'69 was (perhaps appropriately) the year the British censor finally realised that nudity on the cinema screen would NOT cause the audience to go blind, have a seizure or generally run riot. After all, it hadn't in all the OTHER countries in Europe, right? ...ACTUALLY, the censor merely reflects what the AUDIENCE of the day will find acceptable, and tailors movies to fit that model.
And it wasn't just about sex and violence - but ALL social behaviour. F'rinstance, before '69, no character could be seen to "get away with" an illegal or immoral act. Even COMEDY crooks couldn't be seen to prosper from their misdeeds.
But British censorship was never about "them and us" - it was a VOLUNTARY system, designed primarily to prevent cinema managers from being jailed for obscenity. It was originally introduced in the twenties, when there were rumblings from the government, to prevent THEM from bringing in their OWN censorship.
A good book on the subject is the sensible publication "What The Censor Saw" by John Trevellyn. It was first printed around the turn of the '70s, but if you CAN find a copy, it's worth reading.
Anyhoo, the '69 relaxation in ALL areas of British censorship created a FLOOD of "T&A" movies. Indeed, for the next two years, even MAINSTREAM movies had to have SOME nudity, just to appear "modern". But those films created JUST to exploit the new liberalism were mostly pretty lame. However, there were exceptions. And "Games That Lovers Play' was definitely one of them.
It has some great set-pieces, the best of which is a production number featuring most of London's old queens - and Jeremy Lloyd in drag. And the cast is bizarre. In addition to Jeremy Lloyd there is a young Joanna Lumley (Joanna met and later MARRIED Jeremy on this shoot - although the union was not to last) and Richard Wattis, who STEALS the film.
Up to this point, Richard had appeared in DOZENS of film and TV roles, always playing the same character - a brittle, prim, nervous, bowler-hat and pinstripe type. But in "Games..." he played a SWINGER. For British audiences, this was HILARIOUS.
Altogether, "Games..." is a TREAT. Set in the twenties, the design is lush. The music is great. And whilst the plot is twaddle, the whole resonates with British "naughtiness". It is very much of its time, but worth a look as a snapshot of Britain finally undoing a few buttons...
And it wasn't just about sex and violence - but ALL social behaviour. F'rinstance, before '69, no character could be seen to "get away with" an illegal or immoral act. Even COMEDY crooks couldn't be seen to prosper from their misdeeds.
But British censorship was never about "them and us" - it was a VOLUNTARY system, designed primarily to prevent cinema managers from being jailed for obscenity. It was originally introduced in the twenties, when there were rumblings from the government, to prevent THEM from bringing in their OWN censorship.
A good book on the subject is the sensible publication "What The Censor Saw" by John Trevellyn. It was first printed around the turn of the '70s, but if you CAN find a copy, it's worth reading.
Anyhoo, the '69 relaxation in ALL areas of British censorship created a FLOOD of "T&A" movies. Indeed, for the next two years, even MAINSTREAM movies had to have SOME nudity, just to appear "modern". But those films created JUST to exploit the new liberalism were mostly pretty lame. However, there were exceptions. And "Games That Lovers Play' was definitely one of them.
It has some great set-pieces, the best of which is a production number featuring most of London's old queens - and Jeremy Lloyd in drag. And the cast is bizarre. In addition to Jeremy Lloyd there is a young Joanna Lumley (Joanna met and later MARRIED Jeremy on this shoot - although the union was not to last) and Richard Wattis, who STEALS the film.
Up to this point, Richard had appeared in DOZENS of film and TV roles, always playing the same character - a brittle, prim, nervous, bowler-hat and pinstripe type. But in "Games..." he played a SWINGER. For British audiences, this was HILARIOUS.
Altogether, "Games..." is a TREAT. Set in the twenties, the design is lush. The music is great. And whilst the plot is twaddle, the whole resonates with British "naughtiness". It is very much of its time, but worth a look as a snapshot of Britain finally undoing a few buttons...