The Leather Boys

Captures the atmosphere of the 60s biking scene brilliantly. Why in the reviews here does no-one mention the motorcycles??!!! The only reason I wanted to see this was to drink in the atmosphere of the Ace Cafe and see the bikes! It was a bonus that the film had Rita Tushingham and a good story.

Everyone seems to be getting excited about the 'gay' element, yes, it was pretty out there for the film made in the 60s, but it's really about society. It's about being an outsider, in more ways than one.

I saw an old interview with the director, Sidney J Furie; he said whilst filming at The Ace, all the locals completely ignored the cameras and even Rita Tushingham, because they were far more interested in their own scene than a load of actors.

It's hard to find this film now, but if you can, it's well worth a look. It might not be sophisticated as today's films, but that doesn't matter - it has the one thing they don't - originality!

Rita Tushingham and Colin Campbell get married. Things don't work out. He expects sex , a clean home and meals on time. She...seems vaguer on what's entailed. They quarrel constantly and he walks out to live in his grandmother's house with his motorcycle buddy, Dudley Sutton.

There's a lot of gay subtext in this movie, what with the leather motorcycle togs, the men sharing a bed in Gladys Henson's house. Both of the principals seem lost and clueless as to what marriage entails, and fall into old habits. It's one of those kitchen-sink dramas that were popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and the performances under under-rated director Sidney Furie are terrific, but it's a movie in which there is no one to root for. The camerawork by Gerald Gibbs seems purposefully gray and gloomy, with a constantly foggy outdoors.

I laughed when I saw the title. I thought that is a very dodgy title! I was even more surprised when I realised it had a gay character lurking in his sexy leathers behind the main character! (Not that he got up to anything behind him) Although, I have to say it is extremely well acted, and even though the film is rather ancient now, it was actually rather refreshing, and very entertaining. So if it pops up on television somewhere, and you happen to be in front of it, watch it! It is well scripted and splendid stuff. You don't have to be gay to enjoy it either! Nice bikes too, makes me want to get my three wheeler out of the garage. Pedal power... Oh yes... Work those legs!

Sidney J. Furie's 1964 Leather Boys was way before its time. Touching on the then controversial subject of homosexuality. The young cast of Rita Tushingham, Colin Campbell and Dudley Sutton are outstanding. Filmed in black and white, the story is a realistic look at relationships between a husband and wife, and between two friends, one who turns out to be gay. Even the title of the film seems to tell it all, yet there aren't any scenes in any "Leather" bars. Watching the film you can figure out that one of the two friends is gay, but I guess in the early 1960s it was more difficult to figure out. The movie is interesting to look at, as it captures the norms of the society for those days. Now, it's clearly out-dated and if the viewer can not figure out the historical significance of the film, than the movie will only be fair.

An interesting kitchen sink film that alludes too, rather than tackling homosexuality. Worth watching for the location shots and the fine performance of Dudley Sutton. The final quarter of an hour is really quite poignant and there is an excellent final scene.