Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema - Softcover

Sheridan, Simon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1903111218 ISBN 13: 9781903111215

Publisher: Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2001

Synopsis

This expanded new edition includes an updated filmography, new and previously unpublished interview material, and rare and previously unpublished movie stills

 

The British tradition of saucy humor?boobs, bums, and boorish innuendo?is perhaps best exemplified by the long-running Carry On movies. But there is also a nearly forgotten genre of even saucier X-rated movies. Here is the rollicking history of the British softcore sex comedy, from its beginnings in the 1950s with coy nudist-camp flicks such as Naked as Nature Intended, through its boom years with the Confessions series, to its demise following censorship crackdowns and the introduction of home videos in the 1980s. Coaxing the facts from previously reluctant interviewees, Simon Sheridan has compiled the first definitive filmography of this long-overlooked genre, complete with an expanded filmography and rare and previously unpublished stills. The result is the often funny, sometimes tragic, but undeniably revealing story of a bygone era.

About this title

Review:

'Sheridan sketched with admirable clarity the way this mini industry rose and fell...the blokey, mocking tone of the reviews suits an industry regarded as "just a bit of fun"' --Evening Standard

'Lavishly illustrated, scrupulously researched and accessibly presented, Sheridan's extensive offering of mini-essays, a year-by year film guide and an A-Z of X-rated players all ensure his ding-dong fest rarely goes tits-up.' --Total Film

'Keeping The British End Up is a meticulously researched, endlessly informative and entertaining read that is essential for aficionados and a spectacular entry point for the curious.' --Hope Lies

'Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, readable and most importantly of all, filthy this is a book where the text matches the pictures for interest value.' --The Film Pilgrim

'Highly recommended to those who appreciate a bit of humour in their films.' --Slacker Cinema

Synopsis:

The British tradition of 'saucy postcard' humour - boobs, bums and boorish innuendo - is perhaps best exemplified by the long running Carry On movies. But as anyone who watches late-night television will tell you, there is also a forgotten cinema of saucier 'X certificate' movies. The people who would most like to forget these films are, of course, some of the better known actors who appeared in them - Leslie Ash, Joan Collins, Pauline Collins, Gabrielle Drake, Elaine Paige and Valerie Singleton all have credits that they probably leave off their CVs, while Robin Askwith, Fiona Richmond and the late Mary Millington all capitalised on their appearances in films that pushed the censors to their limits. Simon Sheridan traces the history of the British sex film from its beginnings in such coy nudist camp films as Some Like It Cool (directed by Michael Winner in 1960), through to its boom years with the Confessions films and their many imitators, to its demise following censorship clampdowns and the introduction of home video in the early 1980s. Sheridan compiles a definitive filmography for the very first time, and coaxes the facts from previously reclusive and reluctant interviewees. The result is the often funny, sometimes tragic, but undeniably revealing story of a forgotten genre.

About this edition

• Publisher: Reynolds & Hearn Ltd
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1903111218
• ISBN 13: 9781903111215
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240