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 | empty swimming pool | female nudity | bath house | 

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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

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 (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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

Referenced in Starting Out: The Making of Jerzy Skolimowski's Deep End (2011)

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Soundtracks

Mother Sky
(uncredited)
Music by Irmin Schmidt
Performed by Can

User Reviews

Fascinating drama

Deep End is a practically unheard of film these days - but it's a surprisingly good one that urgently needs a bigger audience. The film is basically a coming of age story involving young love and teenage angst. Despite the fact that everything in this film has been seen before in other films, it all comes together well and doesn't feel like it's just rethreading old ground, which is very much to it's credit. Writer-director Jerzy Skolimowski does a really good job of telling his story too, which means that deep End is an easy film to get along with. The title refers to the film's central location - a swimming pool. We focus on Mike, a young lad fresh out of school who has just got his first job as a pool attendant at the local bath house. On his first day, he meets the beautiful Susan and falls head over heels in love with her. Trouble is, Susan already has a fiancé and while she kind of likes Mike, she doesn't take him seriously...leading Mike to become frustrated and willing to do anything in order to have Susan all for himself.

The two central performers are really good and responsible for a lot of the film's success. Jane Asher is absolutely beautiful and it's easy to see why she'd have a young lad lusting after her. Horror fans will likely recognise John Moulder-Brown from classic horror The House That Screamed, as well as Hammer Horror Vampire Circus. He's good here too, and expertly captures the immaturely and lust of youth. The film itself is always interesting and the director keeps the central relationship at the forefront of the film, which helps to keep things interesting. The film is set in 1970's London, and the director does a good job of capturing the gritty feel of the city. A lot of the film takes place inside a swimming baths, but sequences that take place in sleazy corners of the city are among the best of the film. The director does have an eye for sleaze too - some of the bath house punters are rather shady characters, and we've also got scenes set inside a prostitute's room and an adult movie theatre. The ending is iconic and memorable, and manages to tie up all the film's central themes. Overall, this really is a very good film that more people need to see!