Up the Junction

Peter Collinson was already mellowing after his directorial debut with the incredibly nasty home invasion film 'The Penthouse' (1967); and let loose on Nell Dunn's stories in Technicolor with Manfred Mann on the soundtrack was obviously going to turn in a very different film from Ken Loach's 'Wednesday Play' of 1965.

What seemed like gritty realism in 1967 today seems as remote as the world evoked by Dickens (complete with Jewish stereotypes which really date it). Maureen Lipman is almost unrecognisably young and it's always good to see Adrienne Posta and Liz Fraser (who share a literally gut-renching sequence after the former has an abortion performed by a drunken Hylda Baker).

But the real star is Battersea power station, looming in the background back in the days when it was still permitted to smoke.

A portrayal of women's lives in 1960s working class Battersea, through the eyes of a girl from Chelsea, hence an outsider. Based on the better known book by Nell Dunn, from which it departs significantly, making the ill-fated affair with Dennis Waterman's character the central narrative. Beautifully done. Deserves to be better known than it is.

As someone who was born and brought up in Battersea in the 60's and 70's I can certainly attest that the tone of the film is spot-on.

Battersea was then a very working-class and rather depressed district, despite counting the very wealthy areas of Westminster and Chelsea as near neighbors. Today the difference is barely noticeable; then it hit one in the face.

Given the politics of the day, when unions were strong, the Communist Party of Great Britain still had a respectable face, and protests against the Vietnam War were taking place, the idea of a well-off young woman moving to south London to 'see things for herself' is not odd at all. Nowadays of course, it's the done thing to move to run down areas in the hope of seeing property prices rise.....

The film should be appreciated for what it is, a well-acted, involving and accurate snapshot of a less glamorous place and time in "Swinging 60's" London. About as good as you'll get without a time machine.

An absolute must see for all lovers of 1960's culture. Not only does it boast some of the decades finest actors, it has a beautiful soundtrack from Manfred Mann and the cinematography perfectly captures the feel of what it was like to live in that decade. The plotline also deals with some of the pressing social issues of the time as well, including a very sensitive portrayal of back street abortion, the only one coming even slightly close to the masterly "Alfie". Even watching this film now, I think you can really get a feel for what it was like to be young and working class in the 1960's. Great Stuff.

This is one of my all time favourite films. OK so the plot is not fantastic ( certainly better than some of the same era !! ), but anyone who loves the 60's will revel in its nostalgia, the cars, the buildings, the fashions.... simply superb!, it all harks back to a much more simpler, although harder way of life. I was born in the 60's & love the 50's/60,s era, this film started my interest in films of this time, so if you love this film then also see :- A KIND OF LOVING. LONELINESS OF A LONG DISTANCE RUNNER. POOR COW. LEATHER BOYS. CATHY COME HOME. Saturday NIGHT , Sunday MORNING. SMASHING TIME. HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH. BILLY LIAR. A TASTE OF HONEY. SPARROWS CANT SING. GIRL WITH GREEN EYES. A KID FOR 2 FARTHINGS. TO SIR WITH LOVE. So close the curtains, put the cat out, turn the lights off & watch this film.... you will be hooked, i promise !