Richard Curtis

writer, director
Short Film

Blackadder: Back & Forth


Rowan Atkinson’s historically funny Blackadder character comes to the big screen for a final 30-minute episode. Each of the earlier TV series followed one of Lord Edmund Blackadder′s many ancestors in a famous time period, but now the modern-day Blackadder announces to his dinner party that he’s just built a time machine based on da Vinci’s specification, after which he wagers each of guests £10,000 that he can use the machine to retrieve any named object from history. Of course, Blackadder himself thinks it’s all going to be nothing more than the best New Year’s Eve prank ever, but the dinosaurs, Queen Elizabeth I, Will Shakespeare, Robin Hood, Maid Marion, Napoleon, Wellington, Hadrian, and others have different ideas.

Now, if only we could get Mr. Bean into a time machine. —Michael Main
Elizabeth: How on Earth can one look at the past? You can’t see something that’s already happened.
The Bishop: Unless you’re on the lavatory.
The Viscount: Uh! Good point, Bish!
Blackadder: Yes, or . . . or unless one’s got a time machine.
Title card from the movie Blackadder: Back and Forth, superimposed over a
                three-peaked mansion.
  • Comedy
  • Definite Time Travel
Feature Film

About Time

  • written and directed by Richard Curtis
  • (Edinburgh International Film Festival, 27 June 2013)

Poor Rachel McAdams—always the bride, never the time traveler. This time it’s romantic comedy with Domhnall Gleeson in the time traveling, co-star role. —Michael Main
I can’t kill Hitler or shag Helen of Troy, unfortunately.
Laughing and smiling Rachel McAdams (as Mary in a red dress) and Domhnall
                Gleeson (as Tim in a grey suit).
  • Romance
  • Comedy
  • Definite Time Travel