Noël Coward grew up in poverty and left school when he was only nine years old. He was queer in a very straight world. Yet by the age of 30, he was the highest paid writer in the world and a star on Broadway. He wrote, directed and acted in some of the finest plays and movies of all time, including Private Lives, Blithe Spirit, Brief Encounter and In Which We Serve. He also became a world-renowned songwriter and performer of whom Frank Sinatra said, ‘If you want to hear how a song should be sung, go see Mr Noel Coward’. And if that wasn’t enough, he was also a spy during the Second World War.
Against all odds, Noël Coward became the most successful multi-talented artist of the 20th century. He defined an era and led an extraordinary life. This is his story told in his own words, music and unique home movies.
Directed by Academy Award and BAFTA nominee Barnaby Thompson, the film features Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Harold Pinter, Frank Sinatra, Lauren Bacall, Michael Caine and Lucille Ball. Rupert Everett is the voice of Noël Coward, the film is narrated by Alan Cumming, and Adam Lambert sings the film’s theme song in this inspirational and incredible story.
This screening is followed by a recorded Q&A with director Barnaby Thompson.