The Killing of Sister George

Rating:
Summary: A camp Classic.
Review: Beryl Reed is gives an amazing performance as the lecherous Sister George. Many people have condemned this film as being anti lesbian, but I feel it is a study in abusive behavior and the insecurities that feed it. It's also very campy and a hoot. Susannah York as Childie and Coral Browne ( Vera Charles in Auntie Mame) also give very brave and wonderful performances considering this movie was made in the sixties. The story is of a lechorous lesbian who plays a nun on a British Soap Opera.On screen she is kindly and a total humanitarian; offstage is something else altogeher. George is an alcholic lesbian who abuses her younger lover and comes on to real nuns in their taxi cabs. When the BBC threatens to write her out of the soap opera due to her scandalous off-screen behavior, a paranoid lesbian becomes even more abusive. See it for the wonderful performances and sixties sensibilities of gays.

Rating:
Summary: Moving lesbian character study in a very 60's framework.
Review: It is a very good example of this type of cinema from the late sixties when directors loved to take all kinds of chances with their subject matter, not like today's pre-packaged films. That three such outstanding actresses as Beryl Reid, Coral Browne and Susannah York were willing to go along with Aldrich for the ride I find just amazing. Beryl Reid in particular shines, although all three put in stupendous performances. I have heard people criticize the film for being dated, but I don't find that a real criticism at all. The enlightened film-goer has to be receptive to other times, other mind-sets, other ways of feeling. If any film invites the viewer to cross those barriers, this one does. Yes, it is overly long, and could probably have been cut down to half its present length. That is the films great flaw, but like most good films which seem overly long upon first viewing, it's impact stays with you. If you can make it past the two-hour mark, I don't think you will find that this film is lacking anything in quality, sensitivity, or the cumulative power to move. Just excellent.

Rating:
Summary: Moving lesbian character study in a very 60's framework.
Review: It is a very good example of this type of cinema from the late sixties when directors loved to take all kinds of chances with their subject matter, not like today's pre-packaged films. That three such outstanding actresses as Beryl Reid, Coral Browne and Susannah York were willing to go along with Aldrich for the ride I find just amazing. Beryl Reid in particular shines, although all three put in stupendous performances. I have heard people criticize the film for being dated, but I don't find that a real criticism at all. The enlightened film-goer has to be receptive to other times, other mind-sets, other ways of feeling. If any film invites the viewer to cross those barriers, this one does. Yes, it is overly long, and could probably have been cut down to half its present length. That is the films great flaw, but like most good films which seem overly long upon first viewing, it's impact stays with you. If you can make it past the two-hour mark, I don't think you will find that this film is lacking anything in quality, sensitivity, or the cumulative power to move. Just excellent.

Rating:
Summary: Whatever Happened to Sister George?
Review: The blurb on the packaging reminds the viewer that THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE comes to us "from the makers of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE." If you had not known that Robert Aldrich directed and that Lukas Heller was responsible for the script, you still might have guessed as much. Both films are lurid, over the top and are nowadays considered to be camp classics. Neither is a cinematic masterpieces, to be sure, but both have their moments.

SISTER GEORGE came by its notoriety legitimately. A number of gay and lesbian themed movies were coming out in the late 60s. Unlike, say, THE FOX or THERESE AND ISABELLE, though, KSG was unabashedly garish. No literary pretensions here. Whether it was simply trading in stereotypes is a subject of some debate. It is clear that ultimately, "George" is meant to be a sympathetic character; her plight--losing her job and her lover on the same day--is one we're supposed to identify with. Some will, of course, but the failure of the movie is that many more will not. Aldrich and co. mean to portray George in all her complexity, but we never really find out what makes her tick.

And that is much of the trouble with "camp classics": characters like George are supposed to be sympathetic and ridiculous at the same time. To say nothing of being bitchy, bitchy, bitchy. It's a lot to ask of any script writer, or any actress.

