The Rita Tushingham Home Page

Credits & Photos 1970 - 1979

February 1970
• View a video clip of the 1970 Battersea Pancake Race, a charity event in which Rita participated, from the British Pathe digital news archive

Lorna And Ted (1970) [Stage: UK] "Lorna Green"
• Ted Gissing is a 40 year-old loner who lives in a cottage in Suffolk.  He likes big complaisant women and calls them "housekeepers".  Lorna Green is 29 and dreams of a "little house in the country".
• Rita did this play for a salary of £30 a week.
• Lorna And Ted (1970), with Rita Tushingham, Ray McAnally, Veronica Clifford, Tony Matthews, written by John Hale, directed by John Hale.
  • 01 Sep 1970 - end_date?, Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES

Rita Tushingham, Ray McAnally Lorna and Ted.

Film Time (10 Oct 1970) [Radio: UK] "herself"
• BBC radio magazine programme discussing character actors.
• Film Time (10 Oct 1970), with Ingrid Bergman, Wilfrid Brambell, Dora Bryan, George Cole, Ronnie Corbett, Clive Dunn, Tony Hancock, Irene Handl, Thora Hird, Michael Hordern, Noel Howlett, Lionel Jeffries, Freddie Jones, John Le Mesurier, Arthur Lowe, Warren Mitchell, Roger Moore, Dandy Nichols, Lance Percival, Leslie Phillips, Margaret Rutherford, Peter Sellers, Rita Tushingham, Richard Wattis, written by Lyn Fairhurst, presented by Tony Bilbow.

Autumn 1970
• Rita, Terry, and Dodonna moved to England's south coast in October 1970, to a house with terraced gardens on a cliff overlooking the bay in the quaint seaside village of Polperro, Cornwall.  Rita and Terry had spent their honeymoon in Polperro eight years before, staying in Stuart and George Bray's pink guest cottage over Polperro's fish quay.
• "We set off with three dogs, two tranquillized cats, and Dodonna sat with her feet on the box with the Christmas pudding inside it.  Fortunately we were able to stay with Stuart Armfield, as the furniture came the next day."
• Two days after moving to Polperro, Rita discovered that she was pregnant again.

Terry Bicknell, Dodonna Bicknell Each piece of furniture had to be individually hand-carried the 98 steps up the hill to where the house sits at the top of a cliff.

Rita Tushingham A publicity photo of Rita, taken in October 1970.

Rita Tushingham A publicity headshot of Rita, also taken in October 1970.

Summer 1971
• In 1971, Rita was working on a film project, an updated £800,000 big-screen version of Lorna Doone, with Rita in the title role.  This was to be the first film from Moviemakers Ltd, a company formed in 1970 by Rita, Terry, and Desmond Davis, the man who directed Rita in Girl With Green Eyes and Smashing Time.
• Rita says, "We considered what was going on in the cinema, and we didn't much like what we were seeing.  So we thought we would form our own company, and produce films that all the family can go to see."  Unfortunately, Lorna Doone never made it to the big screen.

Rita Tushingham, Aisha Bicknell Rita's second child came along on 16 June 1971, and was born in Plymouth.  Named Aisha, her name means "life" in Arabic.  (Her middle name, Demelza, means "fort on a hill" in Old English.)

Rita Tushingham, Aisha Bicknell

Rita Tushingham, Dodonna Bicknell, Aisha Bicknell Dodonna plays with her baby sister.

Rita Tushingham, Dodonna Bicknell Rita and Dodonna sit on the terrace wall overlooking the bay.  "One of my favourite games with Dodonna is putting on an old grey wig and pretending to be her great grandma making silly faces and even sillier noises through pretend false teeth."

Their Polperro home has a large sitting room with a high ceiling and a tall window overlooking the village.  Terry designed the brass canopy over the fireplace.

Rita, Terry, and Dodonna on the terrace wall overlooking the bay.  Rita is reluctant to go out on the ocean, but she gave Terry a fishing line, and he sails out with Dodonna to catch fish.  Dodonna says that she gets seasick but wants to go out and try to get used to it.

