''Made'' is a 1972 British drama film directed by John Mackenzie. It revolves around the story of a relationship between a young single mother, played by

Carol White Carole Joan White (1 April 1943 – 16 September 1991) was an English actress. She achieved a public profile with her performances in the television play ''Cathy Come Home'' (1966) and the films ''Poor Cow'' (1967) and '' I'll Never Forg ...

, and an insecure rock star, played by singer Roy Harper.

Plot

Valerie is a single mother working as a

switchboard operator In the early days of telephony, companies used manual telephone switchboards, and switchboard operators connected calls by inserting a pair of phone plugs into the appropriate jacks. They were gradually phased out and replaced by automated system ...

Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...

while caring for her infant son as well as her mother, who is suffering from

multiple sclerosis Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This d ...

. She draws the interest of Mahdav, who is forcefully aggressive, as well as Father Dyson, who is controlling, but she has little time for either of them. She becomes infatuated with the touring musician Mike when she hears him speak about the unnecessary guilt placed on the innocent by religion. The two make love before he leaves to continue touring, making Father Tyson jealous. Valerie's mother, now in a hospital, complains about her condition in order to gain more attention from Valerie. Valerie leaves her child with June as she visits her mother, only to find that she was exaggerating her complaints. While Valerie is visiting her mother, June gets caught in a conflict between

football hooligans Football hooliganism, also known as soccer hooliganism, football rioting or soccer rioting, constitutes violence and other destructive behaviours perpetrated by spectators at association football events. Football hooliganism normally involves ...

and the pram is knocked down some steps, killing Valerie's child. Valerie finds little solace in those around her until Mike returns, bringing a small bit of joy. Valerie receives a note that her mother's condition has worsened but she spends the night with Mike instead of going to visit her. Father Tyson arrives and tells her that her mother has died and gets into an argument with Mike. Valerie takes Mike's words to heart and seeks to love who she can when she can instead of requiring anything permanent. She visits Mahdav and allows him to have sex with her but afterwards he becomes possessive, insisting that he is in love and that she is his wife. A constable separates them and drives her home. Mike, now in Los Angeles, releases a song titled "The Social Casualty" containing lyrics about Valerie's tragedies. Valerie hears the song on the radio and begins to cry.

Cast

as Valerie Marshall * Roy Harper as Mike Preston *

John Castle John Michael Frederick Castle (born 14 January 1940) is an English actor. He is best known for his film and television work, most notably playing Bill in Michelangelo Antonioni's '' Blowup'' (1966) and Geoffrey in '' The Lion in Winter'' (19 ...

as Father Dyson *

Margery Mason Margery Mason (27 September 1913 – 26 January 2014) was an English actress and director. She was the artistic director of the Repertory Theatre in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland in the 1960s. Career Mason played Sarah Stevens, the ...

as Mrs. Marshall *Doremy Vernon as June *

Sam Dastor Sam Dastor is an Indian-born British actor best known for his appearances in British television series. Life and career Dastor was born in India and raised in a Parsi family of Zoroastrian faith, though he later converted to Christianity. He g ...

as Mahdav * Richard Vanstone as Ray *

Michael Cashman Michael Maurice Cashman, Baron Cashman (born 17 December 1950), is a British actor, politician, and LGBT rights activist. A member of the Labour Party, he served as a Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands from 1999 to 2014. ...

as Joe *

Brian Croucher Brian Croucher (born 23 January 1942) is an English actor and director best known for his role as Ted Hills, which he played from 1995 to 1997, in the soap opera '' EastEnders''. Croucher also had a regular role in the science fiction series ' ...

as Arthur * Ray Smith as First Policeman *

Carl Rigg Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", List of Aqua Teen ...

as Second Policeman * Bob Harris as Interviewer * Sean Hewitt as Andy *

Peter Jenner Peter Julian Jenner (born 3 March 1943) is a British music manager and a record producer. Jenner, Andrew King and the original four members of Pink Floyd were partners in Blackhill Enterprises. Early career Peter Jenner is the son of Willia ...

as Mike's M.D. *

Len Jones Len Jones (born ) is a British former child actor and Voice acting, voice actor of the 1960s and 70s. In his youth, Jones appeared in television series such as ''Z-Cars'' (1964–68), ''Adam Adamant Lives!'' (1966), ''Dixon of Dock Green'' (196 ...

as Barry * Ivor Butler as Dave *

Ian Ramsey Ian Thomas Ramsey (31 January 1915 – 6 October 1972) was a British Anglican bishop and academic. He was Professor of the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Oxford, and Bishop of Durham from 1966 until his death in 1972. He wrote e ...

as Kevin * Colin Pilditch as Jacko * Colin Daniels as Peter *

Michael Tarn Michael Tarn (born 18 December 1953) is a British actor. He is best known for playing Pete in Stanley Kubrick's film '' A Clockwork Orange'' (1971). Tarn was cast as Pete in '' A Clockwork Orange'' and was the only actor in the gang who was ...

as Charlie * Jenny Donnison as Janice * Yvonne McKain as Yvonne * Sara Clee as Ann * Babs Jessup as Babs * Peter Miles as Doctor * Mairhi Russell as Night Nurse *

Phyllis MacMahon Phyllis MacMahon is an Irish actress. She is known for her work in films such as ''10 Rillington Place'' (1971) in which she played Muriel Eady, the first woman murdered in the film by Richard Attenborough's John Christie, ''Leo the Last'' (1970 ...

as Irish Nurse *

May Warden May Warden (9 May 1891 – 5 October 1978) was an England, English actress and comedian. Career Although she acted in other films and TV shows, in Germany and Scandinavia she is best known for her role as Miss Sophie in the 1963 comedy sketch '' ...

as Patient in Hospital *

Ellis Dale Ellis is a surname of Welsh and English origin. Retrieved 21 January 2014 An independent French origin of the surname is said to derive from the phrase fleur-de-lis. Surname A * Abe Ellis (Stargate), a fictional character in the TV series ' ...

as Passenger on Train * Michael Standing as Young Man on Train * Nell Curran as Young Lady on Train * Paddy Joyce as Engineer * Christopher Taynton as Engineer * Giovanna Renai as Waitress

Production

The film was based on the play ''No One Was Saved'' by

Howard Barker Howard Barker (born 28 June 1946) is a British playwright, screenwriter and writer of radio drama, painter, poet, and essayist writing predominantly on playwriting and the theatre. The author of an extensive body of dramatic works since the 197 ...

. "The story is set in London but its happening throughout the world," said producer Joseph Janni. "Young people, searching for values, something to believe in. Some look in nearly empty churches, others in the pop world or among Jesus freaks. But who really has the answers?"A Sad Jerry L.: A Sad Jerry Lewis By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 7 November 1971: D9.

Soundtrack

The film featured excerpts from Harper's songs "The Lord's Prayer", a live excerpt from "Highway Blues", a live session of "Little Lady" and "Bank of the Dead" (a.k.a. "The Social Casualty" and "Valerie's Song") sung with alternative lyrics.

References

External links

* {{John Mackenzie 1972 films Films shot at EMI-Elstree Studios Films directed by John Mackenzie (film director) Films scored by John Cameron British drama films British films based on plays 1972 drama films Films about death Films about music and musicians Films set in Brighton Films set in Los Angeles 1970s English-language films 1970s British films