About Withnail & I

Financed by HandMade Films and released in 1986, Withnail and I was originally intended as a novel.  It was written in winter 1969/70, and after some positive feedback from friends, was turned into a screenplay in 1980.

“By accident rather than design it has a timeless quality that all writers love to have written into their work."

The film was not a great success on its initial release, but soon attracted a cult following that lead to its re-release in 1996.

For more information, see the brilliant BFI Modern Classics book.