The Honorary Consul

Song facts

From Wikipedia:

The Honorary Consul, also known as Beyond the Limit, is a 1983 British-Mexican drama film directed by John Mackenzie and starring Michael Caine, Richard Gere, Bob Hoskins, and Elpidia Carrillo. It is based on the novel The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene.

Set in a small politically unstable Latin American country, the story follows the half-English, half-Latin doctor, Eduardo Plarr (Richard Gere), who left his home to find a better life. Along the way he meets an array of people, including the British Consul Charley Fortnum (Michael Caine), a representative in Latin America who is trying to keep a revolution from occurring, who is also a remorseful alcoholic. Another person the doctor meets is Clara (Elpidia Carrillo), whom he immediately desires, but there is a problem: Clara is Charley’s wife.

From The Beatles Monthly Book, N°94, February 1984:

Guitarist John Williams’ version of Paul McCartney’s instrumental title music for the movie “The Honorary Consul” was officially released as a 7” single in a picture bag by Island Records (IS 155) on December 19th. (Our use of the phrase ‘officially released’ is quite deliberate: at the time of this issue going to press in mid-January the disc had yet to arrive at radio stations or record stores). The record is entitled, predictably enough, ‘‘Paul McCartney’s Theme From The Honorary Consul” (a lot of thought went into that one!), and Paul’s involvement with the picture stems from his friendship with John McKenzie, the director of the film who, as you may remember, also directed Paul’s excellent promo video for “Take It Away” in June 1982. […]

Mark Lewisohn

Last updated on May 1, 2020