''The Triple Echo'' (also known as ''Soldier in Skirts'' in its U.S. release) is a 1972 British

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Michael Apted Michael David Apted, (10 February 1941 – 7 January 2021) was a British television and film director and producer. Apted began working in television and directed the '' Up'' documentary series (1964–2019). He later directed '' Coal Miner's ...

starring

Glenda Jackson Glenda May Jackson (born 9 May 1936) is an English actress and former Member of Parliament (MP). She has won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice: for her role as Gudrun Brangwen in the romantic drama ''Women in Love'' (1970); and again for ...

Brian Deacon Brian Deacon (born 13 February 1949) is a British actor, known for portraying Jesus in the 1979 film ''Jesus'', which was made by the evangelical organization the Jesus Film Project. Deacon was chosen for the part out of a field of 900 actors sc ...

and

Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed (13 February 1938 – 2 May 1999) was an English actor known for his well-to-do, macho image and "hellraiser" lifestyle. After making his first significant screen appearances in Hammer Horror films in the early 1960s, his ...

, and based on the 1970 novella by H.E. Bates. It was shot in

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershire ...

Plot

In England during World War II, Alice, a woman running a farm in the countryside, discovers a young man named Barton roaming the fields. He helps around the farm and the two become friends, then lovers. Barton decides to desert the army. Alice offers him refuge in exchange for help running the farm in the absence of her husband, who has been taken prisoner by the Japanese. Barton puts Alice's ailing dog out of its misery by shooting it with her husband's shotgun. When the military police begin to search for Barton, he must take measures to avoid being caught, so Alice helps him form the disguise of a woman, whom she says is her sister Jill. However, Barton tells people that his name is Cathy. A sergeant soon begins to take a liking to "Cathy". As Christmas approaches, the sergeant returns to invite Alice and Cathy to a Christmas party. Alice declines, but Barton, wanting to get out and have some fun, accepts the offer. Alice warns him against doing so. During the party, the sergeant and another soldier take Cathy and a young woman into a back room to have sex, but when Jill forces the sergeant away he realises that Cathy is really a man. Barton escapes, and the military police follow and hunt him near to the farm house where Alice is waiting. Because Alice does not want Barton to suffer at the hands of the soldiers, she shoots him dead with her husband's shotgun.

Cast

as Alice Charlesworth *

as Sergeant *

as Barton *

Anthony May Anthony May (23 May 1946 – 24 December 2021) was an English stage, television and film actor. He trained at R.A.D.A. from 1965 to 1967. Early life May was born in Reigate, Surrey. He played Wick in David Halliwell's ''Little Malcolm'' at ...

as Subaltern *

Gavin Richards Gavin Richards (born 3 July 1946) is an English actor, writer and director. He is best known for playing Captain Alberto Bertorelli in the BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo!'' from 1987 to 1989, and Terry Raymond in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' be ...

as Stan *

Jenny Lee-Wright Jenny Lee-Wright (born 21 February 1947) is a British actress and dancer who later became a foley artist. At age 16, she left school to train with the Ballet Rambert. Within a year, she became part of a French cabaret group that traveled the wor ...

as Christine *

Kenneth Colley Kenneth Colley (born 7 December 1937) is an English film and television actor whose career spans over 60 years. He came to wider prominence through his role as Admiral Piett in the '' Star Wars'' films ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) and '' ...

as Provost Corporal *

Daphne Heard Delia Phyllis Daphne Heard (21 August 1904 – 22 June 1983) was an English actress and acting teacher. She was born in Plymouth, Devon. She appeared in numerous made-for-TV movies and TV series. But was perhaps best known in latter years a ...

as Shopkeeper * Zelah Clarke as First Girl * Colin Rix as Compere * Ioan Meredith as Guard

Production

The film was based on a novella by H.E. Bates, which he started writing in 1968 although he had had the idea since World War Two. The novella was published in 1970. The ''Guardian'' said it had "a persistent smell of fabrication right through". In March 1972 it was announced that the film version would star Glenda Jackson and Oliver Reed, reuniting them after their success in ''Women in Love''. It was an early movie from Hemdale. Director Michael Apted later said the only reason he could make the film "was Glenda was available and was willing to appear for a much smaller than usual fee."

Reception

The ''Guardian'' called it "nothing very special... but at least it's a good story, well told." The same paper later said the movie "got some good critical reaction but did nothing at the box office." In 1973 Jackson said she was "fairly happy" with the film.

Awards

Michael Apted was nominated for a Golden Prize Award at the

8th Moscow International Film Festival The 8th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 10 to 23 July 1973. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Soviet film '' That Sweet Word: Liberty!'' directed by Vytautas Žalakevičius and the Bulgarian film '' Affection'' directed by L ...

in 1973. (The film had been banned from the festival originally but this was lifted after a small cut was made to a sex scene.)

Home media

The film has never been made available on DVD format in the United Kingdom or United States. It was however released in Germany under the title, "Desertiert:Der Kampf ums Überleben", on 1 December 2016 from Medien GmbH distribution. The film has also been released in Spain as "La Máscara y la Piel". On 10 January 2019, it was announced that ''The Triple Echo'' would be made available on Blu-ray from Powerhouse films subsidiary, Indicator. It features a new 2K restoration of the film as well as original Mono audio. A number of new special features are included and limited edition exclusive booklet with the first pressing. The set was released on 25 March 2019.

References

External links

The Triple Echo Le grand inconnu (fr)
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Triple Echo, The 1972 films 1972 romantic drama films 1970s war drama films Adultery in films British romantic drama films British war drama films Cross-dressing in film Films about farmers Films based on British novels Films scored by Marc Wilkinson Films directed by Michael Apted Films set in the 1940s Films shot in Wiltshire Murder in films War romance films British World War II films 1972 directorial debut films 1970s English-language films 1970s British films