Wish You Were Here (1987)

In a staid English seaside town after the Second World War, young Lynda grows up with her widowed father and younger sister. She eventually becomes pregnant by an acquaintance of her father. In HD.

Director:

David Leland

Writer:

David Leland

Stars:

Emily Lloyd, Trudi Cavanagh, Clare Clifford

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Trudi Cavanagh	...	Tap Dancing Lady
Emily Lloyd	...	Lynda
Clare Clifford	...	Mrs Parfitt
Barbara Durkin	...	Valerie
Geoffrey Hutchings	...	Hubert
Charlotte Barker	...	Gillian
Tom Bell	...	Eric
Chloe Leland	...	Margaret
Charlotte Ball	...	Lynda (aged 11)
Pat Heywood	...	Aunt Millie
Abigail Leland	...	Margaret (aged 7)
Susan Valentine	...	Lynda's Mother (as Susan Skipper)
Geoffrey Durham	...	Harry Figgis
Sheila Kelley	...	Joan Figgis
Neville Smith	...	Cinema Manager

Storyline

In a staid English seaside town after the Second World War, young Lynda grows up with her widowed father and younger sister. Rebellious Lynda has been swearing constantly from an early age. At sixteen, she becomes more exhibitionist and seeks out sexual encounters challenging the prevailing lower-middle class attitudes to sex. She eventually becomes pregnant by an acquaintance of her father.

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Plot Keywords:

center of attention | woman flashing her leg | insult | loss of mother | verbal abuse | 

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Taglines:

Some people march to the beat of a different drummer. Lynda's got her own brass band.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lynda Mansell (Emily Lloyd) favorite catchphrase was "Up Your Bum!".

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Goofs

The U.S. flag on the bandstand during the dance has fifty stars. The U.S. flag in 1951 had only 48 stars.

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Quotes

[Lynda and Eric are having an argument]
Lynda Mansell: Lynda up the duff - what odds do you put on that, eh, Mr Clever Dick, eh? That's shut his gob. That's put a crease in his brand-new suit.
Eric: I don't believe you. You're joking. How? How d'you know?
Lynda Mansell: You're the one that should know. You put it up me, Mr Bareback Rider! You knew when you were gonna spunk! How the hell was I supposed to know?
Eric: No, you soft cow! I mean, how do you know? Are you sure?
Lynda Mansell: You're the one with eyes. Look! Can't you see?
[...]

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Connections

Version of Personal Services (1987)

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Soundtracks

Mule Train
(uncredited)
Written by Fred Glickman, Hy Heath and Johnny Lange

User Reviews

One of a kind, exceptional and moving

Wish You Were Here is a delightful, moving and exceptional film for many reasons, but the most unusual is that it is one of two films written by David Leland (Mona Lisa) about a real person, the famous British madame, Cynthia Payne, which were both released in the same year--1987. (Both films claim to be fiction) Wish chronicles her youthful scandals; the other film,Terry Jones', Personal Services (1987) chronicles her adult scandals.

The two films are very different in style (this film being the more conventional of the two) but the character of Payne remains refreshingly the same. In Wish You Were Here the desperate pleading of a lonely young girl for love and affection takes a bizarre path helped by her rebellious and outspoken candid observations. It is her impatience with hypocrisy coupled with her desperate need that make this teenager so sympathetic. That, and her great sense of humor.

The colorful sex scenes filled with surprises keep the viewer disarmed, but mainly it is the main character's shining virtues of honesty, non-conformity, and defiance that makes this film a special one for young people. The scene with the therapist, matching dirty words, is one of the funniest on film, especially watching the marvelous way Emily Lloyd molds her reactions and then goes in for the kill. Emily Lloyd's career never lived up to this early brilliant performance, but her work here is so dazzling, it gives her a place in film history. Highly recommended for all teenagers who feel out of place and for adults who do, too.

Why hasn't this film moved to DVD? (only in England and Germany!) It's a rare find, and you may be both surprised and delighted!.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 July 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wish You Were Here!

Filming Locations:

The Esplanade, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$43,611, 26 July 1987

Gross USA:

$3,283,832

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,283,832

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Working Title Films, Zenith Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1