînée
    Un homme pour le bagne
    7.0
    Un homme pour le bagne
    Agatha
    6.2
    Agatha
    Subway
    6.5
    Subway
    Voyage à deux
    7.3
    Voyage à deux
    Bellman and True
    6.7
    Bellman and True
    Sur les ailes de la danse
    7.4
    Sur les ailes de la danse
    La rose et la flèche
    6.5
    La rose et la flèche
    Dis-moi que tu m'aimes, Junie Moon
    6.1
    Dis-moi que tu m'aimes, Junie Moon
    L'extravagant Mr. Deeds
    7.8
    L'extravagant Mr. Deeds

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was a very personal project for Albert Finney, who made his debut as director with it and made it for his own company, Memorial Enterprises. He got fairly lavish backing from an American company, Universal, who were trying to set up a system for making films in England, but then had the greatest difficulty in getting the finished film shown. He made the film in 1966, but, although advance word on it was very positive, and the film eventually won awards as well as rave reviews, it was not shown in either the US or Britain until 1968; its American opening was well over six months in advance of its British one. Finney did his best to promote the film in several countries, but it was written off as a box-office failure. He hoped to direct in films again, and announced a film to be called "The Girl In Melanie Klein" in the early 1970s; but he never made it and never directed another theatrical feature.
    • Goofs
      The credits suggest that the place where Charlie and Eliza meet the airman is a cafe. It is not: places on the motorway where refreshments and fuel can be obtained are called motorway service stations in Britain.
    • Quotes

      Charlie Bubbles: The back door was wide open. Anybody could have walked in instead of me. You might have got a sex maniac.

      Lottie Bubbles: Not with my luck.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Stella Street: Very Twisty Turny (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Trumpets and Tequila
      (uncredited)

      Music by Syd Dale

      KPM Music Ltd

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ16

    • How long is Charlie Bubbles?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 15, 1968 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Čarli Babls
    • Filming locations
      • Admiralty Arch, The Mall, St James's, Westminster, Greater London, England, UK(Establishing shot)
    • Production companies
      • Memorial Enterprises
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 29m(89 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.