Straight On Till Morning (1972) aka Til Dawn Do We Part aka Dressed For Death aka The Victim [Film: UK] "Brenda Thompson"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• A timid, withdrawn woman meets a man she believes is finally the love of her life, unaware that he is a psychotic serial killer.
• Shane Briant's character calls himself 'Peter' and calls Rita's character 'Wendy'.  These are references to the story Peter Pan.  When Brenda/Wendy asks Peter the location of his bedroom, his answer, "Turn right at the stair and go straight on till morning," is almost a direct quote from Peter Pan – "Turn right at the star and go straight on till morning."
• Rita filmed this thriller in November and December of 1971.  It was her first role in the horror-thriller genre.
• Some filmographies incorrectly list a project called The Case Of Laura C. as occurring during this period in Rita's career.  However, this was a project that was discussed at the time, but ultimately never filmed.
• Straight On Till Morning (1972) aka Til Dawn Do We Part aka Dressed For Death aka The Victim, on DVD, with Rita Tushingham, Shane Briant, Katya Wyeth, Annie Ross, Tom Bell, James Bolam, music by Roland Shaw, cinematography by Brian Probyn, written by Michael Peacock, directed by Peter Collinson.
• The DVD contains a feature commentary track by Rita Tushingham and journalist Jonathan Sothcott.
  • DVD Region 1, NTSC format (USA, Canada) - Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, more online sellers
  • DVD Region 2, PAL format (Europe) - Amazon UK, more online sellers

Rita Tushingham Rita as Brenda Thompson.  Rita jokes about her dual-length hair; page-boy in front, shoulder-length in back.

Rita Tushingham "Does he like nuts?" Newly arrived from Liverpool, Brenda tries too hard to make friends in London, often striking up conversations with complete strangers, with dismal results.  The unintentionally-hilarious dialogue often involves Brenda asking the stranger if they would like some nuts!  In this scene, Brenda's generosity with nuts even extends to this man's dog.

Rita Tushingham During Brenda's visit to a London employment agency, a little kid stares at her.

Rita Tushingham In order to create an excuse to meet Peter, Brenda kidnaps his dog Tinker.  She washes and beautifies Tinker, and plans to "accidentally find" the dog and return it to Peter.

Rita Tushingham, Shane Briant Having moved in with Peter, Brenda assists with his tape-recorder hobby by reciting a story so that he can set the proper recording level.

Katya Wyeth Unbeknownst to Brenda, Peter is a psychotic killer who hates anything beautiful.  Here, Caroline learns too late that Peter's box-cutter knife can be used for other purposes.

Rita Tushingham In this famous scene, Brenda tries to make herself more beautiful for boyfriend Peter.  Unfortunately, the results do not live up to expectations.  As one film critic noted, "Tushingham pretties herself up in what may be the ugliest makeover in screen history."

Shane Briant, Rita Tushingham Peter and Brenda plan to have a baby together.

As the police search for the missing girls, Brenda and Caroline, they show these photographs to area residents.  Brenda's photo is actually a publicity still of Rita from Girl With Green Eyes.

Where Do You Go From Here? (1972) [Film: Norway]
• Rita shot some scenes for this film in Norway during 1971 and 1972.  She arranged to be away from this production for six weeks in late 1971 to go back to London to film Straight On Till Morning.
• Rita says, "It was shot in Norway but sadly it was never finished.  I don't quite know what happened, but I think the problem was money.  It was a lovely story, about a young mother with a Downs Syndrome child.  The director was very much into ideas, rather than getting down to it.  But the footage I saw looked quite interesting."
  • Some footage shot, but film never completed

Situation (1973) aka Slaughter Day aka Slaughterday aka Deadline [Film: Italy/Austria] "Rita"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• A mastermind hires several criminals to commit a robbery.  Meanwhile, he falls in love with a young woman who knows nothing of his plans.  When the heist goes awry, the criminals rendezvous at a lakeside cabin, unaware that the girlfriend has brought her friends to the same place.
• Situation (1973) aka Slaughter Day aka Slaughterday aka Deadline, with Rita Tushingham, Michael Hausserman, Frederick Jaeger, William Berger, Gordon Mitchell, music by Richard Schönherz, Vito Rigoni, cinematography by Walter Kindler, Peter Lauscher, written by Oscar Bronner, Walter Kindler, Peter Patzak, directed by Peter Patzak.

