The Killing of Sister George
The story of three consenting adults in the privacy of their own home.
June Buckridge (Beryl Reid) arrives at her London flat, lights a cigar, and announces, "They are going to murder me." She is referring to Sister George, the lovable nurse she portrays on British TV's most popular daytime serial. To make matters worse, June begins to realize that she may be losing her long-time lover and doll-cuddling flat-mate Alice "Childie" McNaught (Susannah York). What she doesn't know, however, is that the widowed network executive at BBC, Mrs. Mercy Croft (Coral Browne), is really a predatory lesbian who is after Childie.
George, as her friends refer to her, desperately tries to salvage her character, and her real-life relationship in this entertaining drama that is a classic of its time.
Member Reviews
Pop goes the Weasel - luminol
There's a great clash between the warm hearted and affectionate nurse this actress plays on her day time drama and the slightly vulgar and boozy woman she is in real life. She has the distinct and aggravating impression they are going to kill off her character in a long running and immensely popular soap on British television, shunting her into the twilight of her career. Just how badly she's going to fall is foreshadowed in a coffee klatch with upper management; the only offer is voice work as a talking cow on a children's program.
Beryl Reid played George in the original stage production so she knows the material back to front. She lives with Childie (Susannah York), who seems about 20 years younger than her--and she displaces her anger on her something fierce. Unfortunately, she doesn't realize, the change in her successful career will also bring changes her personal life. The scenes in the flat are wonderfully claustrophobic. There's a nice scene that shows what it meant to go out clubbing in London, circa 1965.
There's a wonderfully sticky layer of the sexual politics between the three main characters. On one hand, there seems to be something slightly masochistic in Childie's relationship with Sister George and when the TV producer makes a play for her, this same power relationship seems to repeat itself however, it may be that Childie is the one spinning the web. Although there's great moments of humour, ultimately this a somber drama.Brilliant performances and a powerhouse script - QueerNorth63
Aldrich's film is explosive. Reid, York and Browne turn in outstanding performances. Every second is riveting. A fascinating glimpse into the power struggle in the relationship and then when Brown swoops in to further complicate things, the film really takes off. I loved the twisted turns, and the whole double tragedy at the end of both career and relationship fallout, makes for a double whammy. Packs a lot of punch. Well worth it, particularly given the time it was made. Excellent.
Member Reviews
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Pop goes the Weasel - luminol
There's a great clash between the warm hearted and affectionate nurse this actress plays on her day time drama and the slightly vulgar and boozy woman she is in real life. She has the distinct and aggravating impression they are going to kill off her character ...Brilliant performances and a powerhouse script - QueerNorth63
Aldrich's film is explosive. Reid, York and Browne turn in outstanding performances. Every second is riveting. A fascinating glimpse into the power struggle in the relationship and then when Brown swoops in to further complicate things, the film really takes ...