Figure 1.--The main character in "The Go Between" is Leo, a boy of modest means, invited to spend the summer with a wealthy school chum. They buy him a new light-weight summer suit so he can be more comfortable. He wears a wide white collar, but it was not an Eton collar. We are unsure how common the collar depicted here actually was in England.

Rather plodding film which deals with a boy from a modest family who goes to stay with a wealthy school mate. This mate is a rather snotty sot, a blond boy a bit older. It is a meticulously costumed film and the boy's clothes play a pfrominent role. He is teased because he comes with only his heavy winter Norfolk suit. He is given a new summer knee pants suit which he wears with a boyish wide white collar and little bow, so he will not feel out of place. The shopping scene skips over the choice of the suit, but when he returns he has to stand on a stool while everyone admires his new suit. The film was swr in 1900s. The pants aren't knickers, but kneepants and his knees shows as he runs about. Interesting that his friend who invited him to stay is a little older and wears a less childish suit--but still knickers. The guest serves as the go between for a young woman in the family and her lover that the family does not approve of. The role is played by Dominic Gourel I think), who I would say is about 14 years old, but acts as a younger boy who turns 13 at the end of the film. Long scenes in the film are set around him.

Filmography

The director was Joseph Losey. The screenplay was written by Harold Pinter. The film is beautifully shot and captures the essence of the Norfolk countryside during the long warm days of Summer. The only thing spoiling the film are the 'flash-forwards' which tend to make the whole production disjointed.The Go-Between is unique in being the only film to have its Royal Premiere in Norwich. In 1971 Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother attended the premiere at the ABC Theatre in Prince of Wales Road.

Book

The Go-Between is based on the book of the same name by L.P. Hartley. Lord David Cecil described L.P. Hartley as "One of the most distinguished of modern novelists; and one of the most original. For the world of his creation is composed of such diverse elements. On the one hand he is a keen and accurate observer of the processes of human thought and feeling; he is also a sharp-eyed chronicler of the social scene. But his picture of both is transformed by the light of a Gothic imagination that reveals itself now in a fanciful reverie, now in the mingled dark and gleam of a mysterious light and a mysterious darkness.... Such is the vision of light presented in[his] novels.

Cast

The role of Leo as a boy is played by Dominic Guard, who I would say is about 14 years old, but acts as a younger boy who turns 13 at the end of the film. Long scenes in the film are set around him. Dominic was a fine young actor who occasionally turns up on British TV. Dominic's rich older school friend who invites him for the Summer is Marcus Maudsley played by Richard Gibson. The rest of the cast is Julie Christie (Marian Maudsley), Alan Bates (Ted Burgess), Margaret Leighton (Mrs. Maudsley), Michael Redgrave (The Older Leo Colston), Michael Gough (Mr. Maudsley), Edward Fox (Hugh Trimingham), , Simon Hume-Kendall (Denys), Roger Lloyd-Pack (Charles), Amaryllis Garnet (Kate), Keith Buckley, John Rees, and Gordon Richardson.

Figure 2.--Leo hurts his leg while dlivering one of the messages as part of his role as the go between.

Plot

An invitation to a friend's house changes an adolescent boy's life. Discovering an old diary, Leo, now in his sixties, is drawn back to the hot summer of 1900 and his visit to Brandham Hall. The past comes to life as Leo recalls the events and devastating outcome that destroyed his beliefs and future hope. Rather plodding film which deals with a Leo, a boy from a modest family, who goes to stay with a wealthy school mate. This mate is a rather snotty sot, a blond boy a bit older. It is a meticulously costumed film and the boy's clothes play a prominent role. His upper-class friend's home is the local manor in Norfolk just before World War I (1914-18). Here Leo falls under the spell of his friends older sister and is pressed into messenger duty delivering notes that set up illicit trysts between her and a tenant farmer unacceptable to the family, hence the title.

Clothing

While the plot may drag a bit, the film does offer some interesting insights on both public schools and social class and for HBC period dress. Several scenes in the film touch upon clothing. Leo is teased because he comes with only his heavy winter Norfolk suit. (He doeesn't have a lot of different suits like his wealthy friend's family.) He is taken to buy a new summer knee pants suit which he wears with a boyish wide white collar and little bow, so he will not feel out of place. The shopping scene skips over the choice of the suit, but when he returns he has to stand on a stool while everyone admires his new suit. The pants aren't knickers and his knees shows as he runs about. Interesting that his friend who invited him to stay is a little older and wears a less childish suit--but still knickers. The guest serves as the go between for a young woman in the family and her lover that the family does not approve of.

Setting

The film I would guess takes place in say the early 1900s. The locations used in the film include Melton Constable Hall in North Norfolk (unfortunately not open to the public), the village of Heydon near Aylsham, and Norwich with some beautiful shots of Tombland Alley, the old passageway and restaurant in the Maids Head Hotel, the Cathedral Close, inside the Cathedral, a recreated horse sales on Tombland, and even Thorpe Station. The film paints an accurate picture of the lives of the English upper-class and their "everyone has his place" and "doing your duty" attitudes.

Created: January 26, 2001
Last updated: 12:13 PM 12/23/2004