Prick Up Your Queers

As part of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act (which partially decriminalised male homosexuality in England and Wales) the British Film Institute has issued a number of restored iconic British films on DVD – including Entertaining Mr Sloane and Loot, both adapted from plays by queer writer, Joe Orton.

Entertaining Mr Sloane (pictured) is a story of manipulation and repressed sexuality focusing on an older brother and sister who both have designs on the same young man, while farcical comedy Loot is a satirical look at 20th century society with an impressive ensemble cast (including Richard Attenborough). The new restorations include never-before seen bonus content, including new interviews and tributes to the man himself.

It’s also been 50 years since Joe Orton’s murder at the hands of his lover, Kenneth Halliwell, a relationship documented in Stephen Frears’ 1987 film Prick Up Your Ears, which featured Gary Oldman playing a properly promiscuous, Orton, cruising fellas from London to Morocco. Maybe that partly forgotten classic should be part of the BFI restoration set too? We’re just saying.