The Leather Boys (1964)

Director:

Sidney J. Furie

Writer:

Gillian Freeman (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 March 1964 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

the frustrations of sexual conflict . . .

Plot:

Reggie and Dot are a young South London couple who get married before they really get to know each other...

Plot Keywords:

Motorcycle | Love | Homosexual | Repressed Homosexual | Social Documentary

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Rita Tushingham	...	Dot
Colin Campbell	...	Reggie
Dudley Sutton	...	Pete
Gladys Henson	...	Gran
Avice Landone	...	Reggie's Mother
Lockwood West	...	Reggie's Father
Betty Marsden	...	Dot's Mother
Martin Matthews	...	Uncle Arthur (as Martin Mathews)
Johnny Briggs	...	Boy Friend
James Chase	...	Les
Geoffrey Dunn	...	Mr. Lunnis
Dandy Nichols	...	Mrs. Stanley
Elizabeth Begley	...	Woman Receptionist
Valerie Varnam	...	Brenda
Jill Mai Meredith	...	June (as Jill Meredith)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Hungary:16 | UK:PG (tv rating) | Finland:K-16 | UK:X (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Park Royal, London, England, UK

Company:

Raymond Stross Productions

Trivia:

The motorcycle diner / meeting point was filmed at The Ace Cafe on the North Circular Road, *the* meeting point for British motorcyclists in the 1960s. Closed down and used as a tyre depot in the 1970s and 1980s, the site was restored and then reopened in September 2001 and is again popular with motorcyclists and car enthusiasts. Upon its reopening, Rita Tushingham visited the Ace, later doing so with both Dudley Sutton and Colin Campbell.

Way Before it's Time

Sidney J. Furie's 1964 Leather Boys was way before its time. Touching on the then controversial subject of homosexuality. The young cast of Rita Tushingham, Colin Campbell and Dudley Sutton are outstanding. Filmed in black and white, the story is a realistic look at relationships between a husband and wife, and between two friends, one who turns out to be gay. Even the title of the film seems to tell it all, yet there aren't any scenes in any "Leather" bars. Watching the film you can figure out that one of the two friends is gay, but I guess in the early 1960s it was more difficult to figure out. The movie is interesting to look at, as it captures the norms of the society for those days. Now, it's clearly out-dated and if the viewer can not figure out the historical significance of the film, than the movie will only be fair.