Two Gentlemen Sharing is a 1969 American-British drama film directed by Ted Kotcheff, starring Robin Phillips, Judy Geeson, Esther Anderson, Hal Frederick, Norman Rossington and Rachel Kempson.[1][2] It was written by Evan Jones based on the 1963 novel of the same name by David Stuart Leslie.
| Two Gentlemen Sharing | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Ted Kotcheff |
| Screenplay by | Evan Jones |
| Based on | Two Gentlemen Sharing by David Stuart Leslie |
| Produced by | J. Barry Kulick |
| Starring | Robin Phillips Judy Geeson Esther Anderson |
| Cinematography | Billy Williams |
| Edited by | Derek York |
| Music by | Stanley Myers |
Production companies | American International Productions Epstein-Kulick Productions |
| Distributed by | Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (UK) American International Pictures (US) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Countries | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
The film cost an estimated £380,000 to make.[3] It was not theatrically released in the UK.[1][3]
Plot
editAn upper-class white Englishman is forced to confront his own feelings and prejudices when the London flat he advertises for sharing is taken up by an Oxford-educated black Jamaican.
Cast
edit- Robin Phillips as Roddy
- Judy Geeson as Jane
- Esther Anderson as Caroline
- Hal Frederick as Andrew
- Norman Rossington as Phil
- Rachel Kempson as Mrs. Ashby-Kydd
- Ram John Holder as Marcus
- Hilary Dwyer as Ethne
- Daisy Mae Williams as Amanda
- Philip Stone as Ethne's father
- Elspeth March as Ethne's mother
- Avice Landone as Roddy's mother
- David Markham as Roddy's father
- Shelagh Fraser as Jane's mother
- Earl Cameron as Jane's father
Critical reception
editVariety wrote: "Film boasts a solid and well-chosen cast, strong physical values for such a medium-scaled item, and a racial story [from a novel by David Stuart Leslie] delivered with unhysterical acumen and, at times, with considerable barbed humor."[4]
John Coleman wrote in the New Statesman: "Another stab at that colour problem. ... it was a pleasure to have a couple of laughs. Evan Jones's script is very alert at the beginning, when the posh black comes to share a flat with the posh white.[5]
Boxoffice wrote: "Chosen as the official British entry to the [1969] Venice Film Festival, this J. Barry Kulick productiona strong, adult story for mature audiences. It should click extremely well with art house clientele."[6]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "There are few surprises on offer, but the film is competently acted."[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Two Gentlemen Sharing". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Two Gentlemen Sharing (1969)". Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
- ^ a b Alexander Walker, Hollywood, England, Stein and Day, 1974, p. 407–8.
- ^ "Two Gentlemen Sharing". Variety. 1 January 1969.
- ^ "Is Venice Sinking?". New Statesman. 66: 351. 12 September 1969 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Two Gentlemen Sharing". Boxoffice. 95 (24): a11. 29 September 1969 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 970. ISBN 9780992936440.
External links
edit
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