Up the Junction (film)

This article is about the 1968 film. For Nell Dunn's 1963 book, see Up the Junction. For the 1965 TV version, see Up the Junction (The Wednesday Play). For the film's soundtrack, see Up the Junction (soundtrack). For the Squeeze song, see Up the Junction (song).

Up the Junction
File:Up the Junction UK quad.jpg Original British 1968 quad film poster
Directed by	Peter Collinson
Produced by	John Brabourne Anthony Havelock-Allan
Screenplay by	Roger Smith
Based on	Up the Junction by Nell Dunn
Starring	Dennis Waterman Suzy Kendall Adrienne Posta Maureen Lipman Liz Fraser
Music by	Mike Hugg Manfred Mann
Production company	BHE Films Crasto
Distributed by	Paramount Film Service (UK)
Release dates	25 January 1968 (1968-01-25) (UK)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Up the Junction is a 1968 British film directed by Peter Collinson and starring Dennis Waterman, Suzy Kendall, Adrienne Posta, Maureen Lipman and Liz Fraser. It is based on the 1963 book of the same name by Nell Dunn and was adapted by Roger Smith. The film's soundtrack was made by Manfred Mann. The film followed Ken Loach's BBC TV adaptation of 1965, but returned to the original book. It did not cause a similar controversy or have as much impact.

Plot summary

Polly Dean (Suzy Kendall) gives up a privileged life in Chelsea and moves to a working-class community in Battersea where she takes a job in a confectionery factory in an attempt to distance herself from her moneyed upbringing and make her own living. She becomes friends with two working-class sisters Sylvie (Maureen Lipman) and Rube (Adrienne Posta), and forms a relationship with a working-class boy Pete (Dennis Waterman), who envies her access to an easy life and is frustrated by her denial of it. When Rube becomes pregnant she has a traumatic illegal abortion, and tragedy hits when a motorcycle accident kills Rube's boyfriend. Polly's relationship with Pete also ends in turmoil, when Pete's attempt to woo her results in his receiving a prison sentence after stealing a car.

Main cast

• Suzy Kendall as Polly
• Dennis Waterman as Pete
• Maureen Lipman as Sylvie
• Adrienne Posta as Rube
• Liz Fraser as Mrs. McCarthy
• Linda Cole as Pauline
• Doreen Herrington as Rita
• Jessie Robins as Lil
• Barbara Archer as May
• Ruby Head as Edith
• Susan George as Joyce
• Sandra Williams as Sheilah
• Michael Robbins as Figgins
• Michael Gothard as Terry
• Billy Murray as Ray
• Michael Standing as John
• Alfie Bass as Charlie
• Aubrey Morris as Creely
• Hylda Baker as Winnie
• Shaun Curry as Ted
• Olwen Griffiths as Fat Lil
• Queenie Watts as Mrs. Hardy
• Lockwood West as Magistrate
• Michael Barrington as Barrister
• Yvonne Manners as Hotel Receptionist
• Harry Hutchinson as Hotel Porter
• Larry Martyn as Barrow Boy
• Derek Ware as Ted's Friend
• Mike Reid as Policeman outside courtroom (uncredited)

External links

• Up the Junction in the British Film Institute's "Explore film..." database
• Up the Junction at IMDb