This film is part of Rentals

Title of error

See Help

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

Rent for £1.00

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.

Director

Paul Oremland

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Rent for £3.50

Orlando Orlando

Fantasy 1993 93 mins Director: Sally Potter

Tilda Swinton stars in Sally Potter's dazzling interpretation of Virginia Woolf's novel.

Rent for £3.50

The Crying Game The Crying Game

Drama 1992 112 mins Director: Neil Jordan

Neil Jordan's acclaimed 1992 drama-mystery tells the story of Fergus (Stephen Rea), who looks after the lover (Jaye Davidson) of a British soldier he once knew. But what is Dil hiding?

Rent for £3.50

50 Years Legal 50 Years Legal

Documentary 2017 77 mins Director: Simon Napier-Bell

Five decades on from the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, a range of LGBTQ+ stars (including Sir Elton John and Stephen Fry) reflect on Britain's history of prejudice, persecution and liberation.

Rent for £3.50

Rebel Dykes Rebel Dykes

Documentary 2021 91 mins Director: Harri Shanahan and Sîan Williams

A brilliant and refreshing story of UK post-punk dyke culture, told by those who lived it.

Rent for £3.50

Ammonite Ammonite

Biopic 2021 118 mins Director: Francis Lee

Francis Lee follows up God’s Own Country with a film that is every bit as immersive, tactile and emotionally powerful, aided by the devastatingly good Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan.

Rent for £4.50

Chuck Chuck Baby Chuck Chuck Baby

Drama 2022 102 mins Director: Janis Pugh

A chicken factory worker rekindles a childhood romance in this joyous musical-drama set in North Wales.

Rent for £4.50

Mysterious Ways Mysterious Ways

Drama 2023 90 mins Director: Paul Oremland

Paul Oremland’s impassioned drama is a searing critique of the church’s attitude towards the LGBTQI+ community.

Rent for £1.00

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.

Rent for £1.00

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?

Rent for £1.00

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.

Rent for £3.50

South: Sir Ernest Shackleton's Glorious Epic of the Antarctic South: Sir Ernest Shackleton's Glorious Epic of the Antarctic

Documentary 1919 81 mins Silent Director: Frank Hurley

An extraordinary story of survival in the wastes of Antarctica.

Rent for £4.50

Night Courier (Mandoob) Night Courier (Mandoob)

Comedy 2023 112 mins Director: Ali Kalthami

A desperate delivery driver gets caught up in the dark underworld of Riyadh in Ali Kalthami’s gripping, pitch-black satire.

Rent for £3.50

The Ballymurphy Precedent The Ballymurphy Precedent

Documentary 2018 108 mins Director: Callum Macrae

John Pilger's film on the conflict in Northern Ireland is a skilful mix of investigative journalism, documentary storytelling and reflections on contemporary history.