Rita Tushingham Rita's job involves some sort of anatomical research – note the preserved human head in the specimen jar.

Rita Tushingham Rita jokes with her colleagues.

Michael Hausserman, Rita Tushingham After a chance meeting, Rita has herself a new boyfriend.

Rita Tushingham, Michael Hausserman They spend the weekend at his cabin in the mountains.

Michael Hausserman, Rita Tushingham Rita will be on her own this weekend, as her boyfriend will be busy with a special project.

Rita Tushingham, Michael Hausserman Rita has brought her office co-workers to her boyfriend's cabin for the weekend, but becomes concerned when she hears gunshots, and when her boyfriend shows up unexpectedly.

Unbeknownst to Rita, her boyfriend intended to use the cabin as a meeting place for his gang of bank robbers.  The gang captures Rita and kills her co-workers.

Rita Tushingham, Michael Hausserman Rita comes to the realization that her boyfriend is a killer, and shrinks from him.

Movie artwork.

Mistress Of Novices (1973) [Stage: UK] "Bernadette Soubirous"
• Rita played the role of Bernadette Soubirous, the French peasant girl whose visions in 1858 of the "Lady of Lourdes" – assumed to be the Virgin Mary – made her a celebrity, and who subsequently spent her later years in the Convent of St. Gildard.
• Mistress Of Novices (1973), with Rita Tushingham, Barbara Jefford, Margaretta Scott, Geoffrey Keen, Beau Daniels, Heather Bell, Jill Raymond, Sally Reymond, Valerie Verdon, Brenda Kempner, Joss Clewes, Brandon Brady, Karen Ford, Jean Ainslie, Pat Brackenbury, Linda Gray, Hermione Gregory, written by John Kerr, directed by Charles Hickman.
  • 07 Nov ?? - end_date?, Opera House Manchester, Quay Street, Manchester M3 3HP
  • 15 Feb 1973 - end_date?, Piccadilly Theatre, Denman Street, London W1V 8DY

Rita Tushingham, Barbara Jefford There's trouble in the convent between Bernadette Soubirous and Mother Marie-Therese.

Spring 1973
• During the Spring of 1973, Rita was busy doing the play Mistress Of Novices in London, and preparing to go to New York for six weeks during the summer to film the Italian movie Fischia Il Sesso.  At home in Polperro, Rita spent much of her time gardening, cooking, and taking care of her daughters.

Rita Tushingham Rita participates in the 29 March 1973 launch of the £100,000 Oxfam appeal for drought-affected farmers in Western India.  Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 organizations working together with over 3,000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering, and injustice.

Rita Tushingham Rita tends to their vegetable garden – not the easiest of chores, since the garden staggers lopsidedly down the cliff face from their home above the bay.

Rita Tushingham Rita enjoys making salads and vegetable dishes in their kitchen.  Their garden supplies nearly all of their vegetable needs.

In order to make a garden on a cliff face, you have to terrace it.  Between the harbour and their home at the top of the cliff, there are four separate terraces chipped out of the rock.

The front lawn is bordered by a terrace wall that overlooks the bay.

Rita's family enjoys a picnic on their front lawn.

Terry watches as Rita plays hopscotch with Aisha, 2, and Dodonna, 9.

Rita fixes Dodonna's hair.

Rita spends time reading with her girls.

Dodonna, Aisha, and Rita walk down the 98 steps from their house to the village of Polperro on the Atlantic ocean.

Rita and Dodonna take a walk around the village.

Dodonna Bicknell, Rita Tushingham Dodonna and Rita check out the flowers as they walk.

Rita's family enjoys chatting with villagers and playing darts at The Three Pilchards Pub.

Rita's family poses for a picture.

