“The Duke” is a whodunit. Except we know from the start who did it. Or do we?

“The Duke” is about the theft of a valuable Goya painting by an elderly British man. The film is based on a true story that happened in 1961 when “The Duke of Wellington” (circa 1812-’14), a painting by Francisco de Goya (1746- 1828), was stolen from The National Gallery, London, England, allegedly by Kempton Bunton.

“The Duke” is directed by Roger Michell (“Blackbird,” 2019; “My Cousin Rachel,“ 2017; “Hyde Park on Hudson,” 2012; “Morning Glory,” 2010; “Venus,” 2006; “Notting Hill,” 1999) from a screenplay by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman (their theatrical feature film screenplay debuts).

Michell directs at a leisurely pace that works well for the actors and storyline. The cinematography by director of photography Mike Eley is documentary-style with some nice flourishes. The score by George Fenton (four-time Oscar nominee, including “The Fisher King,” 1991; “Dangerous Liaisons,” 1988; “Cry Freedom,” 1987; ‘Gandhi,” 1982) supports the film’s overall elegance.

The screenplay puts the courtroom trial at the end of the film. There’s a reason for that. No spoilers here. Stay to the very end of “The Duke” and all will be explained.

Jim Broadbent (supporting actor Oscar recipient, “Iris,” 2001, and with some 167 acting credits on IMDB) has a jolly good time in the role of Kempton Bunton. That’s his real name.

Bunton (1904 - 1976) was the London cabbie accused of stealing the Goya painting of “The Duke of Wellington.” Bunton was an aspiring unsuccessful playwright. Bunton advocated for free TV when a fee was charged for BBC telecasts.

Helen Mirren (actress Oscar recipient, “The Queen,” 2006) gives as good as she gets as Dorothy, the sassy wife of Bunton. The scenes between Broadbent and Mirren make the film worthwhile.

The title, “The Duke,” not only refers to “The Duke of Wellington” painting, but is a metaphor for Kempton Bunton and his way with the world and, most especially, his relationship with his wife. Being charged with the theft of a valuable painting apparently works as marriage therapy, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Broadbent’s scenes with Fionn Whitehead (“Dunkirk,” 2017), who makes an impression as Bunton’s son, Jackie, are also excellent. Jack Bandeira (Kenny, brother of Jackie) is memorable as a tough small-time criminal.

“The Duke” was delayed from a scheduled 2020 release because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown. The director of “The Duke,” John Michell, died in 2021. “The Duke” is the final theatrical motion picture that Michell directed.

“The Duke” is in the tradition of films about delightfully, and frustratingly, eccentric elderly persons. Think “Harry and Tonto” (1974), for which Art Carney received a lead actor Oscar; “The Sunshine Boys” (1975), starring Walter Matthau and George Burns, receiving a supporting actor Oscar, and “Grumpy Old Men” (1993), starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.

“The Duke” will be of chief interest for fans of British eccentricity, Jim Broadbent, “Downton Abbey,” Masterpiece Theatre, art heists and Goya.

“The Duke,”

MPAA rated R (Restricted: Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.) for language and brief sexuality; Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Comedy; Run Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes. Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“The Duke” film locations included West Yorkshire, London, and West London Film Studios, England. The instrumental, “Stranger on the Shore,” written and performed (on clarinet) by Acker Bilk for the BBC TV show (1961) of the same title and charting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962, is heard on the soundtrack of “The Duke.”

At The Movies:

“The Duke” was seen in the Red Theatre, Frank Banko Cinemas, ArtsQuest Center, SteelStacks, Bethlehem.

Theatrical Domestic Movie Box Office,

May 20-22: “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” made it a three-peat at No. 1, with a still solid $31.6 million, in 4,534 theaters; $342 million, three weeks. “Downton Abbey: A New Era” opened at No. 2 with a respectable $16 million, in 3,820 theaters. 3. “The Bad Guys” dropped one place, $6 million, in 3,705 theaters; $74.3 million, five weeks. 4. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” dropped one place, $3.9 million, in 2,943 theaters; $181 million, seven weeks. 5. “Men,” opening, $3.2 million, in 2,212 theaters. 6. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” dropped one place, $3.1 million, in 1,576 theaters; $52.2 million, nine weeks. 7. “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” dropped one place, $1.9 million, in 1,923 theaters; $93 million, six weeks. 8. “Firestarter” dropped four places, $1.9 million, in 3,413 theaters; $6.9 million, two weeks. 9. “The Lost City” dropped one place, $1.5 million, in 1,396 theaters; $99.2 million, nine weeks. 10. “The Northman” dropped three places, $1 million, in 1,263 theaters; $33 million, five weeks. 16. “The Duke” stayed in place, $104,289, in 180 theaters; $1.2 million, five weeks.

Box office information from Box Office Mojo as of May 22 is subject to change.

Unreel,

May 27:

“Top Gun: Maverick,”

PG-13: Joseph Kosinski directs Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller and Monica Barbaro in the Action Drama. Tom Cruise is back in the pilot’s seat. Fasten your seat belts and hold onto your popcorn, it’s going to be a thrilling ride.

“The Bob’s Burgers Movie,”

PG-13: Loren Bouchard and Bernard Derriman direct the voice talents of H. Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal, Dan Mintz and Stephanie Beatriz and the animation in the Adventure, Comedy, Musical. The Belchers try to save the restaurant from closing as their children try to solve a mystery.

Movie opening dates information from Internet Movie Database as of May 22 is subject to change.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes