This film is part of Rentals
Tides of Laughter
A female ‘end-of-the-pier’ double act find out a surprising secret about their landlady - and about each other.
1986 49 mins
Director: Paul Oremland
Overview
Double act Joy and Dot find themselves playing to diminishing audiences on Cromer Pier in 1958. Luckily, they have each other. One day they sneak into their landlady’s bedroom and discover a secret that has consequences for their relationship. Alongside the drama, variety entertainers from the era, including circuit stalwarts Iris Sadler and Bryan Burdon, fondly recall ‘end-of-the-pier’ culture.
Tides of Laughter is an unusual entry in the Six of Hearts TV series, which explored queer lives in the UK. It's the only fictional episode (although the talking heads interspersed within the story add a lot of colour). Strangely, homosexuality is almost an afterthought in the screenplay - it’s more interested in seaside entertainment culture, on and off the stage. Gilly Coman would go on to star in Carla Lane’s Bread, although the best performance is from stage actor Pamela Lane, who brings great pathos to the role of the intensely private landlady whose secret love is discovered by her guests.
Related
LGBT Britain
The Pass The Pass
Drama 2015 86 mins Director: Ben A. Williams
Russell Tovey stars as a Premier League footballer who shares a fumbled pass (of the sexual kind) with a teammate (Arinzé Kene), changing everything - both on and off the pitch.
More than a Journey More than a Journey
1986 52 mins Director: Caroline Mylon
From Sudan to the Greek islands via the East Midlands - a young gay woman seeks love, happiness and fulfilment
Chemsex Chemsex
Documentary 2015 80 mins Director: William Fairman
A hard-hitting and often graphic documentary about the 'chemsex' sub-scene in London’s gay community.
Greek Pete Greek Pete
Drama 2009 70 mins Director: Andrew Haigh
Acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh (Weekend, 45 Years) made his feature debut with this bold, sexually explicit drama-documentary about London rent boys.
One in Five One in Five
1982 52 mins Silent Director: Ken Howard
Endearingly right-on concoction bringing together lesbians and gay men for dancing and debate at Heaven nightclub
Dressed as a Girl Dressed as a Girl
Documentary 2015 101 mins Director: Colin Rothbart
An in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at London’s finest drag performers. Warning: extreme use of make-up and glitter.
Directed by Paul Oremland
A Boy Called Mary A Boy Called Mary
1986 52 mins Director: Paul Oremland
The fabulous life and times of queer writer Kris Kirk, who became one of the UK’s most influential music journalists.
Tall Dark Stranger Tall Dark Stranger
1986 48 mins Director: Paul Oremland
Are you ready to strut your stuff? Take a bracing, sexy cruise around the diverse 1980s gay scene.
Andy the Furniture Maker Andy the Furniture Maker
1986 53 mins Director: Paul Oremland
How did a cute, gay Essex boy go from oyster fishing to becoming the toast of the London arts scene?
New
Kanarie Kanarie
Drama 2018 124 mins Director: Christiaan Olwagen
A Boy George-obsessed smalltown boy joins the South African Defence Force army choir, in this quirky Apartheid-era musical drama.
At Last the 1948 Show (Series 1 episode 2) At Last the 1948 Show (Series 1 episode 2)
Comedy 1967 21 mins Director: Ian Fordyce
This incomplete episode features only the show’s opening and first sketch, plus a brief fragment of the lengthy ‘Judge Not’ sketch, with the remainder presented as audio-only or script.
Do Not Adjust Your Set - Special Edition! Do Not Adjust Your Set - Special Edition!
Children's 1968 27 mins Director: Daphne Shadwell
This extended episode is an intriguing mixture of new material and newly shot reprises of sketches from the series.
Do Not Adjust Your Set (Series 1 episode 11) Do Not Adjust Your Set (Series 1 episode 11)
Children's 1968 25 mins Director: Daphne Shadwell
Highlights in this episode include the terrific ‘Art Gallery’ sketch, with a Gumby-esque Terry Jones exhibited as a living art work.
Do Not Adjust Your Set (Series 1 episode 12) Do Not Adjust Your Set (Series 1 episode 12)
Children's 1968 25 mins Director: Daphne Shadwell
As the series nears its conclusion everybody in the cast seems thoroughly at ease with each other, delivering both slapstick and cerebral sketches with smooth efficiency.
At Last the 1948 Show (Series 2 episode 1) At Last the 1948 Show (Series 2 episode 1)
Sketch show 1967 25 mins Director: Ian Fordyce
An incomplete episode that has been reconstructed with audio and scripts, but which features a video fragments of John Cleese's classic ‘Joke Shop’ sketch.