Fischia Il Sesso (1973) aka Instant Coffee aka Loose In New York [Film: Italy] "Carol"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• Carol (Rita Tushingham), a lonely New York secretary, tries to find a husband through a computerized matrimonial agency.  She is introduced to Gavino (Aldo Maccione), a handsome Sardinian who hopes to remain in America by marrying an American wife.
• Italian language, no subtitles.
• Rita spent six weeks in New York City during the summer of 1973 filming this Italian comedy.  It was the first time that she and Terry did not take their children with them on location.  Dodonna and Aisha remained in Polperro with a nanny.
• The film's director wanted Rita to do a nude scene, but she refused.  "I'm not a prude.  I just don't think it's necessary."
• Fischia Il Sesso (1973) aka Instant Coffee aka Loose In New York, on DVD, with Aldo Maccione, Rita Tushingham, Leopoldo Trieste, Mario De Vecchi, Piero Gerlini, Barbara Spiegel, Alvise De Pasquale, Carla Mancini, George Dzundza, Gigi Ballista, music by Nando De Luca, cinematography by Benito Romano Frattari, written by Rafael Azcona, Gian Luigi Polidoro, Antonio Paoletti, directed by Gian Luigi Polidoro.
  • DVD Region 2, PAL format (Europe) - DVD Italia

Rita Tushingham Carol is a secretary in New York City.

Carol has bad luck with men.  She just can't seem to find a man who is both interesting and interested in her.

Rita Tushingham Perhaps a change of hairstyle will attract more men?

Rita Tushingham Another evening, another TV dinner.

Rita Tushingham Dinner alone.  Again.

Rita Tushingham Carol walks around New York, eating ice cream and enjoying the summer weather.

Rita Tushingham Carol says hello to a friendly puppy.

Gigi Ballista Unable to find a man, Carol consults the proprietor of the Lewis Marriage Agency.

Rita Tushingham Carol would like a husband who meets her criteria.

Aldo Maccione Carol is introduced to Gavino, a handsome Sardinian who speaks no English.  They develop a caring relationship, but soon a danger presents itself – Gavino may be deported.

Rita Tushingham Carol pleads with the Immigration official to let Gavino stay.

Gavino must leave America.

Rita Tushingham Rather than be alone again, Carol chooses to go with Gavino.

Rita Tushingham, Aldo Maccione Carol and Gavino watch New York recede into the distance.

Aldo Maccione, Rita Tushingham But they have each other.

Armchair Theatre (09 Oct 1973) episode 13.05 "Red Riding Hood" [TV: UK] "Grace"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• For Grace, haunted by secret fears, the regular visit to her aged grandmother turns into a terrifying nightmare.  But are the macabre events in that strange house reality, or the imaginings of somebody close to mental breakdown?  Red Riding Hood was an innocent little girl who walked into danger and terror – but just how innocent is Grace?
• This was the first time in nine years that Rita had performed in a TV show.  Here she was paired with Keith Barron.  "He's lovely.  I couldn't have had anyone nicer for my first television play."
• Keith Barron became one of Rita's favourite leading men, and would go on to co-star with Rita in a TV pilot, Comedy Playhouse: No Strings (16 Apr 1974).  When the BBC greenlit the series, Barron again co-starred with Rita for the six episodes of the No Strings TV series (Oct - Nov 1974).  In the 1990s, Barron co-starred with Rita once again, in Theatre Of The Air: I’ve Been Eddie Mostyn (22 Mar 1996), and also contributed to the TV episode This Is Your Life: Rita Tushingham (13 Dec 1999).
• Armchair Theatre (09 Oct 1973) episode 13.05, Red Riding Hood, on DVD, with Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron, Ursula Hirst, Arthur Hewlett, Hilda Barry, Coral Fairweather, George Collis, Ronald Nunnery, written by John Peacock, directed by Joan Kemp-Welch.
  • DVD Region 2, PAL format (Europe) - Amazon UK, more online sellers

Rita Tushingham, Coral Fairweather Grace speaks with Miss Lorrie.

Across Europe (1974) [Film: UK] "commentator"
• Shows the role of the sponsor in providing holidays for the handicapped in Europe, featuring a journey to the Austrian Alps.  Also features a purpose-built coach with special medical facilities, which has been christened a 'jumbulance'.
• Across Europe (1974), with Rita Tushingham, music by Graham Preskett, cinematography by Ricky Briggs, directed by Ricky Briggs.

Mistress Of Novices (13 Apr 1974) [Radio: UK]
• Mistress Of Novices (13 Apr 1974), with Rita Tushingham, Colette O'Neil, written by John Kerr.

