The Other Side of the Underneath
Encyclopedia
The Other Side of the Underneath is a 1972 British feature film written and directed by Jane Arden
and starring Sheila Allen
, Liz Danciger, Penny Slinger
, Ann Lynn, and Suzanka Fraey . Other members of the Holocaust Theatre Company appear in the film. It is the only British feature film in the 1970s to be solely directed by a woman. Jane Arden herself also appears in the film. The title of the film is taken from a line in Arden's play Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven which was a huge success at the London Arts Lab in 1969.
The film currently has almost mythical status amongst fans of radical, experimental cinema, partly because of its visionary and disturbing depictions of the mental state of its schizophrenic protagonist, and also because of its recent invisibility: until the July 2009 showings at the National Film Theatre (BFI South Bank) and The Cube Microplex
in Bristol
it had not been publicly shown anywhere since a July 1983 National Film Theatre tribute to Arden, who had committed suicide at the end of the previous year. The British Film Institute
restored and remastered the film for DVD and Blu-ray release on July 13 2009. The Other Side of the Underneath was re-released simulanteously with Arden's other two feature films Separation
(1967) and Anti-Clock
(1979); all three films were collaborations with the producer/director Jack Bond
.
The film's credits boast a rich array of talent. In addition to Arden and many actors from her renowned Holocaust Theatre Company, the film was produced and co-photographed by Jack Bond
, co-photographed by Aubrey Dewar and edited by David Mingay (who later went on to direct films such as Rude Boy
, 1980), and Robert Hargreaves.
The locations for the films were primarily in and around the Welsh mining communities of Abertillery
and Cwmtillery
in Ebbw Fach, the Eastern and smaller of the two valleys in Ebbw Vale
. One early episode was filmed at the Newport Transporter Bridge
. The extraordinary soundtrack to the film was primarily the work of the cellist Sally Minford who appears, usually actually playing the cello
, in many interior and exterior scenes, and the sound editor Robert Hargreaves.
Jane Arden (director)
Jane Arden was a Welsh-born film director, actor, screenwriter, playwright, songwriter, and poet.-Early career:...
and starring Sheila Allen
Sheila Allen
Sheila Allen is an American actress.Sheila Ann Mathews was born in New York City. She was married to producer Irwin Allen until his death in 1991. She appeared in several of her husband's TV series and movies through 1986....
, Liz Danciger, Penny Slinger
Penny Slinger
Penny Slinger is an American artist. Slinger's work was part of the Angels of Anarchy exhibit at the Manchester Art Gallery in 2009.-Personal life:...
, Ann Lynn, and Suzanka Fraey . Other members of the Holocaust Theatre Company appear in the film. It is the only British feature film in the 1970s to be solely directed by a woman. Jane Arden herself also appears in the film. The title of the film is taken from a line in Arden's play Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven which was a huge success at the London Arts Lab in 1969.
The film currently has almost mythical status amongst fans of radical, experimental cinema, partly because of its visionary and disturbing depictions of the mental state of its schizophrenic protagonist, and also because of its recent invisibility: until the July 2009 showings at the National Film Theatre (BFI South Bank) and The Cube Microplex
Cube Microplex
The Cube Microplex is a cinema and event venue in central Bristol, which operates as a non-profit volunteer-run cooperative. Since opening in 1998 it has hosted artistic and cultural events including films and music performances as well as providing a focal point for the local artistic community...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
it had not been publicly shown anywhere since a July 1983 National Film Theatre tribute to Arden, who had committed suicide at the end of the previous year. The British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
restored and remastered the film for DVD and Blu-ray release on July 13 2009. The Other Side of the Underneath was re-released simulanteously with Arden's other two feature films Separation
Separation (1967 film)
Separation, a film produced in 1967 and released in 1968, was written by and starred Jane Arden and directed by Jack Bond. The film explores the life of a middle-aged woman following the breakdown of her marriage...
(1967) and Anti-Clock
Anti-Clock
Anti-Clock is a 1979 film written and directed by Jane Arden, and co-directed by Jack Bond. The film, which stars Arden's son Sebastian Saville, was shot on film and video in colour and black and white sequences...
(1979); all three films were collaborations with the producer/director Jack Bond
Jack Bond (director)
Jack Bond is a British film producer and director. He is best known for his work for The South Bank Show and his creative partnership with the British writer, actor and director Jane Arden between 1965 and 1979....
.
The film's credits boast a rich array of talent. In addition to Arden and many actors from her renowned Holocaust Theatre Company, the film was produced and co-photographed by Jack Bond
Jack Bond (director)
Jack Bond is a British film producer and director. He is best known for his work for The South Bank Show and his creative partnership with the British writer, actor and director Jane Arden between 1965 and 1979....
, co-photographed by Aubrey Dewar and edited by David Mingay (who later went on to direct films such as Rude Boy
Rude Boy (film)
Rude Boy is a 1980 British film directed by Jack Hazan and David Mingay and filmed in 1978 and early 1979.The film, part fiction, part rockumentary, tells the story of Ray Gange, a Clash fan who leaves his job in a Soho sex shop to become a roadie for the band...
, 1980), and Robert Hargreaves.
The locations for the films were primarily in and around the Welsh mining communities of Abertillery
Abertillery
Abertillery is a town in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent in South Wales, north-west of Newport, originally on the Great Western Railway. Its population rose steeply during the period of mining development in South Wales, being 10,846 in the 1891 census and 21,945 ten years later...
and Cwmtillery
Cwmtillery
Cwmtillery is a village located in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent in Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire.-History:...
in Ebbw Fach, the Eastern and smaller of the two valleys in Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River, south Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough...
. One early episode was filmed at the Newport Transporter Bridge
Newport Transporter Bridge
The Newport Transporter Bridge is a transporter bridge that crosses the River Usk in Newport, South Wales. It is a Grade I listed structure. Designed by French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin, it was built in 1906 and opened by Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar on 12 September 1906...
. The extraordinary soundtrack to the film was primarily the work of the cellist Sally Minford who appears, usually actually playing the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, in many interior and exterior scenes, and the sound editor Robert Hargreaves.