Audrey Hepburn was brilliant in this film she made a smart choice to do this film because it truly proved to some people that she can truly act

This movie is absolutely one of my favs! Devastating but just so powerful and it also blew my mind when I found out Audrey Hepburn starred in a movie like this!!!! While I first watched it for Audrey, it was Shirley MaClaine who OWNED this movie 👏 I could FEEL her pain - that shame, and self loathing 😢 I don't think people talk about this movie enough - so thanks for making this vid :)

@emma94lee60

11 ай бұрын

Also, I do like to think Karen felt the same way ... but also, it's almost more poetic if she didn't. It makes her acceptance and compassion more important. Andddd kinda makes the movie a true lesbian experience... unrequited love for your bestie and all 😂

@DHGlee2013

9 ай бұрын

Agreed I watched this specifically for Audrey but Shirley broke my heart

I have an enormous soft spot for this movie. It's dismissed too often now, even by Shirley MacLaine, for not having today's progressive outlook and outcome. But it's tremendously sympathetic to the women, and to Martha especially. It employs the trope of the lesbian having to die in the end, yes (which was in the play too, and the goal was to show the damage of careless rumors, tho it was based on a notorious irl case at a Scottish school) but upends it as you pointed out, by Karen *not* running back to the guy. I don't know that today's generation (thank god) can register how rebellious that was then. And we're left heartbroken by Martha's decision, whereas before in film (during this same time period too) it was almost always portrayed as the expected and necessary comeuppance to the corrupting "villain" in the end, the "natural order" restored by the credit's end. And having Audrey freakin Hepburn (the America's Sweetheart of the day) be soft and supportive and accepting of Martha, even if Martha couldn't be to herself, was BIG. Drastically different than the revulsion usually portrayed. Seen in context of it's cohorts at the time and certainly before, TCH was a milestone of progress. Thank you for giving a sympathetic and understanding look at one of my favs.💖💖

this film impressed me very much, with superb acting from Audrey H and Shirley M as well as the the topic itself considering the context of the time

Thanks for highlighting such a brilliant film! In 1994, I was banned from writing my A-level English Lit dissertation on a comparison of the plays of this and The Killing of Sister George. [Oh the joy of attending a Catholic school in the '90s!] There had been a new BBC radio adaptation earlier that year starring the fabulous Miriam Margolyes, which is how I came to discover it. Though I couldn't write the essay, I watched the film repeatedly and became slightly obsessed with both it and Audrey. She was so brave to take on the role, but thank goodness she did as it helped so many women come to terms with their sexuality.

Thank you for covering this film. It was one of many serendipitous "finds" that figured prominently in my coming-of-age as a young gay woman. I had actually written up the story of seeing it age 14, alone, on TV on a momentous night...but the browser closed the tab before I had a chance to save it. Suffice to say, it made a big impact on me.

Just imagine how much more the film would have emphasized Karen and Martha's relationship - even more than it already does - if Joe had been played by a less charismatic actor than James Garner, if the character had been played by a non-movie star. I'm sure that making Joe such a central presence in the film, through Garner's casting, is part of what made the film palatable to non-LGBT+ audiences at the time.

@100percentshipper

11 ай бұрын

You know what, I hadn't even thought about who played Joe, although of course it would have been just as carefully considered as the other roles. Honestly quite cleverly done to get it slide past censorship and make it radical without anyone realising just how much.

Great perspective on Jo. Audrey and Shirley were perfect in these roles.

This film is totally worth a watch indeed 🎯

Love your take on this movie and I agree. As a young gaby I did not yet know about this movie till I watched If These Walls Could Talk 2. I was already so in my feels already from ITWCT2 watching this sweet older couple being scared to go watch the movie and how things were for them. But then i watched the movie. Wow! Talk about devastating! Growing up in a small town in Oklahoma this movie made a big impression on my little queer world. Thank you for bringing this movie to the light and having a great conversation about it.

Great video!

The stylized use of shadow gave this movie more exposure than it would have gotten otherwise.

and just like that the 'Dead Lesbian' trope was born.... bold film - Audrey was the bomb in this

Thank you ❤

I'm a fan of Audrey but never heard of this movie. Will have to find it!

Decades later Shirley MacLaine reflected a bit on this film and how Martha's self-loathing was a writing decision that wouldn't have survived the passage of time. Here's the clip: youtu(.)be/429gotnYSt0 Thanks for the video. Personally I found this film a very daring and commendable approach for its time and agree with your impressions. I thought it was a clever indirect way of making the audience empathise with the cruelty of ostracism. I agree that the ending - rejecting Joe and walking away with her head high - is a solid writing decision and key to the understanding of the film.

@emma94lee60

11 ай бұрын

Interesting clip, thanks for sharing - so weird to hear that perspective from Shirley MacLaine when Martha's self-loathing is what made the movie for me. As the end of the video you linked said, no matter how much I wear flags and signs and proclaim that I'm 'proud', there's still a part that thinks 'how could I be this way' - damn that's relatable!

@100percentshipper

11 ай бұрын

Yes saw that clip in the doc The Celluloid Closet. I didn't mind that scene but what floored me is that she and Audrey didn't even talk about what was even happening ... That is insane to me!

@blau20

11 ай бұрын

@@100percentshipper Absolutely! That part shocked me too.

Wonderful conversation

First: who wouldn't fall in love with Audrey? Then Martha cries out in agony that she is so ashamed. Then she kills herself. A movie about a gay love movie in that time. I always feel very sad about this one. The only really beautiful thing about the love was in the final moments of the movie. The entire town showed up when Martha killed herself, but Karen walked by them, head held high and didn't care what they thought. But still - so sad. That you love someone and then that.

Why can't ppl just be lesbians in peace 😕

Good marrative, as always 100% shipper.

schools need to make profit???? 0:28

@booberfraggle3839

11 ай бұрын

Private schools definitely have to.

It wasn’t a “lesbian love story.” What a disingenuous title. Martha had those feelings toward Karen, but made no overt actions toward her. Karen was in love with Joe, and had no idea about Martha’s feelings.

It's not a lesbian love story

@johnscott488

3 ай бұрын

Absolutely not. This is just people like the creator of the video seeing things that are not there!!

Lesbian love story?? Get real!!

@andrewdrewandy

Ай бұрын

what does this even mean