Comedy Playhouse (16 Apr 1974) episode 13.01 "No Strings" [TV: UK] "Leonora Watling"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• London veterinarian Derek Peynton advertises for a flatmate.  When his advert is answered by new-from-Liverpool Leonora Watling, his tidy bachelor domain is soon disrupted by her feminine touch, her inedible cooking, and the gigantic cushion that she refuses to part with.
• The pilot episode for a BBC comedy series about a single man and a single woman trying to share a flat.  BBC greenlit the series, and six episodes were filmed and telecast in late 1974.
• Rita says, "I play a dreamy sort of bird who writes poetry.  Keith is a flashy character who can't make her out because she's so different from the kind of girl he is used to."
• Comedy Playhouse (1961-1975) ran for 14 seasons on the BBC, and consisted of one-off plays of a humourous nature, some of them intended to be pilot episodes for proposed television series.
• Comedy Playhouse (16 Apr 1974) episode 13.01, No Strings, with Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron, April Walker, Lindsay Ingram, Jennifer Guy, Valerie Braithwaite, Cunitia Knight, Eric French, music by Ken Jones, cinematography by James Balfour, written by Carla Lane.

Keith Barron, Rita Tushingham Derek meets Leonora Watling, who has come in response to Derek's advertisement for a flatmate.

Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron Even though Derek has misgivings about the idea of a female flatmate, he nonetheless invites Leonora to discuss the matter over a cup of coffee.

Rita Tushingham "GET YOUR RAGS, BONES, RAGS!" Leonora pretends to be a street merchant hawking his wares.

Rita Tushingham Even if Derek were to accept Leonora as a flatmate, he tells her that a romance between them would be unlikely, since he prefers large-breasted women.

Keith Barron, Rita Tushingham Derek asks Leonora about the oversized cushion that she has brought with her.  Wanting to demonstrate the cushion's usefulness, she sits upon it and recites poetry.

Keith Barron, Rita Tushingham

Rita Tushingham Leonora gets carried away with her poetry.

Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron Derek decides that Leonora will make an interesting flatmate, and tells her that she can stay.

Rita Tushingham Leonora tries to help out around the flat by cooking breakfast for Derek, but she only manages to make things worse by accidentally breaking one of his plates.

Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron "That is a perfectly good egg!" When Derek criticizes Leonora's cooking, she grabs a fried egg and waves it in his face.

Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron Following an argument with Derek, Leonora gathers up her suitcase and her enormous cushion, and leaves to seek other accommodations.

Rita Tushingham Leonora's unwieldy cushion gives her problems at a tube station.

Rita Tushingham On her way to another flat, Leonora's cushion is attacked by a dog.

Rita Tushingham Having calmed down after the argument, Leonora returns to Derek's flat, albeit with a Yorkshire terrier that she has rescued in the meantime.

Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron BBC publicity photo.

Rita Tushingham, Aisha Tushingham Rita and three-year-old Aisha with one of their three bulldogs (Britannia, Hercules, or Trogg) at their Polperro home in 1974.

Publicity photo of Rita in 1974.

Rachel's Man (1974) aka Ish Rachel [Film: Israel] "Lea"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• Rendition of the Biblical story of Jacob, who toils for Rachel's father Laban for seven years so that he can marry her.  But Laban wants his elder daughter Lea to get married first.
• Rita filmed this Biblical story on location in Israel during the summer of 1974.  The film's cinematographer was Ousama Rawi, who would become Rita's second husband in 1981.
• Rachel's Man (1974) aka Ish Rachel, on DVD, with Leonard Whiting, Mickey Rooney, Michal Bat-Adam, Rita Tushingham, Avner Hizkiyahu, Yair Rubin, music by Georges Moustaki, cinematography by Ousama Rawi, written by Rahel Fabian, Moshé Mizrahi, directed by Moshé Mizrahi.
  • DVD Region 1, NTSC format (USA, Canada) - Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, more online sellers

Leonard Whiting To avoid being killed by his brother Esau, Jacob travels to the land of his mother, Rebekah.

Rita Tushingham, Michal Bat-Adam Jacob encounters sisters Lea and Rachel.

Michal Bat-Adam Rachel immediately catches Jacob's eye.

Rita Tushingham Lea unhappily notices the chemistry between Rachel and Jacob.

Mickey Rooney, Leonard Whiting Laban considers whether to permit his daughter Rachel to marry Jacob.

