The Go-Between (1970)

Director:

Joseph Losey

Writers:

Harold Pinter (screenplay)
L.P. Hartley (based on a novel "The Go-Between" by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

December 1970 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Tale of torrid and forbidden love between Christie and Bates in the English countryside.

Plot Keywords:

Summer | Go Between | Forbidden Love | Viscount | Secret

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 9 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Julie Christie	...	Marian - Lady Trimingham
Alan Bates	...	Ted Burgess
Margaret Leighton	...	Mrs. Maudsley
Michael Redgrave	...	Leo Colston
Dominic Guard	...	'Leo' Colston
Michael Gough	...	Mr. Maudsley
Edward Fox	...	Hugh Trimingham
Richard Gibson	...	Marcus
Simon Hume-Kendall	...	Denys
Roger Lloyd-Pack	...	Charles (as Roger Lloyd Pack)
Amaryllis Garnett	...	Kate (as Amaryllis Garnet)
Keith Buckley
John Rees
Gordon Richardson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joshua Losey	...	Boy in Village (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph Losey

Writing credits
Harold Pinter		(screenplay)
L.P. Hartley		(based on a novel "The Go-Between" by)
L.P. Hartley

Produced by
John Heyman	....	producer
Norman Priggen	....	producer
Robert Velaise	....	executive producer
Denis Johnson	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Michel Legrand		(music composed by)

Cinematography by
Gerry Fisher		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Reginald Beck

Art Direction by
Carmen Dillon

Costume Design by
John Furniss

Makeup Department
Stephanie Kaye	....	chief hairdresser
Bob Lawrance	....	chief makeup

Production Management
Denis Johnson Jr.	....	production supervisor (as Denis Johnson Jnr)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard F. Dalton	....	assistant director (as Richard Dalton)
Terry Hodgkinson	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Garth Craven	....	dubbing editor
Peter Handford	....	sound recordist
Hugh Strain	....	sound recordist
David Stephenson	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dudley Lovell	....	camera operator
Stephen Smith	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Camilla Farmer	....	costume co-ordinator
Eileen Sullivan	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Noel Rogers	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Michel Legrand	....	conductor
Keith Grant	....	music scoring engineer (uncredited)

Other crew
Pamela Davies	....	continuity
Richard Macdonald	....	titles
Theo de Rosé	....	runner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios (A Robert Velaise/John Heyman Production)
• EMI Films (as E.M.I. Films Productions Ltd.)
• World Film Services (as World Film Services, Ltd.)

Distributors

• MGM-EMI (1970) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical) (presents) (released through)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (StudioCanal Collection)
• Warner Home Video (1989) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  lighting (uncredited)
• Nathans of London  costumes executed by (as Nathans)
• People of Norfolk, England, The  the producers wish to express their gratitude for all the help given by (as The People of Norfolk)
• Slazengers  cricket equipment by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (1989) | Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Trivia:

Deborah Kerr was originally cast as Mrs Maudsley but withdrew after director Joseph Losey left her waiting several hours in a hotel for his return call.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "thirtysomething: The Go Between (#3.23)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes

How I Sent My Summer Vacation

In 1900 Norfolk, England, twelve-year-old Dominic Guard (as Leo Colston) goes to spend the summer at the beautiful country estate of blond school chum Richard Gibson (as Marcus Maudsley). The lads have fun wrestling while young Mr. Guard gets to know his pal's family. His chief interest is young Mr. Gibson's alluring sister Julie Christie (as Marian). An extremely beautiful woman, Ms. Christie arouses those "coming of age" feelings in Guard. She makes a "fuss" over Guard, dressing a knee wound and buying him a new suit. While Gibson is bedridden with measles, Guard is coerced into delivering love notes as "The Go-Between" for Christie and hunky neighboring farmer Alan Bates (as Ted Burgess)...

But, Christie is engaged to Edward Fox (as Hugh Trimingham), a member of her own social class. As Guard experiences his own sexual awakenings, he becomes conflicted about continuing to deliver the love notes, especially as he genuinely likes Christie and both of the men she is involved with. This story of sex and class has some major problems - like the underwritten villainess played by Margaret Leighton, the parallel witchcraft being practiced by the protagonist, and the sputtering "flash-forward" ending. But, "The Go-Between" is a spectacular-looking film, with cinematographer Gerry Fisher and the crew making it well worth eyeing - and Joseph Losey leads Guard and his co-stars to fine performances.

******* The Go-Between (12/70) Joseph Losey ~ Dominic Guard, Julie Christie, Alan Bates, Richard Gibson