All Neat in Black Stockings (1969)

An irresponsible window cleaner believes he has found true love with a woman he picked up in a tavern.

Director:

Christopher Morahan

Writers:

Jane Gaskell (screenplay), Hugh Whitemore (screenplay)

Stars:

Victor Henry, Susan George, Jack Shepherd

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Victor Henry	...	Ginger
Susan George	...	Jill
Jack Shepherd	...	Dwyer
Clare Kelly	...	Mother
Anna Cropper	...	Sis
Harry Towb	...	Issur
Vanessa Forsyth	...	Carole
Terence de Marney	...	Gunge (as Terence De Marney)
Jasmina Hilton	...	Babette (as Jasmina Hamzavi)
John Woodnutt	...	Vicar
Nita Lorraine	...	Jocasta
Deirdre Costello	...	New Bird
Andre Dakar	...	Man with Parrot
Rosalind Elliot	...	First Bird (as Rosalind Elliott)
Gwendolyn Watts	...	Housewife

Storyline

An irresponsible window cleaner believes he has found true love with a woman he picked up in a tavern.

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Plot Keywords:

swinging sixties | mini skirt | stockings | sex | female nudity | 

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Taglines:

Discover the new excitement of sharing.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

Meias Pretas

Filming Locations:

Wandsworth, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miron

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As Ginger (Victor Henry) is waiting for Jill (Susan George) to return, he admires a photograph of her with a donkey when she was younger. In reality this is a publicity picture of Susan taken at the age of 13 taken when she starred in ITV Television Playhouse: December Child (1963).

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Quotes

Ginger: [Red haired Ginger meets Jill] I'm Ginger.
Jill: [Blonde Jill replies] I'm fair.

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Connections

Referenced in Courting Controversy (2005)

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Soundtracks

ALL NEAT IN BLACK STOCKINGS
Lyrics by Terence Delaney
Sung by Jon Mark

User Reviews

Great title, but ultimately a bit of a disappointment...

This film is certainly a bit of an oddity - & very much of its time (1969). The post-promiscuous society plot, concerning the amorous adventures of window cleaner Ginger, seems at first like a forerunner to the later 'Confessions' films - but somehow never really cuts it or even aspires to even that level of low-brow adventurism. The first half is muddled, silly & incredibly sexist, & leaves the viewer not particularly liking Ginger & his uncaring attitude towards women; the second half becomes more like a kitchen-sink drama, but lacks the depth & believability of something like 'Alfie'.

Susan George (fresh from her appearance as Joyce in 'Up the Junction') is wonderful as eye candy, & saves the film, but she did seem to have a habit at this time of sometimes appearing in movies that were often fairly thin & unsatisfying, & perhaps beneath her talents.

The plot is populated with eccentric characters & situations, & certainly has a loose, almost made-up-as-it-goes-along swinging-sixties feel. In its favour, there are plenty of colourful locations around London, & it gives a good snapshot of how the capital looked at the time, & the fashions - even if the plot is rather far-fetched. Scenes in humdrum cafes & bars are well staged & add some grittiness.

All in all though, not a classic sadly (although I hear it was fairly-well received by contemporary audiences at the time). Great for fans of Susan George & sixties London, but don't expect a full-on sex comedy (it has a 12 certificate) or anything even much in the way of black stockings! The film's biggest downfall for me is the chauvinistic attitudes on display, which made me feel rather uncomfortable - but thankfully nowadays are an unfortunate anachronism.