All Neat in Black Stockings * (1969, Victor Henry, Susan George, Jack Shepherd) – Classic Movie Review 9,310

Victor Henry and Susan George star in the 1969 British film All Neat in Black Stockings, a low sex comedy drama romp with serious undertones about the confessions of a randy window cleaner called Ginger.

Victor Henry and Susan George star in director Christopher Morahan’s 1969 British comedy-drama film All Neat in Black Stockings, a low sex comedy romp with serious undertones about the confessions of a randy window cleaner called Ginger (Henry), who caretakes at the home of someone ill, elderly Gunge (Terence De Marney) who is in hospital, and brings in all his buddies and women there.

On a date with Babette (Jasmina Hilton), he meets Carole (Vanessa Forsyth) and Jill (Susan George). He asks the outgoing Carole out but is using Carole to get to Jill. 

Eventually, he marries Jill (Susan George), the girl his best buddy Dwyer (Jack Shepherd) has now made pregnant on a drunken spree, but then gets bored with his life and looks to sex with other women as a cure-all.

The writers and director try to give it a touch of class, with a British realist flavour from the early 60s, oddly out of synch and sympathy with its Swinging London period. Victor Henry and Susan George try hard to appeal and convince, but the acting is very moderate (apart from the stalwart Shepherd, Anna Cropper as Cicely, Clare Kelly as Jill’s mother and Harry Towb as Issur) and the film has not dated well.

The movie was the sole lead role for Victor Henry.

The screenplay by Jane Gaskell and Hugh Whitemore is based on the 1966 novel by Jane Gaskell, inspired by her husband’s experiences as a window cleaner.

It was shot around London in 13 weeks starting in June 1968. Producer Leon Clore, who had previously produced Morgan (1966), described it as a ‘contemporary sex comedy with elements of Alfie‘ (1966). Allegedly he offered the direction to Lindsay Anderson, who turned it down.

Release: April 10, 1969 (UK).

Also in the cast are Vanessa Forsyth, Terence De Marney, Nita Lorraine, Marc Bergman, Deirdre Costello, Larry Dann, Rosalind Elliot, Jasmina Hilton, Grahame James, Eric Longsworth, Michael McKevitt, Carmen Munroe, Christine Pryor, Geoffrey Rees, Malcolm Tierney, Maurice Travers, Tanya Trude, Gwendolyn Watts, Anna Welsh, Neil Wilson, and John Woodnutt.

All Neat in Black Stockings is directed by Christopher Morahan, runs 106 minutes, is made by Miron Films, is released by Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (1968) (UK) and National General Pictures (1969) (US), is written by Jane Gaskell and Hugh Whitemore, based on the novel by Jane Gaskell, is shot by Larry Pizer (Eastmancolor), is produced by Leon Clore and John Arnold, and is scored by Robert Cornford.

Victor Henry (30 July 1943 – 20 November 1985)

Victor Henry was walking along the street from a theatre when a car hit a concrete lamp post which fell on his head in 1972. He was in a coma for 17 years and died on 20 November 1985 in Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, without regaining consciousness, aged 42. His poor mother visited him daily.

Victor Henry and Susan George are also previously both in The Sorcerers.(1967).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9,310

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