The Killing of Sister George (1968): Pride, Censorship & Britain’s Forgotten LGBTQ Classic

This week we kick off our Pride Month curation. OK, OK so we thought Pride Month was in July instead of June. Be we are taking ownership of our clanger and calling this 'Milking Pride Month'!!!

We start by revisiting one of the most controversial LGBTQ+ films ever released: The Killing of Sister George (1968). Part psychological drama, part soap-industry satire, and part time capsule of queer Britain, it's a film that was groundbreaking, provocative, and deeply problematic all at once.

Click here to watch the film on YouTube

We explore the remarkable journey from Frank Marcus's hit stage play to Robert Aldrich's uncompromising film adaptation, starring the incomparable Beryl Reid alongside Susannah York. At its heart is June "George" Buckridge, the hard-drinking star of a popular BBC soap whose personal life begins to unravel as rumours spread that her character is about to be written out. As her career collapses, so too does her volatile relationship with her much younger partner, Childie, while television executive Mercy Croft quietly orchestrates events from the sidelines.

But this episode is about much more than the film itself.

In our Pride Corner, we travel back to Britain in the late 1960s to explore what life was really like for LGBTQ+ people. We discuss the limited and often stereotyped representation of lesbians on screen, the social and legal landscape following the partial decriminalisation of sex between men in 1967, and the extraordinary importance of London's legendary Gateways Club, one of the few places where lesbian women could meet openly. The film's scenes inside the club now serve as a rare and fascinating record of a community that was seldom seen on screen.

We also ask whether The Killing of Sister George deserves its reputation. Does it simply recycle harmful stereotypes of predatory, unhappy lesbians, or was it reflecting the harsh realities and prejudices of its time? We unpack the film's voyeuristic additions, controversial seduction scene, complicated power dynamics, and why many LGBTQ+ audiences have had such divided reactions over the decades.

Along the way we celebrate the outstanding performances, uncover behind-the-scenes stories, and consider why, despite its flaws, The Killing of Sister George remains an important piece of British queer cinema and an invaluable snapshot of LGBTQ+ history.

It's funny, uncomfortable, heartbreaking, occasionally infuriating—and one of the most fascinating films we've covered for Pride.

GAZER HOMEWORK: Next week we focus on the 40 Minutes documentary 'Rent Boys" from 1984. Click here to watch. Please be aware the programme covers very sensitive topics!

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