The Leather Boys (1964)

A couple of teenagers (Rita Tushingham, Colin Campbell) get married but it soon becomes apparent that the reality of marriage isn't what they thought it would be. When the husband starts hanging out with a biker pal (Dudley Sutton), the wife plots to win him back. Based on the novel by Gillian Freeman and directed by Sidney J. Furie (THE IPCRESS FILE). Part of the British "kitchen sink" school of cinema realism, the film is notable for the homosexual aspect of its narrative. In the original novel both male lead characters were gay but the film makers figured 1964 audiences weren't ready for two male lead gay characters. The young married couple are both naive and shallow in their expectations of married life. The movie's ending is perfect. It doesn't give us a "happy" ending tied up in a neat ribbon yet neither does the husband react violently or disgusted when he realizes his pal is homosexual. The striking B&W cinematography by Gerald Gibbs (STATION SIX SAHARA) makes excellent use of the CinemaScope format. With Gladys Henson and Betty Marsden.