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 For years, student union bars have resounded to such memorable lines as "I demand to have some booze" and "Officer, I've only had a few ales", as generations of students attempt to match the characters' prolific alcohol intake drink for drink.
But if the film's creator has its way, Withnail & I will never appear on the West End stage.
"It's scandalous... an attempt to wring it out like an old teabag for more money"
Bruce Robinson, the writer and director of the classic 1987 movie, starring Richard E Grant and Paul McGann as two "resting" actors in 1969 London who take an alcohol-fuelled trip to the country, has described plans for a stage version, potentially starring Jude Law, as "scandalous".
He insists that Hand Made Films, the production company that made Withnail & I, needs his permission to go ahead with a theatrical production, which he refuses to grant. Hand Made Films, set up by George Harrison in the 1970s, maintains it owns the necessary rights to turn the film into a play.
"It's scandalous," said Robinson, who says he has still not received his full director's fee nearly 20 years after the film was made. "The film of Withnail & I that I wrote and directed is what I wanted to say. Anything ancillary to that seems to be an attempt to wring it out like an old teabag for more money."
"Hand Made own the copyright... Everything is on track"
A spokeswoman for Hand Made Films said: "Hand Made own the copyright and the rights to Withnail & I. Bruce Robinson, who was one of the writers, does not own the rights or the copyright. However, it is normal to seek creative approval from one of the writers, and that process is under way. Everything is on track."
Read the full report of the controversy in THE INDEPENDENT
WHERE THEY ARE NOW?
Richard E Grant (Withnail)
Well established as film and TV star
His autobiographical film Wah Wah about his childhood in Swaziland has just premiered in London
Paul McGann (Peter Marwood)
A well known actor, played Doctor Who in a 1996 big screen revival
His latest film Poppies is about a man coming to terms with loss
Richard Griffiths (Uncle Monty)
Made a very mean Uncle Vernon in Harry Potter
Currently the eccentric teacher in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys now playing on Broadway
"I invented it in Camberwell and it looks like a carrot"
Ralph Brown (Danny)
Drug dealer Danny became infamous in the film for inventing a huge spliff, the "Camberwell Carrot". Numerous film and TV roles. In Straightheads, his latest, he appears with Gillian Anderson in a revenge tale
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