loving alan bates

i have been having a bit of an alan bates festival. it began in gorgeous color with 'women in love' and finished up in beautiful bleak black and white with 'a kind of loving.'
british kitchen sink dramas are my favorite beat when it comes to films. they rarely make me blue.









A Kind of Loving (1962)
Directed by John Schlesinger. With Alan Bates, June Ritchie: those are facts i love! the dreary town where the touching story takes place only adds to the tenderness these people must reach in the face of their dire circumstances. having a 'mother-in-law' was never so lamentable! from beginning to end the film is lovely.

Women in Love (1969)
Directed by Ken Russell. With Alan Bates, Oliver Reed, Glenda Jackson: more facts i find irresistible. this was the film that rocked some sensibilities. sex, intimacy between friends, bold women! a classic.

alan bates had a long career beginning in 1956 and running right up till his death in 2003. my sister and i saw him on the stage in 'butley' on our first trip to europe. that was an exceptional role which was filmed and is available on dvd.a truy glorious actor.

photos: alan/with june ritchie/with jennie linden