Clapham Junction *** (2007, Rupert Graves, Luke Treadaway, Paul Nicholls, James Wilby, David Leon, Stuart Bunce, Joseph Mawle, Phoebe Nicholls, Samantha Bond) – Classic Movie Review 12,984

Kevin Elyot’s provocative if uneasy 2007 British TV film Clapham Junction chronicles 36 hours in the lives of a number of interconnected gay men in Clapham, South London.

Director Adrian Shergold’s and writer Kevin Elyot’s provocative and well-meaning if uneasy and controversial 2007 British TV film Clapham Junction is a chronicle of 36 hours in the lives of a number of interconnected gay men in Clapham, South London.

Five stories – from a civil partnership ceremony to a heated dinner party to a homophobic assault – are interwoven during one hot summer’s night. The stories are uncomfortable. It is easy to want to turn away from, or turn off, this thoughtful but depressing and off-putting film.

It stars a notable and valiant committed cast in Rupert Graves, Luke Treadaway, Paul Nicholls, James Wilby, David Leon, Stuart Bunce, Joseph Mawle, Phoebe Nicholls, Samantha Bond, Rachel Blake and Richard Lintern, and is written by Kevin Elyot.

Clapham Junction tackles important issues and is intelligent and thought-provoking, though there are acting weakness and writing flaws, and, obviously against its plan, it does partly come over as a negative portrayal of gay men, despite all its good intentions.

The uneven script sometimes feels dated, and unconsciously referring back to an earlier antique era of gays and gay life, and some of the dialogue is wobbly, giving the actors a tough task, though in other places the writing is incisive and persuasive, and some of the characters are vividly etched, and stories powerfully told.

Needless to say, but I will, it is not a very likeable or appealing film, for all its good intentions. But you could at least say it is involving and interesting throughout, certainly uncomfortable, maybe challenging, and that’s good.

Luke Treadaway (as Theo), Rupert Graves (as Robin) and Joseph Mawle (as Tim) probably have the best of it, but Paul Nicholls has a difficult role as Terry, who commits a terrible homophobic assault on the man from the club.

Clapham Junction (2007) is inspired by the 14 October 2005 murder of Jody Dobrowski, who was beaten to death by two ‘gay-bashers’ on Clapham Common. The character Alfie, played by David Leon, is based on the events. Dobrowski was beaten so badly that he could be identified only by his fingerprints, a detail that is echoed in the film. They received life sentences.

It was first broadcast on Channel 4 on 22 July 2007 as part of its short season to mark the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. When it was repeated on More4 on 30 July 2007, Terry’s homophobic assault scene was altered and the accompanying Pet Shop Boys track ‘I’m With Stupid’ replaced at their request.

It was repeated on 1 September 2009, and released on DVD on Region 1. On the DVD, the two Dusty Springfield songs originally featured, ‘Some of Your Lovin” and ‘The Look of Love’ were replaced.

The cast in alphabetical order are Tom Beard as Roger Hopkirk, James Bellamy as Black youth, Robin Berry as Man in toilet, Rachel Blake as Belinda Hopkirk, Samantha Bond as Marion Rowan, Stuart Bunce as Gavin, Philip Childs as Newscaster, Jason Frederick as Black youth, Richard Freeman as Registrar, Rupert Graves as Robin Cape,  Jefferson Hall as postman, Johnny Harris as gay man in bar, Francis Lee as Murray, David Leon as Alfie, Richard Lintern as Will, Joseph Mawle as Tim, Lewis Morton as man in toilet, Paul Nicholls as Terry, Phoebe Nicholls as Natasha, Ross O’Hennessy as large man / Merv, Neil Pearson as Frank Winterton, Claire Perkins as Dolly, Adrian Rawlins as Peter, Liam Reilly as Yob, Lucy Russell as Miss Richards, David Ryall as Vicar, Jared Thomas as Danny, Luke Treadaway as Theo, June Watson as Nan, James Wilby as Julian Rowan, and Tim Woodward as Man on bench.

The works of British playwright, screenwriter and actor Kevin Elyot (18 July 1951 – 7 June 2014) include the play My Night with Reg (1994) and its film adaptation, the film Clapham Junction (2007) and TV episodes of Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Agatha Christie’s Marple, plus a TV adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s autobiography, the 2011 film Christopher and His Kind.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,984

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