An anonymous and impassive young girl (Patricia Healey) leaves her suicidal London life and returns by train to her home in Manchester – although parts of the film were actually filmed in Birmingham.
She stands at a desolate bus stop in the middle of demolished terraces and along comes a white bus. It’s a guided tour bus on its maiden voyage.
The girl rides along with the Lord Mayor (Arthur Lowe) and other dignitaries on a tour of factories, libraries, a natural history museum and even a Civil Defence demonstration.
At the end of the tour, the girl winds up in a chip shop watching a couple. Their love mesmerises and charms the girl, reminding her what life’s all about.
This bizarre 46-minute film was directed by Lindsay Anderson and based on the book Red, White and Zero by Shelagh Delaney. It was originally intended as part of a three-part series of Delaney’s stories, with each segment directed by a different director. The other films never really succeeded, even though they had fairly big British New Wave directors attached.
Watch out for Anthony Hopkins’ film debut.
The Girl
Patricia Healey The Mayor
Arthur Lowe Macebearer
John Sharp Conductress
Julie Perry Young Man
Stephen Moore Transistorite
Victor Henry Brechtian
Anthony Hopkins Supporters
John Savident
Fanny Carby
Malcolm Taylor
Allan O’Keefe Fish Shop Couple
Jeanne Watts
Eddie King Boy
Barry Evans Girl
Penny Ryder Mr. Wombe
Dennis Alaba Passengers
Abdul Rahman Akim
Margaret Barron
Jay Birge-Patil
Cecil H. Gibbons
Dolores Judson
Dorothy Judson
Michael Marty
Francis McGrath
Mr. Piatkowski
Bill Pilkington
Charles Sankey
George Stanford
Lilian Redfern
Eric Thornber
Elizabeth Walker
Derek Williams
Mrs. Yamamoto
Director
Lindsay Anderson
Related Posts
Wind of Change, The (1961) The story in The Wind of Change revolves around a teen gang who hang around the coffee bars of Notting…
Her Private Hell (1967) A cautionary - albeit low-budget (it cost only £18,000 to make) - tale of Marisa, an innocent Italian girl who moves…
Walkabout (1970) "In Australia when an Aborigine man-child reaches sixteen, he is sent out into the land. For months he must live…
Wombling Free (1977) Based on the popular TV series, this charming family movie sees the Wombles facing two struggles. While they wage their ongoing…
Poor Cow (1967) Ken Loach‘s first attempt to bring the social concerns and uncompromising style of his TV work – Up The Junction and Cathy Come…
Valley of the Dolls (1967) Three young women decide on a career in show business in this trashy film version of Jacqueline Susann's pulp novel. They…
Double Trouble (1967) 17-year-old Jill Conway is a precocious teenage heiress played by Annette Day, an English girl who happened to be in…
Belle De Jour (1967) Séverine Serizy (Catherine Deneuve) is a young, breathtakingly beautiful Paris housewife. She is married to a conventionally handsome young doctor…
The Girl
