Deep End (1970)

15-year-old dropout Mike takes a job at Newford Baths, where inappropriate sexual behaviour abounds, and becomes obsessed with his coworker Susan.

Director:

Jerzy Skolimowski

Writers:

Jerzy Skolimowski, Jerzy Gruza (as J. Gruza)

Stars:

Jane Asher, John Moulder-Brown, Karl Michael Vogler

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jane Asher	...	Susan
John Moulder-Brown	...	Michael 'Mike' (as John Moulder Brown)
Karl Michael Vogler	...	Swimming instructor
Christopher Sandford	...	Chris - fiance
Diana Dors	...	Mike's 1st lady client
Louise Martini	...	Beata 'Lovely Continental' - prostitute
Erica Beer	...	Baths cashier
Anita Lochner	...	Kathy
Anne-Marie Kuster	...	Nightclub receptionist (as Annemarie Kuster)
Cheryl Hall	...	Hot Dog Girl
Christine Paul	...	White Clouth Girl (as Christina Paul)
Dieter Eppler	...	Stoker
Karl Ludwig Lindt	...	Baths manager
Eduard Linkers	...	Cinema Owner
Will Danin	...	Younger Policeman

Storyline

15-year-old Mike takes a job at the local swimming baths, where he becomes obsessed with an attractive young woman, Susan, who works there as an attendant. Although Susan has a fiancé, Mike does his best to sabotage the relationship, to the extent of stalking both her and her fiancé. Mike becomes increasingly desperate to have Susan for himself, with tragic results.

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Plot Keywords:

male nudity | male frontal nudity | male pubic hair | public nudity | voyeurism | 

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Taglines:

If you can't have the real thing-- you do all kinds of unreal things.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Sex Worker who has her leg in a plaster cast is dubbed by Diana Dors.

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Quotes

Michael 'Mike': I love her.
Cinema Owner: You perverted little monster.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood U.K.: Strangers in the City (1993)

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Soundtracks

But I Might Die Tonight
(uncredited)
Music by Cat Stevens
Sung by Cat Stevens

User Reviews

My life in the "Deep End," and yours, too

Okay, here's a cine-challenge. There are some films that take you back to a particular time in your life at absolute warp speed. Frequently, these films are reasonably universal, but their associations might be obfuscated, personal and subjective, never understood even by your friends unless explained. One such film, which chronicled absolute obsessive teenage love and its destructiveness was a wake-up call to a frequent, formerly obsessive type, myself in my misspent youth. This and the film's innate mastery instantly time-travel me back to days that were simultaneously more innocent and more complicated than today, late night smoky college discussions in a candle-lit apartments.

And that film would be "Deep End" directed by Jerzy Skowlimowski, pal of Roman Polanski, with the same great mix of bizarre sensibilities and takes on life, done in professional, Hollywood-caliber production, even if on an indie budget.

It's from 1970, featuring music by Cat Stevens (Yusef Islam now to the non-infidel) and two unbelievably strong leads: a 15-year-old John Moulder Brown and 25-year-old Jane Asher (Paul McCartney's 1960's trophy girlfriend.) I never even knew Asher had these acting chops: she outdoes Susan Sarandon (similar upper class background) for letting us in on the nuances of a naturally pretty, fairly low-class young person. Moulder-Brown was the go-to kid for late 60's/early 70's films that required a teen to actually act. (Both are still working, happily.)

This is a dance of death pas de deux between a teen boy working at a grimy public pool in Britain, all hormones and eagerness, and his slightly older female co-worker, who's both a beauty and a inveterate tease. These two should never have been allowed to work together, as he quickly fixates on her, stalks her, and she tries to control the situation with her normal, over the top sexual flirting. It's pretty light and entertaining for a while, then it goes south. . . The title is "Deep End," after all. I've rarely seen a such a disturbing, creepy film about young lust that still has you rooting for everyone involved, no matter how wrongly they both behave. That's the sign of a sure cinematic touch.

Details

Country:

UK West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1971 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Deep End

Filming Locations:

The Englischer Garten, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Maran Film, Kettledrum Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 92 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1