Two of Us (1987 film)
Encyclopedia
Two of Us is a 1987
gay
-themed BBC
television film written by Leslie Stewart
and directed by Roger Tonge
. Produced as part of the BBC Schools SCENE series and intended for young adults. Although it might be considered quite tame today, at the time it confronted the then Thatcherite government's attempt to ban gay sex education in schools via the controversial (and since repealed) section 28
legislation.http://www.gaycelluloid.com/search/088.htm. Given this backdrop, the BBC was eventually not brave enough to show it during the day and it was screened at night, even though originally created for a school audience. It is perhaps remarkable that the film was even made at all.
The film has similarities with Beautiful Thing
, filmed less than a decade later. In particular, the attitudes portrayed in the Two of Us (homophobia and gay-bashing) were already changing to a wider acceptance in Beautiful Thing, despite the environment that Section 28 engendered.
and currently going steady with girlfriend Sharon, whose best friend Vera (an early role for Kathy Burke
) just happens to have the hots for his best mate Matthew. But all is not as it seems. Matthew is gay, having dropped out of education the previous year as a means of escaping the homophobic abuse of the classroom, only for the discovery of his collection of soft-core gay porn to cause him problems at home as well - see clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQHMTOdUJO4|here. For good measure, Matthew is an ardent swimmer - an opportunity for the film to immediately use and confront an obvious stereotype
. The inevitable shower scene is here. The film contains no nudity whatsoever.
Meanwhile Phil is torn between the realisation that whilst he loves Sharon, he equally has feelings for Matthew. He tries to have it both ways, introducing the one to the other - prompting Vera to describe him as a "little worm" when Sharon runs off in distress. Tired of the complications of life at home, the two decide to elope to the coastal resort of Seaford
on the Sussex
coast. But when Sharon follows him, determined to regain her "fella", the question is not so much whether they can leave their troubles behind, but whether Phil's bisexual nature is destined to make their "honeymoon", a short-lived one.
The film has two endings. Originally gay love triumphs, Phil returns to Matthew at the beach, and they run together into the ocean. However this was considered too controversial and the film was withdrawn. It was re-released in 1988 with a more acceptable ending where Phil appears to leave with Sharon, but Matthew decides that life must go on and that he is his own person. This ending is still sufficiently ambiguous to allow the viewer to identify with either male character.
Commissioned in 1986 for transmission in February 1987 as part of the BBC Schools SCENE series, this drama dared to portray two teenage boys who come to realise that their friendship for each other, has developed into something far more substantial. It is sincere. It is touching. It also flew in the face of contemporary politics. For the real story here is not about Phil and Matthew, but that of what became of this tender portrayal of adolescent gay love.
1987 in film
-Events:*January 31 - The Cure for Insomnia premieres at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois, to officially become the world's longest film according to Guinness World Records....
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
-themed BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television film written by Leslie Stewart
Leslie Stewart (writer)
Leslie Stewart is a British-based writer and director.-Background:Born Leslie George Gannagé-Stewart, he co-wrote the song "Mistletoe and Wine", which earned Cliff Richard the 1988 Christmas number one...
and directed by Roger Tonge
Roger Tonge
Roger Tonge was a British actor.Born Anthony Roger Tonge in Birmingham, he was working as an £8-a-week post office clerk and performing in amateur dramatics in the evenings when he landed the role of Sandy Richardson, the motel owner's son in the ATV soap opera, Crossroads, a role he would play...
. Produced as part of the BBC Schools SCENE series and intended for young adults. Although it might be considered quite tame today, at the time it confronted the then Thatcherite government's attempt to ban gay sex education in schools via the controversial (and since repealed) section 28
Section 28
Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 caused the controversial addition of Section 2A to the Local Government Act 1986 , enacted on 24 May 1988 and repealed on 21 June 2000 in Scotland, and on 18 November 2003 in the rest of Great Britain by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003...
legislation.http://www.gaycelluloid.com/search/088.htm. Given this backdrop, the BBC was eventually not brave enough to show it during the day and it was screened at night, even though originally created for a school audience. It is perhaps remarkable that the film was even made at all.
The film has similarities with Beautiful Thing
Beautiful Thing
Originally Beautiful Thing is a play written by Jonathan Harvey and first performed in 1993. A screen adaptation of the play was released in 1996 by Channel 4 Films, with a revised screenplay also by Harvey. Initially, the film was only intended for television broadcast but it was so well-received...
, filmed less than a decade later. In particular, the attitudes portrayed in the Two of Us (homophobia and gay-bashing) were already changing to a wider acceptance in Beautiful Thing, despite the environment that Section 28 engendered.
