The Missionary

Set in 1905, this comedy follows the Reverend Charles Fortesque, who returns to England after spending a decade as a missionary in Africa. Upon his arrival, his bishop assigns him a new responsibility to provide spiritual guidance to the prostitutes of London. To establish this mission, Fortesque must secure funding, leading him to seek support from the wealthy Lady Ames, who demands a physical relationship in exchange for her financial help. Meanwhile, he finds that the only way to convince the women to leave the streets is to pay them, which eventually leads to more intimate connections.

The film was directed by Richard Loncraine and represents his second directorial effort, following Full Circle. Michael Palin wrote the screenplay and also served as a producer and the lead actor. The cast includes Maggie Smith, Trevor Howard, Denholm Elliott, Graham Crowden, and Phoebe Nicholls. Produced by Columbia Pictures and HandMade Films in the United Kingdom, the movie earned 7 million USD at the worldwide box office. On TMDB, the film holds a rating of 5.6/10 based on 54 votes.