A stolen masterpiece and a working-class crusade: the true story behind The Duke
In short: In 1961, a self-educated taxi driver from Newcastle swiped Goya's Portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery. His motive was not greed, but a quixotic campaign to secure free television licences for the elderly. The Duke, a 2020 film, dramatizes this improbable act of civil disobedience.
The Duke, directed by Roger Michell, chronicles the life of Kempton Bunton, a man defined by his strong beliefs and advocacy for the common person. After being jailed for refusing to pay his TV licence—a protest against the financial burden placed on pensioners—Bunton orchestrates a high-stakes ransom plot. He demands the government exempt the elderly from licence fees in exchange for the safe return of the stolen Goya painting, which he and his son Jackie had hidden in a wardrobe.
The film explores the trial at the Old Bailey, where Bunton’s barrister, Jeremy Hutchinson, mounts a daring defence. He argues that Bunton never intended to permanently deprive the National Gallery of the artwork, but rather 'borrowed' it to advance his political cause. The narrative takes a turn when it is revealed that Bunton’s son, Jackie, was the actual thief, and his father had merely stepped in to take the blame. The jury ultimately acquits Bunton of the theft, convicting him only for the loss of the painting's frame.
Beyond the courtroom drama, the film serves as a poignant exploration of grief and reconciliation. Bunton and his wife, Dorothy, struggle to process the death of their daughter, Marion, who died in a bicycle accident at age 18. Their eventual healing is captured in a final scene where they watch the 1962 film Dr. No, which features a cameo of the very painting Bunton had stolen. While the film notes that Bunton’s specific plays were never produced and the frame remained missing, his long-term goal was partially realized: in 2000, the UK government made TV licences free for those over 75, a policy that remained in effect until August 2020.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Duke (2020 film)
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