All Neat in Black Stockings (1968)

Director:

Christopher Morahan

Writers:

Jane Gaskell (novel)
Jane Gaskell (screenplay)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Discover the new excitement of sharing.

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Stockings | Female Nudity | Sex | Based On Novel | Independent Film

Cast

Victor Henry	...	Ginger
Susan George	...	Jill
Jack Shepherd	...	Dwyer
Clare Kelly	...	Mother
Anna Cropper	...	Cicely 'Sis'
Harry Towb	...	Issur
Vanessa Forsyth	...	Carole
Terence de Marney	...	Old Gunge
Jasmina Hilton	...	Babette (as Jasmina Hamzavi)
John Woodnutt	...	Vicar
Nita Lorraine	...	Jocasta
Deirdre Costello	...	New Bird
Andre Dakar	...	Man with parrot
Rosalind Elliot	...	New Bird
Gwendolyn Watts	...	Suburban housewife

Runtime:

USA:96 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Company:

Miron

Trivia:

Lindsay Anderson was asked to direct.

Not much to write home about

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

All Neat in Black Stockings is a film that can't quite make up its mind whether it wants to be a comedy or a drama. We have Ginger (Victor Henry) and Dwyer (Jack Shepherd), two blokes on the make who share everything including their current girlfriends. Ginger has a sister (Anne Cropper) who is pregnant and a boyfriend named Issur (Harry Towb), who is artistic but irresponsible. And then there is Old Gunge (played by the noted character actor Terence de Marney). And let's not forget the irresistible Susan George as Jill. Finally, we have London in the Swinging Sixties. It would appear that we have all the elements here for an interesting film except, of course, for one thing - a well-written script. Ginger works as a window-washer. He's also taking care of eccentric Old Gunge's house while Old Gunge is being treated at the hospital. While on a date, he espies the lovely Jill and begins to hatch plans for the two of them to get together. He trades his van in for a sporty set of wheels and eventually makes his move on Jill. Ginger would like to consummate his relationship with the virginal Jill except that her hostile mother (Clare Kelly) always seems to be in the way. Eventually, Ginger and Jill wind up at Old Gunge's house where Sis's boyfriend Issur is throwing one of those typically wild Sixties parties. Ginger hands Jill off to his chum Dwyer while he throws the partiers out at the point of a halberd. When Ginger goes looking for his special girl, he discovers her upstairs in a bedroom having lost her virginity to the always ready Dwyer. Naturally, our sweet Jill discovers shortly afterward that she is pregnant and Ginger "does the right thing" (even though he is not responsible) and marries her. With Jill out of the house expecting her child, Ginger comes home late one night after a pronounced drinking bout and ends up in bed with Jill's mom, who quickly discovers a ready cure for her chronic backache. So, at this point, in our story Ginger is happy and so is Jill's mom while Jill herself is not so sure. When we last see Ginger, he is in a lunchroom chatting up another potential conquest. All Neat in Black Stockings might have been a witty black comedy focusing on relationships in the crazy Sixties. Or, it might have been an interesting drama looking at the difficulties of commitment. Unfortunately, it just doesn't go anywhere. Recommended for Susan George fans only.