Made (1972)

The story of the relationship between a young single mother and an insecure rock star.

Director:

John Mackenzie

Writers:

Howard Barker (play), Howard Barker (screenplay)

Stars:

Carol White, Roy Harper, John Castle

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Carol White	...	Valerie Marshall
Roy Harper	...	Mike Preston
John Castle	...	Father Dyson
Margery Mason	...	Mrs. Marshall
Doremy Vernon	...	June
Sam Dastor	...	Mahdav
Richard Vanstone	...	Ray
Michael Cashman	...	Joe
Brian Croucher	...	Arthur
Ray Smith	...	First policeman
Carl Rigg	...	Second policeman
Bob Harris	...	Interviewer
Sean Hewitt	...	Andy
Peter Jenner	...	Mike's M.D.
Len Jones	...	Barry

Storyline

The story of the relationship between a young single mother and an insecure rock star.

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Plot Keywords:

single mother | struggle | priest | musician | mother daughter relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Devojka sa detetom

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

International C-Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Adapted for the screen by Howard Barker from his own play, No One was Saved.

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Quotes

Valerie Marshall: You're educated aren't you?
Mahdav: How could you tell?
Valerie Marshall: Oh, I think you can always tell. Our teacher at school said you can always tell an educated man.
Mahdav: How? Do let me know. How does it show?
Valerie Marshall: I dunno... it's ehm... it's a sort of gentle.
Mahdav: A man of the Orient is naturally gentle, yet passionate too. He is both a tranquil stream and a raging torrent.
Valerie Marshall: That's good. I like that.
[pause]
Valerie Marshall: Well, I think I better be going now.
Mahdav: Valerie, we have so much in common, you and I. We're both in need.
[...]

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Soundtracks

Bank Of The Dead (Valerie's Song)
Written by 'Roy Harper'
Produced by Peter Jenner
Performed by Roy Harper

User Reviews

Long hair and beardies

The few (3) online critical reviews for this film suggest how "dull and dated" it is. But comments on YouTube tend toward "great little movie" "cult classic" "lost gem" .. Roy Harper fans i guess ..who also consider Mr Roy to be a bit of a lost gem

So whether, or how much, you like this film might depend on how much you are "into" Roy Harper. And also whether, or how much, you liked the early 70′s (assuming you're old enough to have memories of it)

Carol White (as Valerie) seems to be doing a reprise of her role in Cathy Come Home: working class girl pushing a pram around looking for escape – relief, pleasure, ordinary happiness – from a small bleak life; getting hit on by various blokes, who leech off her grief: Roy "makes" a song out of it; a do-gooding vicar makes a sermon; and a hapless Asian from work makes a twatty poem.

Roy Harper comes across as earnest rather than endearing – something you could say about the film in general. The nitty isn't gritty or politically engaged enough to be Ken Loach; the characterisations aren't idiosyncratic enough to be Mike Leigh. It's all a bit, well – as well-intentioned, but as dull as a Roy Harper dirge about old Englande (where old cricketers are leaving the crease or dying of boredom or something)

"Do you think a girl should go to bed with a fella if he doesn't love her?" asks Carol." "No. Unless it's me" quips Roy. Before long he's abandoned her to carry on with his free love mystical hippy beardy rock star thang (although he's written that song about her. Which she turns off. Well done Carol)

"Is it too late to create a world made of care" sings Roy at the end. Yes it is. And even though Made tries to be a film made of care – touched with caring sort of sentiments – in the end it just ends up feeling care-worn; and made (as in "manufactured") in the 1970′s film factory Social Conscience School for bleak and cheerless cliché.