Made (1972)

Although saddled with a perpetually grousing semi-invalid mother (Margery Mason) and an illegitimate child, Valerie Marshall (Carol White) toils cheerfully enough at the GPO telephone exchange. She knows what she has in life is not enough but she doesn’t really know what she does want.

Her friend at the exchange, sexy June (Doremy Vernon) finds life and love less complicated and there’s a diffident Indian, Mahdav (Sam Dastor) whose poetic words of love and pleas for understanding are too strange for Valerie’s comprehension.

Two men touch her life: a young priest (John Castle) who offers friendship which is mistaken for intrusion, and pop singer Mike Preston (folk singer Roy Harper in his screen debut), whose premeditated version of idealism Valerie finds original and fascinating.

They share a brief affair which Valerie sees as the dawning of a great light, but it’s a fleeting thing and means far less to the singer who uses the experience as material for a song.

Valerie has more than her fair share of tragedy and it all collides leaving her alone and rejected at the telephone exchange.

The film is well-intentioned and Carol White’s performance is as accomplished as ever, but there is a tired feeling that it’s all been done better before.

Valerie Marshall
Carol White
Mike Preston
Roy Harper
Father Dyson
John Castle
Mrs Marshall
Margery Mason
June
Doremy Vernon
Mahdav
Sam Dastor
Ray
Richard Vanstone
Joe
Michael Cashman
Arthur
Brian Croucher
Andy
Sean Hewitt
Mike’s MD
Peter Jenner
Barry
Len Jones
Dave
Ivor Butler
Kevin
Ian Ramsey
Jacko
Colin Pilditch
Peter
Colin Daniels
Charlie
Michael Tarn
Janice
Jenny Donnison
Yvonne
Yvonne McKain
Ann
Sara Clee
Babs
Babs Jessup
Doctor
Peter Miles
Night Nurse
Mairhi Russell
Irish Nurse
Phyllis MacMahon

Director
John Mackenzie

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