Sex in British films

[Brief Encounter]

In 'classic' British films (pre-1960) am I correct in thinking there are very few occasions where it is heavily implied the couple have or are about to have sex? I would assume they are never shown in bed together! Any idea what the first such scene in a British film was?

Honestly, I'm not a perv This is a serious research question!

A few examples off the top of my head - mainly Gainsborough

The Wicked Lady (1945) - open to doubt in early scene with Margaret Lockwood and Griffith Jones. Left in no question when the bridal chamber is prepared. Heavily implied in scenes with Lockwood and James Mason. His character sexually assaulting hers is implicitly implied.

The Man in Grey (1943) - similar bridal chamber wedding night scene with Phyllis Calvert and James Mason. Also open to doubt in scenes with Mason and Lockwood.

Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945) - in the scene after Calvert meets Stewart Granger, they are both on the bed and smoking. According to Calvert, one foot had to be on the floor!

Trottie True (1949) - Jean Kent goes to bed with James Donald.

And two 'hindered' examples
Love Story (1944) Granger is taking Lockwood to his secret cottage before the mining disaster
Brief Encounter (1945) Trevor Howard taking Celia Johnson to the flat before being interrupted

[CaptainWaggett]

It's an interesting question. I'd like to know what the first film that shows a man and a woman in bed together is.(Two men is clearly not to shocking ). Even sitting up in a bed TerryandJune-style seems to have been forbidden (though it's true that single beds really were fantastically popular from the 20s onwards). I can think of a few where there's a double bed shown (The Titfield Thunderbolt for example) but one one person is in it. I'm fairly sure this shocking scene of depravity doesn't actually appear in Here Come the Huggetts but is a studio still.

[Arthur Linden-Jones]

Tsk Tsk Tsk. Disgusting.

[CaptainWaggett]

At least they cleaned their act up for this one

[Mr Sloane]

Tsk Tsk Tsk. Disgusting.

Was n't this one a subtextual reading of their roles in the relationship

[CaptainWaggett]

Was n't this one a subtextual reading of their roles in the relationship

If Charters is a Bear what does that make Caldicott? A Badger or an Otter?

[Euryale]

Even though we know that historically nothing happened, it still seems Charlie Laughton had to keep one foot on the floor in this scene:




E.

[Mr Sloane]

If Charters is a Bear what does that make Caldicott? A Badger or an Otter?

How about "Trapper - a man of smaller stature attracted to bears."

[Gerald Lovell]

It's made quite clear in Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948) that Prince Peter Bull is all dressed up for a bedtime frolic with Joan Greenwood until the plot intervenes.

[Brief Encounter]

If Charters is a Bear what does that make Caldicott? A Badger or an Otter?

I'm fairly sure Ma and Pa Huggett are not seen to share a bed together. Did Britain use some form of the Hays code that forbade shared beds?

[alan french]

Hi,
I believe there is something in DERBY DAY with Googie Withers.. Can't think of the year. The same also applies to television. How about Hancock's Half Hour. Episode: The Missing Page. Hancock and Sid share the same bed. And there was an early specially filmed commercial television series based on Noddy. Did not Noddy and Big Ears go to bed? And come to think of it, what happened in the basket after it was time to go home in Andy Pandy. Bill and Ben, the Little Weed. Were they not surrounded by flower beds? What an innocent life childhood was in those days.

On a more serious note, I know it is not strictly a British film, but it does have a huge British element in it. TARZAN AND HIS MATE and its prequal, caused a bit of a stir. I think that this film contributed to the Hays commission, looking into this subject. We were very stiff upper lipped. But look at us now.

Alan French.

[didi-5]

Gone to Earth?

[CaptainWaggett]

There's loads of films where it's clearly implied that a leading character has had extra-marital sex - the pregnancy of the heroine in Hindle Wakes is a bit of a clue As is the fade to sheep when Bruce Seton proposes to Joan Greenwood in Whisky Galore (and she takes her shoes off, the saucy hussy ). But when do we first see them in bed together - can anyone even think of a 60s film where this shocking event happens?

[Euryale]

There's loads of films where it's clearly implied that a leading character has had extra-marital sex - the pregnancy of the heroine in Hindle Wakes is a bit of a clue As is the fade to sheep when Bruce Seton proposes to Joan Greenwood in Whisky Galore (and she takes her shoes off, the saucy hussy ). But when do we first see them in bed together - can anyone even think of a 60s film where this shocking event happens?

An unmarried couple in bed? Jane Asher and Michael Caine in Alfie, I think.


E.

[Steve Crook]

Gone to Earth?

We never see Reddin bed Hazel, although there are some unsubtle hints. Like when he meets her in the woods she drops the flowers she was holding and he steps on them - de-flowered - geddit?

Steve

[Steve Crook]

There's loads of films where it's clearly implied that a leading character has had extra-marital sex - the pregnancy of the heroine in Hindle Wakes is a bit of a clue As is the fade to sheep when Bruce Seton proposes to Joan Greenwood in Whisky Galore (and she takes her shoes off, the saucy hussy ). But when do we first see them in bed together - can anyone even think of a 60s film where this shocking event happens?

I think it was probably Alfie as well

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

An unmarried couple in bed? Jane Asher and Michael Caine in Alfie, I think.


E.

I was thinking of any m/f couple in bed together. Can't think of any 50s films where it happens even in a Charters and Caldicott sort of way with a respectable married couple. But it still might be Alfie

[wadey]

Saturday Night Sunday Morning

[Mr Sloane]

The League of Gentlemen - Melissa Stribling joins Nigel Patrick on the bed they obviously shared, then again the first half of film drips with illicit sex.

[CaptainWaggett]

The League of Gentlemen - Melissa Stribling joins Nigel Patrick on the bed they obviously shared, then again the first half of film drips with illicit sex.

Good call but are they actually in bed together? I think you might have been allowed to sit on a bed (one foot on the floor, obviously) if the other partner is in it with several blankets between you