Rita Tushingham Eavesdropping in the dark on the conversation between Laban and Jacob, Lea is distressed to overhear that Jacob wants Rachel, not her.

Rita Tushingham, Michal Bat-Adam As Lea washes clothes in a creek by beating them with a mallet, Rachel tries to ease Lea's hurt feelings.

Rita Tushingham As a gesture of good wishes, Lea gives her favorite necklace to Rachel.

Leonard Whiting, Rita Tushingham Jacob works for Laban for seven years in exchange for the right to marry Rachel.  But Jacob wakes up after the wedding night to discover that he's been deceived!  Laban has switched Lea for Rachel in the dark, so that older daughter Lea could have a husband.

Rita Tushingham After seven more years, Laban permits Jacob and Rachel to marry.  Lea tries to look her best for her sister's wedding.

Michal Bat-Adam After giving Jacob a son, Joseph, Rachel dies soon after bearing a second son, Benjamin.

Jacob buries Rachel on the road to Efrat, just outside Bethlehem.

No Strings (04 Oct 1974) episode 1.1 "You Live Your Life And I'll Live Yours" [TV: UK] "Leonora Watling"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• Derek's existence becomes even more complicated when he realises that having another woman in his flat is a deterrent to the progress of his love life.
• The story of Derek, who advertises for a flatmate and gets more than he bargained for – the lonely and quirkily charming Leonora, who unintentionally disrupts his bachelor lifestyle.
• No Strings (04 Oct 1974) episode 1.1, You Live Your Life And I'll Live Yours, with Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron, Gilly McIver, Jessica Benton, David Simeon, music by Ken Jones, written by Carla Lane.

No Strings (11 Oct 1974) episode 1.2 "Grow And Let Grow" [TV: UK] "Leonora Watling"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• Leonora has a theory that life is precious, and when Derek decides to have a tree chopped down, she puts her theory into practice.
• The story of Derek, who advertises for a flatmate and gets more than he bargained for – the lonely and quirkily charming Leonora, who unintentionally disrupts his bachelor lifestyle.
• No Strings (11 Oct 1974) episode 1.2, Grow And Let Grow, with Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron, Gilly McIver, Brenda Cowling, Norman Mitchell, Paul McDowell, Michael Stanisforth, Marianne Morris, Tim Blackstone, Norma Streader, Charles Pemberton, music by Ken Jones, written by Carla Lane.

No Strings (18 Oct 1974) episode 1.3 "Say It With A Flower" [TV: UK] "Leonora Watling"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• All Derek wants is a quiet Sunday away from his frantic private life.  Suddenly Leonora's private life becomes chaotic; so does Derek's Sunday.
• The story of Derek, who advertises for a flatmate and gets more than he bargained for – the lonely and quirkily charming Leonora, who unintentionally disrupts his bachelor lifestyle.
• No Strings (18 Oct 1974) episode 1.3, Say It With A Flower, with Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron, Ray Dunbobbin, David Simeon, Peter Hughes, David Rhys Anderson, music by Ken Jones, written by Carla Lane.

No Strings (25 Oct 1974) episode 1.4 "Is There A Patient In The House?" [TV: UK] "Leonora Watling"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• Derek has a mysterious pain.  Will Leonora's attempts at playing nursemaid make it better or worse?
• The story of Derek, who advertises for a flatmate and gets more than he bargained for – the lonely and quirkily charming Leonora, who unintentionally disrupts his bachelor lifestyle.
• No Strings (25 Oct 1974) episode 1.4, Is There A Patient In The House?, with Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron, Gilly McIver, Tommy Godfrey, Felix Bowness, Robert Gillespie, Louis Mahoney, music by Ken Jones, written by Carla Lane.

No Strings (01 Nov 1974) episode 1.5 "The Morning After The Party Before" [TV: UK] "Leonora Watling"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• Leonora has been to a party, she met Bernard (Brian Grellis), and had a lovely time.  She would like to tell Derek all about it, if only she could remember it!
• The story of Derek, who advertises for a flatmate and gets more than he bargained for – the lonely and quirkily charming Leonora, who unintentionally disrupts his bachelor lifestyle.
• No Strings (01 Nov 1974) episode 1.5, The Morning After The Party Before, with Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron, Brian Grellis, Peter Weston, Claire Russell, Alister Williamson, music by Ken Jones, written by Carla Lane.

