While the central character in most kitchen sink dramas is a young man, A Taste of Honey represents a stylistic twist, as its protagonist is a young woman. 17-year old Jo (Rita Tushingham) is frustrated with her life of squalor. She lives with her mother (Dora Bryan), who relies on the kindness of her “boyfriends” to get by. When one of them starts talking marriage, his offer is too good to pass up. Jo’s mother abandoned her and goes off with him.
Feeling abandoned by her mother, Jo is forced to go it alone. She finds a job at a shoe store and rents a flat. She even has a new gay roommate, Geoffrey (Murray Melvin) and they quickly become close friends. Things get complicated when Jo finds out she’s pregnant by a sailor who has since left port.
In 1961, an unmarried teenager having a baby by herself was scandal enough, but the fact that the father is a black man was progressive and is handled delicately. As is the fact that Geoffrey is a closeted homosexual. While no one says anything about Jo and Jimmy having been together, the color of his skin is clearly a source of the anxiety for Jo around the birth of her child. If she were to take Geoffrey up on his offer of marriage, it will be obvious he’s not the father when people see the child. Then again, people gossip about Geoffrey, looking at him dubiously, as if they know the truth about his sexuality.
The strength of A Taste of Honey lies in its surprisingly frank (for the time), yet sensitive portrayal of social outcasts, from Jo’s brief relationship with the black sailor, to her unplanned pregnancy, to her deep relationship with the closeted Geoffrey. In 1961 Britain, being gay was illegal, so by proposing marriage Geoffrey is offering up an arrangement that will free them both from the stigma they face. He does care for Jo, saying at one point, “You need somebody to love you while you’re looking for somebody to love.”
While the narrative has some gaps, the fine performances from the two main actors rises above all else. The bleak ‘kitchen sink’ atmosphere is in effect from start to finish. Although attitudes toward interracial relationships and homosexuality have changed, more than fifty years after its theatrical release A Taste of Honey remains deeply affecting.
A newly restored 4K digital transfer, Criterion’s 1080p release looks beautiful. Framed in 1.66:1, we get a great balance between a natural film grain and a nice level of detail. Blacks are surprisingly appropriate and whites never look blown out. Contrast is solid. There are no dirt or image issues to report.
The LPCM 1.0. track sounds flat, but appropriate to the film. the dialogue itself is clean and clear. John Addison’s score is subtle, but fits well with this dialogue based feature.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following extras are available:
- The Actors: (HD) Two new video interviews with actors Rita Tushingham (Jo) and Murray Melvin (Geoffrey). The interviews were conducted exclusively for Criterion in London in May 2016.Rita Tushingham (18:17) The actress recounts how A Taste of Honey launched her acting career, and discusses the shooting of the film in Manchester, her interactions with Tony Richardson and Dora Bryan, the director’s style, cinematographer Walter Lassally’s on-location shooting, how important the film was for women’s roles in cinema, Jo and Geoff’s relationship, etc.
2. Murray Melvin (18:38) The actor discusses his career, his first meeting with Shelagh Delaney, why and how A Taste of Honey broke all sorts of different barriers, his relationship with Rita Tushingham, Tony Richardson’s directing style, the success of the film, etc.
- Tony Richardson: (15:02) In this audio interview conducted by critic Gideon Bachman at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival, the director and co-screenwriter discusses the characteristics of British New Wave films, the importance of freedom in his work, the play that inspired A Taste of Honey, the style of the film, etc.
- Close-Up (HD, 15:17) First aired in 1960 on the television series Close-Up, playwright Shelagh Delaney discusses her childhood growing up in Salford, England and A Taste of Honey.
- Walter Lassally (HD, 19:51) Produced in 1998, the cinematographer discusses the production history of A Taste of Honey, the decision to shoot it on different film stocks, the use of reflected light, etc.
- Remaking British Theater (HD, 21:30) Conducted exclusively for Criterion in London in May 2016, theater scholar Kate Dorney explains the importance of A Taste of Honey as both a play and a film. she discusses British theater in the 1950’s, the type of themes that routinely appeared in plays, how language was used, the censor’s attitude toward homosexuality, etc.
- Momma Don’t Allow (1955) (HD, 21:11) A Free Cinema short film by Richardson, shot by Walter Lassally, this is a snapshot about kids and jazz music.
- Leaflet: An illustrated leaflet featuring Colin MacCabe’s essay “Northern Accents.”
