John Schlesinger's Cinematic Legacy: From Midnight Cowboy to Tory Ads
In the 1960s and 1970s, British director John Schlesinger pioneered kitchen-sink drama and brought bisexuality into the mainstream with groundbreaking films. Yet, his career took a surprising turn when he ended up creating advertisements for the Conservative Party. As the centenary of his birth approaches, those closest to him reveal the complexities behind his diverse and disruptive cinema.
The Meeting That Changed Everything
Michael Childers was a 22-year-old Los Angeles student when a friend arranged a date with John Schlesinger, a visiting British director nearly two decades older. Schlesinger was recovering from the stateside failure of Far from the Madding Crowd, a film that infused 19th-century rural characters with an anachronistic King's Road style. Childers, who adored Schlesinger's previous movie Darling, approached the date with caution, bringing a friend for backup. However, Schlesinger's charm and wit quickly won him over, leading to a lifelong partnership until the director's death in 2003 at age 77.
Midnight Cowboy: A Risky Masterpiece
When Schlesinger and Childers met in 1967, the director was preparing to film Midnight Cowboy, an adaptation of James Leo Herlihy's novel. Childers became integral to the project, suggesting that a Greenwich Village party scene be staged like an Andy Warhol loft party. He enlisted Warhol's circle, including Viva and Joe Dallesandro, resulting in a three-day shoot that grew increasingly debauched. The film, starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, faced walkouts at previews but went on to win Schlesinger an Oscar for Best Director and became the first X-rated movie to win Best Picture.
Pioneering LGBTQ+ Representation
Schlesinger's 1971 masterpiece Sunday Bloody Sunday featured a love triangle involving a bisexual artist, a gay doctor, and a divorcee, with a kiss between Peter Finch and Murray Head shown in stark closeup. This bold representation paved the way for future films and solidified his role in LGBTQ+ cinema. Childers emphasizes the film's importance, stating it is one of the five most significant gay pieces globally and expressing frustration when younger generations overlook it.
Eclecticism and Career Challenges
Schlesinger's filmography is remarkably diverse, ranging from the scabrous Hollywood study The Day of the Locust to the gentle wartime love story Yanks and the vulgar comedy Honky Tonk Freeway. This eclecticism made him difficult to pigeonhole, contributing to his relative obscurity today. Claire Nicolas, a producer of the UK touring season The Consummate Professional: John Schlesinger at 100, notes that while his films are familiar, his name often doesn't ring a bell for modern audiences.
Controversial Late-Career Choices
In 1991, Schlesinger created a nine-minute film promoting the Conservative Party, known informally as John Major: The Movie. This move was controversial, coming just three years after the implementation of Section 28, which restricted the promotion of homosexuality in schools. Marc David Jacobs, co-curator of the UK season, attributes this to contrarianism and financial need, as Schlesinger was handsomely paid for the work. His later career included poorly received films like The Next Best Thing starring Madonna, which Childers describes as a load of shit.
Legacy and Rediscovery
Despite his flops and commercial struggles, Schlesinger's early successes like A Kind of Loving, Billy Liar, and Darling helped shape British cinema. The UK touring season aims to revive interest in his full body of work, encouraging audiences to look beyond the award-winners. Nicolas argues that understanding a director requires examining both successes and failures, as they reveal the complexities of his life and art. As Schlesinger's centenary is celebrated, his films continue to inspire and challenge, reminding us of the enduring power of cinema to reflect societal changes.
