The leather boys

A fascinating film which shows you just how fast the 1960s was waking up in 1964. Some say the homosexuality in the film is referred to obliquely. I disagree. Unless you are 13 years old, it should be very obvious that Reggie's mate is gay about half way through the film. Other than that it is fascinating to see how the film was used as a template for Quadrophenia (1979). I can think of at least 10 similarities. 1) Our hero is working class teenager with a broad cockney accent. 2) All his mates ride motorbikes. 3) The main character takes a road trip to Brighton 4) The argument in the café in Brighton between the two key male characters. 5) The same shot of the massed bikes facing the camera as they head off down a London road. 6) Jimmy in Quadrophenia has a close mate who works as a car engineer. Reggie works as a car/ bike engineer. 7) One of the main characters (Chalkie?) stands out by wearing a traditional tweed hat with a feather in it - the character who calls the start of the endurance race in Leather Boys wears one too. 8) Jimmy encounters his old biker school mate (played by Ray Winstone) when both are stark naked in the baths...need I say more. 9) Reggie/ Jimmy are unable to sustain a relationship with their girlfriends. 10) ..and this is the clincher. The final scene has Jimmy/Reggie walking towards the camera after their whole world has fallen apart, with the audience left guessing what will become of them. Especially liked Rita Tushingham's performance in Leather Boys, she does angry much better than Lesley Ash in Quadrophenia.

.The Leather Boys is a 1950s British film that explores themes of youth rebellion, homosexuality, and class struggle. It follows the story of a young couple, Reggie and Dot, as their relationship is put to the test when Reggie becomes involved with the gay subculture. The film's portrayal of homosexuality was groundbreaking for its time, and its examination of working-class culture and gender roles is notable. Despite its flaws, The Leather Boys is a powerful and important work of cinema. Another notable aspect of The Leather Boys is its depiction of gender roles and expectations. The film challenges traditional notions of masculinity and femininity, showing men who are sensitive and emotional, and women who are strong and independent. Through Reggie and Dot's relationship, the film shows the importance of mutual respect and understanding in a healthy relationship, regardless of gender.

The film's portrayal of gender roles and expectations is not without its flaws, however. Some have criticized the film's depiction of women as secondary characters, with Dot's role in the film limited to that of a supportive girlfriend. Others have argued that the film's exploration of masculinity and femininity is limited to a narrow range of gender identities and expressions.

I caught this film on TV earlier this summer after having first seen it 30 years ago and it was every bit as good as I remembered it.

It gains a great deal by not being overt about its gay subtext. This does a lot to increase its poignancy. Beautifully shot and edited ,it also fascinating for the various location shots around south west London. It also to my mind has a undermining sniggering tone to the fairly wooden dialogue amongst the family in the first part of the film..very reminiscent of a Mike Leigh film. Did anyone out there ever remember seeing it in the cinema, as I imagine people would have got more of the references and picked up its satirical tone more acutely then.

Music by BillMcGuffie.He also did some arrangements for Sinatra.

Check out Dudley Sutton on you-tube

Captures the atmosphere of the 60s biking scene brilliantly. Why in the reviews here does no-one mention the motorcycles??!!! The only reason I wanted to see this was to drink in the atmosphere of the Ace Cafe and see the bikes! It was a bonus that the film had Rita Tushingham and a good story.

Everyone seems to be getting excited about the 'gay' element, yes, it was pretty out there for the film made in the 60s, but it's really about society. It's about being an outsider, in more ways than one.

I saw an old interview with the director, Sidney J Furie; he said whilst filming at The Ace, all the locals completely ignored the cameras and even Rita Tushingham, because they were far more interested in their own scene than a load of actors.

It's hard to find this film now, but if you can, it's well worth a look. It might not be sophisticated as today's films, but that doesn't matter - it has the one thing they don't - originality!

Sidney J. Furie's 1964 Leather Boys was way before its time. Touching on the then controversial subject of homosexuality. The young cast of Rita Tushingham, Colin Campbell and Dudley Sutton are outstanding. Filmed in black and white, the story is a realistic look at relationships between a husband and wife, and between two friends, one who turns out to be gay. Even the title of the film seems to tell it all, yet there aren't any scenes in any "Leather" bars. Watching the film you can figure out that one of the two friends is gay, but I guess in the early 1960s it was more difficult to figure out. The movie is interesting to look at, as it captures the norms of the society for those days. Now, it's clearly out-dated and if the viewer can not figure out the historical significance of the film, than the movie will only be fair.