Kitchen-Sink Directory
for myninthsickdaythissemester. All full movies except The L-Shaped Room and This Is My Street.
A Taste of Honey (1961) After she’s shunned by her mother and impregnated by a black sailor, Jo embarks on her own adventure. Key actors: Rita Tushingham, Murray Melvin Adapted from play by Shelagh Delaney
A Kind Of Loving (1962) Vic falls in love with Ingrid and marries her quickly, but pays the price. Key actors: Alan Bates, June Ritchie Adapted from novel by Stan Barstow
The L-Shaped Room (1962) bonus: my favourite scene After getting pregnant, Jane moves to England and falls in love with rebellious Toby - with consequence. Key actors: Tom Bell, Leslie Caron Adapted from novel by Lynne Reid-Banks
Billy Liar (1963) Lazy clerk Billy dreams of Ambrosia, a mystical land where he is king, in his mind as he juggles three girlfriends and his job. Key actors: Tom Courtenay, Julie Christie Adapted from novel by Keith Waterhouse
The Leather Boys (1964) Considered daring in its day, this film obliquely touches upon homosexuality as it focuses upon bikers in the time of Mods and Rockers. Key actors: Colin Campbell, Rita Tushingham
This Is My Street (1964) - (side note: mid-60s John Hurt cannot get hotter or more charming i mean wow) A bored housewife has an affair with her mother’s lodger. Key actors: June Ritchie, John Hurt
Cathy Come Home (1965) Directed by kitchen-sink king Ken Loach, this film set the bar for the genre and tells a story of homelessness, pregnancy and marriage. Key actors: Ray Brooks, Carol White
Up The Junction (1965) The original Wednesday Play for BBC before the colour remake three years later, this is also directed by Loach and contains a semi-graphic scene of abortion. Key actors: Carol White, Geraldine Sherman Adapted from novel by Nell Dunn (all of Dunn’s works are highly recommended)
Georgy Girl (1966) Georgy teaches children dance, lives with her beautiful roommate Meredith and falls for Meredith’s outgoing boyfriend. Key actors: Lynn Redgrave, Charlotte Rampling, Alan Bates Adapted from the novel by Margaret Forster (must read)
Alfie (1966) Alfie’s the ultimate ladykiller, and he rarely gets emotionally involved. Until he gets a girl pregnant. Key actors: Michael Caine, Jane Asher Adapted from the novel by Bill Naughton
Poor Cow (1967) After Joy’s abusive, thieving husband goes to prison and leaves her with a son, she has an affair with his best mate, who also faces jail time. Key actors: Terence Stamp, Carol White Adapted from the novel by Nell Dunn (recommended)
Smashing Time (1967) Barely considered kitchen-sink, this overly colourful number follows two best friends and their journey through London, finding fame and misfortune. Key actors: Lynn Redgrave, Rita Tushingham
Up The Junction (1968) The glitzy colour version of Dunn’s novel, the plot changes slightly but the film flows wonderfully with carefully crafted characters. Key actors: Suzy Kendall, Dennis Waterman (the young Waterman - wowcher) Adapted from Nell Dunn’s novel
Kes (1969) - warning: contains some graphic scenes Young Billy finds a kestrel egg and nurtures it through the hatching period as he endures a hard childhood. Key actors: David Bradley, Freddie Fletcher Adapted from the novel by Barry Hines
Bronco Bullfrog (1969) Youth Del and his new girlfriend Irene attempt to escape their dead-end lives to much disapproval. Considered ‘Mod poetry’. Key actors: Del Walker, Ann Gooding
