Scandal (1989)

In 1959 London, an osteopath (John Hurt) with rich and titled clients, befriends a 19 year old nightclub dancer (Joanne Whalley) and though she moves in with him, it's strictly platonic. But soon the doctor introduces the girl and her 16 year old friend (the cat eyed Bridget Fonda) to a series of influential and wealthy men including the Minister Of War (Ian McKellen) and the resulting scandal will topple the Conservative government in England. The Profumo affair is a vague memory today but it was indeed a sensational scandal that remained in the headlines for months in the early 1960s. This film account of that affair is very well done being at various turns; sexy, touching, witty, tragic and just plain juicy. We can see what a loser Hurt's social climbing doctor is within minutes of meeting him and his scapegoat status seems almost a cruel sacrifice. One can't really blame the girls, at least as portrayed here, they're two silly teens out for a bit of fun who find themselves over their heads. Directed by Michael Caton Jones. The score is by Carl Davis and there's a terrific end credit song sung by Dusty Springfield, Nothing Has Been Proved. With Jeroen Krabbe, Britt Ekland, Daniel Massey, Ronald Fraser and Roland Gift.