A Taste of Honey

A near-classic of postadolescent confusion and longing.

[A Taste of Honey] has an earthy gusto and sincerity that lift its somewhat downbeat theme and drab surroundings.

A perfect example of how the 'New British Cinema' of the late '50s and early '60s has dated and become almost unwatchable.

Freed from the constricting confines of the stage, the shining honesty, the trials, the disenchantment of the drama's low-born Lancashire principals have become all the more striking and true.

Tony Richardson, who directed this mess, was once quoted as saying, "The British cinema is the worst in the world," and he was in a position to know.

The most deeply felt part of A Taste of Honey is its love story between soul mates - white, black, female, male, straight, and gay...Melvin's Geoff is an achingly believable character, heroic for his time - and ours, too. We owe a debt of gratitude.

[There are] no weeping martyrs or brave romantic souls. It deals with real people, complete in their human complexity, their dumb choices, their damaging outbursts, their illogical desires, and their emotional honesty.

Pushed the culture-shock of kitchen-sink drama further with its female protagonist and depictions and discussions of interracial coupling, teen pregnancy, the possibility of abortion, and homosexuality. [Criterion Blu-ray]

It might have been daring during its time, but is now outdated.

Though outdated, this offebat, well-acted melodrama was a significant work in the British school of Kitchen Sink realism and in the career of Tony Richardson (better known for Tom Jones).

Raw, poignant, powerful. One of the very best.