No Strings (08 Nov 1974) episode 1.6 "Look Before You Eat" [TV: UK] "Leonora Watling"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• Derek has planned a romantic dinner with Angela, but when he takes the lonely Leonora fishing, not only does the fish get away, but so does Angela!
• The story of Derek, who advertises for a flatmate and gets more than he bargained for – the lonely and quirkily charming Leonora, who unintentionally disrupts his bachelor lifestyle.
• No Strings (08 Nov 1974) episode 1.6, Look Before You Eat, with Rita Tushingham, Keith Barron, April Walker, Garry Rich, music by Ken Jones, written by Carla Lane.

Miss United Kingdom 1975 (19 Aug 1975) [TV: UK] "herself"
• The Miss UK contest televised from Blackpool, with 35 girls from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competing for the title, £3000, and automatic entry into the Miss World contest.  Judges are Dora Bryan, Jack Hedley, Alvin Stardust, and Rita Tushingham.  Winners announced and presentations made by Eric & Julia Morley.  Winner Vicki Harris is crowned by Helen Morgan, the reigning Miss UK.
• Miss United Kingdom 1975 (19 Aug 1975), with Dora Bryan, Vicki Harris, Jack Hedley, Helen Morgan, Eric Morley, Julia Morley, Alvin Stardust, Rita Tushingham, presented by David Vine, Ray Moore.

The Human Factor (1975) [Film: UK/Italy] "Janice Tillman"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• George Kennedy stars as a NATO war-games computer programmer living in Naples, Italy, who comes home from work one day to find that his wife and children have been murdered by terrorists for no apparent reason.  When he recovers from the shock, he uses his computer skills to track down the killers, and pursues them in an attempt to achieve his own, very personal revenge.
• Rita plays the role of a Human Behavioral specialist who is a co-worker and friend of John Kinsdale (George Kennedy).  Unfortunately, the script doesn't give her character very much to do in the film.
• Rita filmed this story on location in Naples, Italy, in 1975.  Once again, the cinematographer was Ousama Rawi, who had been her cinematographer on Rachel's Man (1974).  He would become Rita's second husband in 1981.
• An exciting car chase was filmed on the streets of Naples, requiring star George Kennedy to drive his station wagon like a madman.  His erratic driving went unnoticed by the local police, since most Naples residents drive like madmen anyway.  George says, "Everyone drives like a maniac there; lane markings are painted on the streets, but everyone ignores them – I don't know why they waste the paint."
• The Human Factor (1975), on DVD, with George Kennedy, John Mills, Rita Tushingham, Raf Vallone, Barry Sullivan, Shane Rimmer, Arthur Franz, music by Ennio Morricone, cinematography by Ousama Rawi, written by Thomas Hunter, Peter Powell, directed by Edward Dmytryk.
  • DVD Region 1, NTSC format (USA, Canada) - Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, more online sellers
  • DVD Region 2, PAL format (Europe) - Amazon UK, more online sellers
  • Soundtrack CD - Amazon USA, Amazon Canada

John Mills, Rita Tushingham, George Kennedy Mike, Janice, and John have lunch together in John's office.

George Kennedy, Rita Tushingham When John's family is murdered, Janice wants to help him track down the killers.

Rita Tushingham Janice fears that John might be risking his life to catch the terrorists.

Rita Tushingham After a long day of hunting terrorists, John stops by Janice's apartment for a drink.

George Kennedy But beating the crap out of terrorists is tiring work.

Rita Tushingham, John Mills Janice and Mike advise John to work with the police to catch the terrorists.

Rita Tushingham Janice is upset that John wants to kill the terrorists himself, rather than see them captured alive by the police.

Rita in makeup and costume as Janice.

