Scoop (1987 film)

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This article is about the 1987 film. For other uses, see Scoop.

Scoop
The DVD cover
Directed by	Gavin Millar
Produced by	Sue Birtwistle
Written by	Evelyn Waugh (novel) William Boyd
Starring	Denholm Elliott Michael Hordern Herbert Lom
Music by	Stanley Myers
Release date(s)	1987
Running time	100 / 120 min.
Country	U.K.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Scoop is a 1987 TV film directed by Gavin Millar, adapted by William Boyd from the 1938 satirical novel by Evelyn Waugh. It was procuced by Sue Birtwistle with executive producers Nick Elliott and Patrick Garland. Original music was made by Stanley Myers. The story is about a reporter sent to Ishmaelia (a fictional African state) by accident.

1 Plot summary
2 Cast
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Plot summary

In a case of mistaken identity, a naive young columnist for the Daily Beast is sent to cover a war in Ishmaelia. A confused editor, Mr. Salter (Denholm Elliott) acting on the orders of his much feared 'boss', Lord Copper (Donald Pleasence) tells William Boot (Michael Maloney) to cover the ongoing war as the correspondent for 'The Daily Beast'. Boot normally writes about British country life, but he's too timid, and worried about losing his job for good, to say otherwise when he's ordered overseas. Boot is soon up to his neck in intrigue. All the foreign journalists are confined to the capital of Ishmaelia, and they are not allowed to leave unless permission has been given by the Minister of Propaganda. The journalists all stick together, drinking and trying to pass time, but they watch each other jealously for signs that someone may have a story to send home. However, Lord Hitchcock, the correspondent for the Daily Brute is noticeably absent, and this sends the reporters on an insane quest into the desert in the hope of finding the sought after 'Scoop'

The story is full of bizarre characters; an insane Swedish diplomat who goes berserk when he drinks too much Absinthe, the mysterious Mr. Baldwin (Herbert Lom), and a German woman who claims she somehow or another lost her husband. The hapless William Boot appears to be completely out of his depth in the middle of all this chaos and confusion.