Plot
The film centres on the life of Phil - a fun loving student in his final year at British secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
and currently going steady with girlfriend Sharon, whose best friend Vera (an early role for Kathy Burke
Kathy Burke
Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke is an English actress, comedienne, playwright and theatre director. She is best known for her portrayals of Perry in the Harry Enfield film Kevin and Perry Go Large, and of Linda La Hughes in the British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme...
) just happens to have the hots for his best mate Matthew. But all is not as it seems. Matthew is gay, having dropped out of education the previous year as a means of escaping the homophobic abuse of the classroom, only for the discovery of his collection of soft-core gay porn to cause him problems at home as well - see clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQHMTOdUJO4|here. For good measure, Matthew is an ardent swimmer - an opportunity for the film to immediately use and confront an obvious stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
. The inevitable shower scene is here. The film contains no nudity whatsoever.
Meanwhile Phil is torn between the realisation that whilst he loves Sharon, he equally has feelings for Matthew. He tries to have it both ways, introducing the one to the other - prompting Vera to describe him as a "little worm" when Sharon runs off in distress. Tired of the complications of life at home, the two decide to elope to the coastal resort of Seaford
Seaford
-In the United States of America:*Seaford, Delaware*Seaford, New York*Seaford, Virginia*Seaford Hundred, an unincorporated subdivision of Sussex County, Delaware; see List of Delaware Hundreds-In Australia:*Seaford, Victoria**Seaford railway station, Melbourne...
on the Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
coast. But when Sharon follows him, determined to regain her "fella", the question is not so much whether they can leave their troubles behind, but whether Phil's bisexual nature is destined to make their "honeymoon", a short-lived one.
The film has two endings. Originally gay love triumphs, Phil returns to Matthew at the beach, and they run together into the ocean. However this was considered too controversial and the film was withdrawn. It was re-released in 1988 with a more acceptable ending where Phil appears to leave with Sharon, but Matthew decides that life must go on and that he is his own person. This ending is still sufficiently ambiguous to allow the viewer to identify with either male character.
Commissioned in 1986 for transmission in February 1987 as part of the BBC Schools SCENE series, this drama dared to portray two teenage boys who come to realise that their friendship for each other, has developed into something far more substantial. It is sincere. It is touching. It also flew in the face of contemporary politics. For the real story here is not about Phil and Matthew, but that of what became of this tender portrayal of adolescent gay love.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Jason Rush | Matthew |
| Lee Whitlock Lee Whitlock Lee Whitlock is a British television and film actor.At age 12 he gave his debut in the British television series The Gentle Touch in 1980. In 1982 he appeared as Stanley Moon, the son of Harvey Moon, in the series Shine on Harvey Moon and as Falstaff's page Robin in The Merry Wives of Windsor. In... |
Phil |
| Jenny Jay Jenny Jay Jenny Jay , is a British actress, who played Carmen in Carla Lane's television series Bread. She has also appeared in such programmes as Behind The Bike Sheds, The Bill, KYTV, Alas Smith and Jones, All Creatures Great and Small, Inspector Morse and the 80s children's drama series, Dodger, Bonzo and... |
Sharon |
| Zoë Nathenson Zoë Nathenson Zoë Nathenson is a British actress.In 1986, at the age of 17, she performed as daughter of Bob Hoskins in the successful criminal film Mona Lisa... |
Suzie |
| Kathy Burke Kathy Burke Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke is an English actress, comedienne, playwright and theatre director. She is best known for her portrayals of Perry in the Harry Enfield film Kevin and Perry Go Large, and of Linda La Hughes in the British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme... |
Vera |
| James McKenna James McKenna James Stephen "Jimmy" McKenna is a Scottish actor. He has appeared on such television programmes as Hollyoaks, in which he has played the character of Jack Osborne since 1996, and A Touch of Frost.... |
Teacher |
| Martha Constantinou | School Kids |
| Abbie Dabner | |
| Jimmy Demetriou | |
| Ivor Dore | |
| Kelda Holmes Kelda Holmes Kelda Holmes is an English actress best known for playing Sarah Jackson in the Children's ITV television programme Press Gang.... |
|
| Adam Smith | |
| Judy Gridley | Phil's mother |
| John Judd | Matthew's father |
| Gordon Salkilld Gordon Salkilld Gordon Salkilld was an English supporting actor best known for his portrayal of carpenter Jack Wood in the 1970s BBC cult series Survivors.... |
Car Driver |
| Geoffrey Leesley | Policeman |