Has anyone seen the film "A Taste Of Honey", it is extremely funny and quite sad at times without being over-sentimental. There is some fine acting by Rita Tushingham, Dora Bryan and Robert Stephens. I think it was filmed in Manchester in 1961. Jo(Rita Tushingham) lives with her mother Helen, played by (Dora Bryan) in rented accommodation. The film has a lot to do with their relationship, Jo is just about ready to leave school. There are some very funny quotes in the film, eg. Jo says to her mother, "just imagine it, your forty years old, I hope to be dead and buried before I reach that age, you,ve been living for forty years." Helen(sarcastically).yes it must be a biological phenomena". Jo. " you dont look forty, you look a sort of well preserved sixty". This film was written by Shelagh Delaney at the age of nineteen.

Yeah, I've seen the film, and the play... wasn't it a play first?

Yeah, I've seen the film, and the play... wasn't it a play first?
yes , it was a play first, in 1958.

Written by 19 year old Shelagh Delaney. Cracking script. It was on at the Crucible a while ago, but the performances didn't really do the script justice.

Has anyone seen the film "A Taste Of Honey", it is extremely funny and quite sad at times without being over-sentimental. There is some fine acting by Rita Tushingham, Dora Bryan and Robert Stephens. I think it was filmed in Manchester in 1961. Jo(Rita Tushingham) lives with her mother Helen, played by (Dora Bryan) in rented accommodation. The film has a lot to do with their relationship, Jo is just about ready to leave school. There are some very funny quotes in the film, eg. Jo says to her mother, "just imagine it, your forty years old, I hope to be dead and buried before I reach that age, you,ve been living for forty years." Helen(sarcastically).yes it must be a biological phenomena". Jo. " you dont look forty, you look a sort of well preserved sixty". This film was written by Shelagh Delaney at the age of nineteen.

Yes, I can remember seeing this film.It was very good.Cant believe the author was only nineteen.

Written by 19 year old Shelagh Delaney. Cracking script. It was on at the Crucible a while ago, but the performances didn't really do the script justice.

The play's revival kicked off at The Coliseum Theatre in Oldham, where I went to see it earlier this year. It was well acted, and a rare treat to see this terrific play on stage.

It was whilst I was discussing my trip to Oldham with a friend - that she pointed out that the cast had moved onto Sheffield to perform the play at The Crucible!

Hmm.. that'll teach me to only rely on The Guardian reviews in future!

Is that the one where they sang "the big ship sailed up the alley- alley- o"?

Groundbreaking for its time - a white lass having a black lover - and a gay friend - all portrayed as human beings.

What was the country coming to 45 years ago?

Is that the one where they sang "the big ship sailed up the alley- alley- o"?

Groundbreaking for its time - a white lass having a black lover - and a gay friend - all portrayed as human beings.

What was the country coming to 45 years ago?

The very one Longcol!

I'm currently reading the playbook. Truly groundbreaking - and Delaney was only 19 when she wrote it!

In the mid-eighties it was the solemn duty of each and every Smiths disciple to watch A Taste of Honey, among many other classic kitchen sink films and a great deal more besides. Morrissey's lyrics teemed with references to quality films, books, music, etc. It was lucky I was a teenage follower of such a culturally enriching band, it opened a whole new world to me. And the renewed interest in those cultural reference points meant that those films were shown again late on Channel Four. It would be good if they could be shown again.

I remember having to read it and act it for GCSE English Literature and then having to write an sequel to the play, some ten or fifteen year on.

I wrote it in a very lighthearted way (I won't go into details but will say that Jo's baby grew up to be Terence Trent Darby) but got an "F" for it, the teacher said I was "making a mockery of such a serious subject and superb piece of literature".

I remember having to watch the film when I was at school. I dont think I have seen it since, and probably would appreciate it better now.

In the mid-eighties it was the solemn duty of each and every Smiths disciple to watch A Taste of Honey, among many other classic kitchen sink films and a great deal more besides. Morrissey's lyrics teemed with references to quality films, books, music, etc. It was lucky I was a teenage follower of such a culturally enriching band, it opened a whole new world to me. And the renewed interest in those cultural reference points meant that those films were shown again late on Channel Four. It would be good if they could be shown again.


Smiths fan in agreement with all the above. :)

i have always loved this film, its on my list of top 5 fave films ever.

I actually saw the original production in London and has been commented on it caused quite a stir,Rita Tushingham was the daughter,Avis Bunnage her mother and Melvin Melvin as the daughters friend,it was Rita Tushingham s first major role and all aspects of the production received rave reviews from the critics at that time

I actually saw the original production in London and has been commented on it caused quite a stir,Rita Tushingham was the daughter,Avis Bunnage her mother and Melvin Melvin as the daughters friend,it was Rita Tushingham s first major role and all aspects of the production received rave reviews from the critics at that time

Yes, she was brilliant in the film.

In the mid-eighties it was the solemn duty of each and every Smiths disciple to watch A Taste of Honey, among many other classic kitchen sink films and a great deal more besides. Morrissey's lyrics teemed with references to quality films, books, music, etc. It was lucky I was a teenage follower of such a culturally enriching band, it opened a whole new world to me. And the renewed interest in those cultural reference points meant that those films were shown again late on Channel Four. It would be good if they could be shown again.

Until I saw the play, I hadn't realised that Morrissey pilfered the line "I dreamt about you last night, and I fell out of bed twice" from it.

Until I saw the play, I hadn't realised that Morrissey pilfered the line "I dreamt about you last night, and I fell out of bed twice" from it.

Half the fun is suddenly happening on lines like that one and saying 'oh that's where it came from!' :)

There are many more lines from the play/film scattered through the Smiths' catalogue. When I read a biog recently that listed them even I was shocked at the extent of Morrissey's looting. Cheeky beggar. :o

i think this film was very good for its time and sent out a message back then about underage sex. very good acting by dora brian and rita tushingham.

I remember having to read it and act it for GCSE English Literature
Me too. Probably didn't appreciate it then as I would now :)