Beryl Reid's acclaimed performance is indeed the best thing about the movie. She does suggest some of the character's inner conflicts and self-doubt. But she is all too often in full-harangue mode. It's ultimately wearying. As for Susannah York, she never mangages to project the vulnerability that her child-woman character is supposed to possess. The doll collection notwithstanding, she actually comes off as savvy and sassy in a Julie Christie sort of way. She looks uncomfortable in those ridiculous teddies. Actually, she looks pretty uncomfortable throughout the whole movie.

Watching the movie some 34 years after its release is an odd experience. It's hard to see why it was so shocking at the time (one of the first commercial films to earn an "X" rating). But that's only part of it. What's even stranger is how little fun this camp classic turns out to be. I wonder if others will catch themselves thinking, "Well, this is certainly the guilty pleasure, isn't it? I wonder if it's almost over?"

Rating:
Summary: Whatever Happened to Sister George?
Review: The blurb on the packaging reminds the viewer that THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE comes to us "from the makers of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE." If you had not known that Robert Aldrich directed and that Lukas Heller was responsible for the script, you still might have guessed as much. Both films are lurid, over the top and are nowadays considered to be camp classics. Neither is a cinematic masterpieces, to be sure, but both have their moments.

SISTER GEORGE came by its notoriety legitimately. A number of gay and lesbian themed movies were coming out in the late 60s. Unlike, say, THE FOX or THERESE AND ISABELLE, though, KSG was unabashedly garish. No literary pretensions here. Whether it was simply trading in stereotypes is a subject of some debate. It is clear that ultimately, "George" is meant to be a sympathetic character; her plight--losing her job and her lover on the same day--is one we're supposed to identify with. Some will, of course, but the failure of the movie is that many more will not. Aldrich and co. mean to portray George in all her complexity, but we never really find out what makes her tick.

And that is much of the trouble with "camp classics": characters like George are supposed to be sympathetic and ridiculous at the same time. To say nothing of being bitchy, bitchy, bitchy. It's a lot to ask of any script writer, or any actress.

Beryl Reid's acclaimed performance is indeed the best thing about the movie. She does suggest some of the character's inner conflicts and self-doubt. But she is all too often in full-harangue mode. It's ultimately wearying. As for Susannah York, she never mangages to project the vulnerability that her child-woman character is supposed to possess. The doll collection notwithstanding, she actually comes off as savvy and sassy in a Julie Christie sort of way. She looks uncomfortable in those ridiculous teddies. Actually, she looks pretty uncomfortable throughout the whole movie.

Watching the movie some 34 years after its release is an odd experience. It's hard to see why it was so shocking at the time (one of the first commercial films to earn an "X" rating). But that's only part of it. What's even stranger is how little fun this camp classic turns out to be. I wonder if others will catch themselves thinking, "Well, this is certainly the guilty pleasure, isn't it? I wonder if it's almost over?"

Rating:
Summary: Best Female Orgasm
Review: This movie contains the best
female orgasm ever seen on the silver
screen!!.
It makes 'When Harry met Sally' look
like the sound of music (!!).


Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: This movie is a lot of fun if you do not take it too seriously. It is set in the late 60's London and features the late great Beryl Reid as a soap star under threat at work and home. Great scenes of the Gateways club in London and the owners - Gina and Smitty as well as some of the regulars, who are used as extras. It is not for the faint at heart; there is a very funny scene involving an intoxicated Beryl Reid (George) and a couple of nuns in a taxi cab! If you are looking for a movie depicting a healthy lesbian relationship/love story then this is not for you!

Rating:
Summary: See This Movie:You'll Never see its likes again (!!!)
Review: When I first started at University, Susannah York was guest
lecturering there on feminism and womens rights.
After seeing her in this movie, I could not walk past her poster
on campus without laughing my head off.
See this movie.If you live to be 300 you will never see anything
like it.
THEY WILL NEVER ALLOW ANYTHING LIKE IT TO BE MADE AGAIN(!!!).
The hypocracy it displays is self explanitory,
As is the Joke(!!!).
GREAT GREAT FUN???
YOU WILL LAUGH TILL YOU DROP(!!!).