Negatives (1968) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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Theo, a used-furniture dealer, and his lover, Vivien, like to enhance their love-making through dressing-up and role-playing. He pretends he's notorious murderer Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen; she pretends she's either Crippen's wife, Belle Elmore, or Crippen's mistress, Ethel Le Neve. When they're not having sex, Theo and Vivien engage in a lot of bickering, but continue to live together above Theo's London shop. Entering their lives one day is Reingard, a female German photographer who's been observing the couple, whom she finds intriguing. Reingard moves into one of the rooms above the shop; under her influence, Theo begins to shed his Crippen persona in favor of that of another notorious figure, German flying ace Baron von Richthofen, a development which threatens to impact Theo's relationship with Vivien.

Cast & Crew

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Peter Medak

Peter Mcenery

Diane Cilento

Glenda Jackson

Maurice Denham

Stephen Lewis

Film Details

Genre

Adaptation

Drama

Release Date

Jan 1968

Premiere Information

New York opening: 14 Oct 1968

Production Company

Kettledrum Productions-Narizzano Productions

Distribution Company

Continental Distributing, Inc.

Country

United Kingdom

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel Negatives by Peter Everett (London, 1964).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 38m

Sound

Mono

Color

Color (Eastmancolor)

Synopsis

Theo and Vivien, an unmarried couple, live above an antique store owned by Theo's father, who is slowly dying of cancer in a nearby hospital. The two can function sexually only by acting out a fantasy in which Theo becomes turn-of-the-century wife murderer Dr. Crippen, and Vivien alternately assumes the roles of Crippen's wife, Belle, and his mistress, Ethel. One day an attractive German photographer, Reingard, witnesses the couple, dressed in their Edwardian costumes and acting out their fantasy. Fascinated with the game, Reingard photographs the action, and she soon moves in as a lodger. While Vivien enjoys the Crippen drama, Theo finds his part humiliating. Reingard convinces him that he looks like World War I ace pilot Baron Manfred von Richthofen, and he assumes the role totally, burning the Crippen clothes when his father dies. Vivien becomes jealous of Theo's solitary fantasy and tries to destroy the plane that he has installed on the roof-garden; but Theo beats her unmercifully, and she is taken to the hospital. Reingard decides that the situation has gotten out of hand and leaves Theo in his plane, embroiled in an imaginary battle. He is last seen slumped in the plane with blood trickling from his mouth.

Director

Peter Medak

Cast

Peter Mcenery

Diane Cilento

Glenda Jackson

Maurice Denham

Stephen Lewis

Norman Rossington

Billy Russell

Crew

Buster Ambler

Sound Recording

Maurice Askew

Judd Bernard

Judd Bernard

Dimity Collins

Clive Evans

Peter Everett

Gordon Gilbert

Assistant Director

Ken Hodges

Director of Photography

Basil Kirchin

David Korda

Production Manager

Christopher Lancaster

Roger Lowry

George Minassian

Silvio Narizzano

Ptolemy Productions

Ted Tester

Barry Vince

Film Details

Genre

Adaptation

Drama

Release Date

Jan 1968

Premiere Information

New York opening: 14 Oct 1968

Production Company

Kettledrum Productions-Narizzano Productions

Distribution Company

Continental Distributing, Inc.

Country

United Kingdom

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel Negatives by Peter Everett (London, 1964).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 38m

Sound

Mono

Color

Color (Eastmancolor)

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Released in Great Britain in 1970 in a 98 min. version. Location scenes filmed in London. Producer Judd Bernard re-purchased film from Paramount Pictures, which co-financed production.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Fall October 1968

Released in United States Fall October 1968

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