Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)

Divorced working woman Alex and well-to-do Jewish family doctor Daniel Hirsh share not only the same answering service but also the favours of young Bob Elkin who bed-hops between them as ... See full summary »

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writer:

Penelope Gilliatt (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Finch, Glenda Jackson, Murray Head

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Finch	...	Dr. Daniel Hirsh
Glenda Jackson	...	Alex Greville
Murray Head	...	Bob Elkin
Peggy Ashcroft	...	Mrs. Greville
Tony Britton	...	George Harding
Maurice Denham	...	Mr. Greville
Bessie Love	...	Answering Service Lady
Vivian Pickles	...	Alva Hodson
Frank Windsor	...	Bill Hodson
Thomas Baptiste	...	Prof. Johns
Richard Pearson	...	Patient
June Brown	...	Woman Patient
Hannah Norbert	...	Daniel's Mother
Harold Goldblatt	...	Daniel's Father
Marie Burke	...	Aunt Astrid

Storyline

Divorced working woman Alex and well-to-do Jewish family doctor Daniel Hirsh share not only the same answering service but also the favours of young Bob Elkin who bed-hops between them as the mood takes him. Both Alex and Dr Hirsh are aware of the other's existence but prefer to live with the situation rather than risk losing Elkin completely. But a wet winter weekend in London can be difficult.

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Plot Keywords:

jewish | doctor | artist | telephone switchboard | mixed media | 

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Taglines:

It's about three decent people. They will break your heart.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 September 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un dimanche comme les autres

Filming Locations:

Hampstead Heath, Hampstead, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vectia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In John Eastman's 1989 book' Retakes: Behind the Scenes of 500 Classic Movies', it says that Peter Finch and Murray Head were the only people on the set who were not disturbed when it came time for them to do the kissing scene. Finch has been quoted as saying, "I did it for England."

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Quotes

Bob: Don't come to me like a possessive wife!
Alex: Well, I wouldn't if you hadn't left me with five children and a dog!
Bob: Look, I know you feel you're not getting enough of me, but you're getting all there is.
Alex: Well, you're spreading yourself a little thin, aren't you?

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Connections

Referenced in After MASH: Sunday, Cruddy Sunday (1983)

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Soundtracks

"Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (On Wings of Song)"
Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

User Reviews

One of the truly great adult films of the century

I first saw this at 17 in 1971 and was of course struck by the frankness in the portrayal of the relationship between Murray Head and Peter Finch. People in the suburban audience where I saw it SCREAMED when the two men first kissed. (Someone screamed at a director's screening of the film, much to Schlesinger's consternation. It turned out to be Finch's wife.) One of the reviewers complained about Head's acting, but he is playing a very shallow character whose youth and beauty attract Glenda Jackson and Finch. The film holds up really well today with its complex characters and lack of stereotypes and simple judgments about people. There is also enormous charm and humor in the film, especially in the supporting players. The imagery in the film stays with me--the dog killed by a car, the Mummy's milk in the fridge, the inner workings of telephone switching, driving through the rain in London, men and women making love, precocious children smoking dope, and so much more. It feels like life. It also made me a lifelong fan of Finch, who went on to win a posthumous Oscar for "Network," and Jackson, a two-time Oscar winner, who represents Hampstead in Parliament now. Probably my favorite film of all time.