Negatives ** (1968, Peter McEnery, Diane Cilento, Glenda Jackson) – Classic Movie Review 8018

Director Peter Medak’s bizarre 1968 drama Negatives stars Glenda Jackson and Peter McEnery in an everyday tale of non-married pair, whose sex life has the man, used-furniture dealer Theo, impersonating the infamous Edwardian killer Dr Crippen and the lover Vivien pretending to be Crippen’s wife Belle Elmore or Crippen’s mistress Ethel Le Neve. 

The pair are living together above Theo’s London shop but then German blonde photographer Reingard (Diane Cilento) moves into a room above the shop and photographs them and then joins them for a ménage à trois. Theo promptly transfers his allegiance to the alter ego persona of World War One German aviator Baron Von Richtofen, threatening his relationship with Vivien. Maurice Denham plays McEnery’s cancer-afflicted dad.

It is hard not to be negative about this obscure, alienatingly weird Sixties piece about sex and death, love-making, sensual game-playing, dressing-up and role-playing, based on Peter Everett’s novel. However, Negatives is perhaps worth trying for the acting, though, especially Glenda Jackson’s performance.

It is director Medak’s début.

Also in the cast are Stephen Lewis, Norman Rossington, and Billy Russell.

Negatives is directed by Peter Medak, runs 98 minutes, is made by Kettledrum Films and Silvio Narizzano Productions, released by Crispin Films (UK) and Continental Distributing  (US), written by Peter Everett and Roger Lowry, based on Peter Everett’s novel, shot in Eastmancolor by Ken Hodges, produced by Judd Bernard, scored by Basil Kirchin and designed by Ted Tester.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 8018

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