Running Late (1992)
A celebrated TV interviewer's life unravels in this sharp British dark comedy written by Simon Gray and directed by Udayan Prasad.
Running Late - Movie Information
Running Late - Plot
Television interviewer George Grant, renowned for his ability to get at the truth, is at the peak of his career. But when he receives a message at his office that his wife needs to see him urgently - a matter of life and death - his life is irreversibly altered. And so the frantic search begins for George Grant's truth - and his wife.
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Running Late - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Udayan Prasad
Main Cast
- Peter Bowles
- Michael Byrne
- Adrian Rawlins
- Suzette Llewellyn
- Jim McManus
- Carole Nimmons
- Lucy Bayler
- Gino Melvazzi
- Vincent Riotta
- James Fleet
Writers
- Simon Gray
Producers
- Verity Lambert
Running Late - FAQs
What is Running Late about?
Running Late follows George Grant, a celebrated TV interviewer known for uncovering the truth, whose carefully ordered life is thrown into chaos when an urgent message from his wife arrives. What begins as a domestic crisis turns into a darkly comic, frantic search for answers — and for the woman he thought he knew.
Does Running Late have a dark or comedic tone?
It's a blend of both. Written by Simon Gray, Running Late leans into dark comedy, using George Grant's professional skill at exposing others' truths as an ironic counterpoint to his complete blindness about his own life. The humor is dry, understated, and distinctly British in its sensibility.
What makes George Grant an ironic protagonist?
George Grant is a man whose career is built on getting people to reveal their deepest truths on television — yet he's utterly unprepared when his own life demands the same honesty. That gap between his professional persona and personal reality is the engine of the film's dark, witty comedy.
Who wrote the screenplay for Running Late?
The screenplay was written by Simon Gray, the acclaimed British playwright and screenwriter known for sharp, psychologically rich comedies. Gray's signature wit and interest in self-deception are very much on display here, making Running Late a characteristically incisive piece of British television writing.
Who are the main actors in Running Late?
Peter Bowles leads the cast as George Grant, the self-assured TV interviewer at the center of the story. He's joined by Michael Byrne, Adrian Rawlins, Suzette Llewellyn, Carole Nimmons as his wife Sally, and James Fleet, among others — a strong ensemble of British television talent.
Who directed Running Late?
Running Late was directed by Udayan Prasad, a British filmmaker known for his work in both television and cinema. Prasad brings a controlled, understated style to the material that suits Simon Gray's dry, character-driven comedy perfectly, letting the performances and irony do the heavy lifting.
How long is Running Late?
Running Late runs for 75 minutes — a tight, focused runtime that suits its single-day, escalating-crisis structure. At just over an hour, it moves briskly and never overstays its welcome, delivering its dark comic premise with economy and precision.
Is Running Late based on a stage play?
Running Late was written directly for television by Simon Gray rather than adapted from one of his stage plays. However, it shares the theatrical DNA of Gray's stage work — tight dialogue, a claustrophobic sense of mounting dread, and a protagonist whose self-image is slowly and painfully dismantled.
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