A Taste of Honey

A Taste of Honey is a groundbreaking British film from 1961, written by Shelagh Delaney and directed by Tony Richardson. It was the first film to be made entirely on location and was shot in an innovative, rough, poetic style by cinematographer Walter Lassally. It launched a new type of young female star in Rita Tushingham and was candid in its treatment of gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, and motherhood. Its rich but complex legacy endures to this day.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 104 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A Taste of Honey, a groundbreaking film from 1961, holds a significant place in British cinema history. In this remarkable book, author Melanie Williams delves into the numerous and extraordinary ways in which it paved the way for innovation. Notably, it stands as the sole film within the British New Wave canon to have been written by a woman, Shelagh Delaney, who adapted her own groundbreaking stage play. At the request of director Tony Richardson and his production company, Woodfall, this film was among the pioneering ones to be entirely shot on location. Moreover, cinematographer Walter Lassally brought a unique, rough, and poetic visual style to the project. A Taste of Honey also served as the platform for a new generation of young female stars, with Rita Tushingham taking center stage as the young heroine, Jo. Trapped in a difficult situation after falling in love with Jimmy, a Black sailor, Jo finds herself pregnant. Throughout this journey, she receives solace and support from her gay friend Geoff (Murray Melvin), while her unreliable mother, Helen (Dora Bryan), pursues her own path. What sets A Taste of Honey apart is its candid and insightful exploration of themes such as gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, and motherhood. It is characterized by a distinctiveness that evokes the essence of place and landscape, creating a vivid and authentic portrayal of working-class life. As a result, this film marked the beginning of a new era in British cinema, offering fresh possibilities for storytelling that resonated with audiences from diverse backgrounds. Its rich and complex legacy continues to endure to this day, making it a testament to the enduring power of film in shaping cultural narratives.

Dimension: 190 x 135 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839021558