stage / screen

Raw Sex Mars 'Sister George'

By EMERSON BATDORFF

The play. "The Killing of Sister George," was not about lesbianism although it concerned lesbians. The movie, because of the inclusion of one graphic and unnecessary scene, is a movie about lesbianism.

scene

This is unfortunate because apart from the one the film, although overlong, is a powerful one. I had never thought any such movie would have an emotional impact on the straight world. But this movie does.

The situation is valid. The older woman (played by Beryl Reid) whose job as a television actress is threatened at the same time that her companion of seven

years (Susannah York) is growing restive with the re-

lationship.

MISS REID'S job here is a work of awesome power. Anyone who can make me worry about what's happening to a middle-aged lesbian has to be good and Miss Reid, with her fluent eyes. her powerful voice and her pitifully bared soul made me worried.

'The Killing of

Sister George'

A profound and moving film marred by an explicitly lesbian encounter. Comic and tragic as the situation merits, it is graced by the presence of Beryl Reid. Adult.

Produced and directed by Robert Aldrich, screenolav by Lukts Peller from o play by Frank Marcus. Cinerama Releasing Cera. June Buckridge Alice "Childie“ York

Mercy Croft

Betty Thoxter Freddie

Ted Baker Diana

Floor Manager Marlene

Bert Turner

Miss Reid plays Sister George, a British nursing Leo Lockhart sister, who is a district nurse on a TV series on the BBC, a woman whose rough edges begin to dig into everyone as soon as her popularity declines. Therefore it is determined to kill off her character in the series in a motor bike wreck. George responds in real

Beryl Reid McNaught Susannch

Corol Browne Rorald Froser

.....Patricia Medina

Husn Paddick ...Cyril Delevanti Sivi Aberg William Beckley Elaine Church Brendan Dillon

life by developing more rough edges, drinking more. complaining more and swearing more frankly than

ever.

The submissive one of the pair is not all that submissive. Miss York plays this role with what can only be called a whim of iron. She is an opportunist. But to be

sure

she has reason. George, when upset. customarily forces her to eat one of George's cigar butts.

A DIET of insults and the bottom half of Coronas is likely to pall after less than six years. So Childie (the reluctant cigar butt eater) is ready for a change when the villain comes on the scene.

The villain is a dynamic. pushing BBC executive played by Coral Browne. There follows between Miss Browne and Miss York the most explicit sexual scene to be found on the general screen thus far. although the Standard and the Continental go further.

The scene is unfortunate and probably was inserted as box-office insurance, although the producer. Robert Aldrich, said not. Without the scene the movie would seem to be aimed at the art houses, where it would have been a splendid ornament but possibly not affluent.