The Leather Boys
Televista (1964)
Drama, Queer Themes/Interest
In Collection
#869
7*
Seen ItYes
(5/7/2017)
5013037066999
IMDB   7.3
108 mins England / English
DVD  Region 2
Johnny Briggs
Colin Campbell
James Chase
Gladys Henson
Avice Landone
Betty Marsden
Martin Matthews
Dudley Sutton
Rita Tushingham
Lockwood West
Director/Choreographer
Sidney J. Furie


The Leather Boys is a 1964 British drama film about the Rocker subculture in London. A young biker, Reggie, becomes disenchanted with the realities of his marriage to Dot, and develops a deep friendship with fellow biker, Pete, and begins to explore his own identity.
Edition Details
Release Date 2008
No. of Discs/Tapes 1
Personal Details
Purchase Date 4/11/2017
Location Personal Library
Owner Deitz
Store Amazon Marketplace-Oxfordshire England
Purchase Price $25.21
Condition New
Tags heritage, film night candidate
Links + Review: NY Times (1965)
+ Review: Tangent Magazine (Reprint, original 1965)
‡ History: The Ace Cafe, London, England
‡ Wikipedia: The Ace Cafe
‡ Wikipedia: Rockers, leather boys, Ton-up boys, and café racers
The Leather Boys at Core for Movies
IMDB
TheMovieDb.org
Leather Boys at Core for Movies
References
IMDb Voters <500
Interest Tags Leather

Notes
"Leather Boys," along with "Rockers," "Ton-up boys" and "Café Racers" were terms applied to members of a biker subculture that originated in the United Kingdom during the 1950s· It was mainly centered on British café racer motorcycles and rock 'n' roll music· "Leather Boys" does not relate directly with the leather subculture denoted by practices and styles of dress organized around sexual activities that involve leather garments· Gaymen who are associated with the "leather" subculturte are often known as "leathermen"· However, both terms likely derive from the leather protective clothing worn by motorcyclists·
The "Ace Cafe" featured in the film was a well known truck stop, also known as a transport cafe in the United Kingdom· Founded in 1938, it continue until 1969, during which time it became a popular hang-out for young Leather Boys (see links)· (After some 25 years, a new Ace Cafe was opened)·
The Leather Boys is notable as an early example of a film that violated the Hollywood production code, yet was still shown in the United States, as well as an important film in the genre of queer cinema· An example of British kitchen sink realism, it was considered daring in 1964 as male homosexuality is a major element in the plot·
The production quality of the region 2 DVD in my collection is mediocre· The strong South London accents makes it especially hard for my American ear to understand · There are no captions which would help immensely·
There is little question that this film is an important film of queer cinema heritage.