Ragazzo Di Borgata (1976) aka Osni Osna aka Slum Boy [Film: Italy] "Mrs. Colantuoni"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• Ettore Colantuoni is a charming teenager, very kind to his mother (Rita Tushingham), but a terror on the streets.  He and his gang steal brazenly from the rich, often snatching purses as they ride their motorcycles past women on the street.  Ettore takes a job as a waiter in a bar that specializes in delivering meals to offices and wealthy customers.  He has an affair with a rich girl who shows him another side of life.  When his father gets out of jail, Ettore masterminds a series of thefts using his experience as a delivery boy in rich neighborhoods.  The stolen money makes it possible for his happy family to open their own bar, managed by the ever-wily Ettore.
• Italian language, no subtitles.
• Rita says, "I did six Italian pictures.  They just asked me to start playing Italian women for some reason.  It's a strange feeling saying your lines in English while all the other performers are doing theirs in Italian.  You have to know the other dialogue so you don't interrupt them in the middle of a line."
• Ragazzo Di Borgata (1976) aka Osni Osna aka Slum Boy, with Stefano Arquilla, Ennio Panosetti, Rita Tushingham, Beba Loncar, music by Nino Rota, Carlo Savina, cinematography by Giuliano Giustini, written by Alfredo Giannetti, Giulio Paradisi, Lucio Battistrada, directed by Giulio Paradisi.

Ettore waits as his mum brings dinner to the table.

Ettore loves his mum.

Mum and her husband Domenico.

While Mum has a nosh, Domenico offers some food to a bystander.

Cheerfully drunk, Domenico sweeps Mum into his arms for an impromptu waltz.

Domenico spins Mum.

Mum spins several times.

A recent theft perpetrated by Ettore and Domenico has made it possible for them to open their own bar.  Ettore straightens Domenico's tie on Opening Night.

Domenico tends the bar.

Mum handles the cash register.

Ettore is the manager.

Green Eyes (03 Jan 1977) aka The Search For Green Eyes [TV: USA] "Margaret Sheen"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• View some photos of the Sancta Maria Orphanage in Saigon, as well as a collection of photos taken in the 1970s of other Vietnamese orphanages.  Our thanks to Peter Hill of the Sancta Maria Orphanage for sharing these photos with us.
• Vietnam veteran Lloyd Dubeck travels back to Southeast Asia to find his green-eyed half-Vietnamese baby boy that he left behind.  As his search takes him through the squalor of many orphanages, he is helped by Margaret, a British woman who who operates a relocation center for orphans.
• This 1976 film was Rita's first made-for-TV movie.  It highlighted the plight of Vietnamese orphans, many of them half-American, in the wake of the Vietnamese War.  Paul Winfield co-starred with Rita as a Vietnam veteran who returns to Vietnam three years after the end of the war to find his half-Vietnamese baby boy, whom he has never seen.
• The film was shot in the Philippines, as a stand-in for Vietnam.  Rita says, "The Philippines was a very interesting place to visit.  It was at the time when Mr. Marcos was in power, so you were aware of a huge police presence, and Mrs. Marcos' shoes!!  It was not the easiest place to shoot in, very humid.  We were working with children from Vietnam.  What they wanted more than anything was human contact, not for you to feed them but to hold them.  God, you learn so much from something like that."
• Rita and Terry divorced in 1976, though their marriage was pretty much over by 1974.  Dodonna and Aisha remained with their father and continued to go to school in Polperro.  Terry stayed in Polperro, eventually becoming manager of a local seaside pub and inn called The Blue Peter.  He retired in 2001 and was elected "Lord Mayor" of Polperro that year.
• Rita began to keep company with Ousama Rawi, an Iraq-born Canadian (Iraqi father, Russian mother) who had been her cinematographer on Rachel's Man (1974) and The Human Factor (1975).  They would marry in 1981.
• Green Eyes (03 Jan 1977) aka The Search For Green Eyes, with Paul Winfield, Rita Tushingham, Victoria Racimo, Lemi, Jonathan Lippe, music by Fred Karlin, cinematography by Terry K. Meade, written by Eugene Logan, David Seltzer, directed by John Erman.

Paul Winfield Lloyd Dubeck as a soldier in Vietnam.

Rita Tushingham When Lloyd comes to her orphanage in search of his baby, Margaret Sheen tells Lloyd the unvarnished truth – that his baby is most likely dead.

Paul Winfield Lloyd refuses to believe Margaret, and vows to search more orphanages until he finds his baby.

Rita Tushingham When Lloyd encounters Margaret at a posh embassy party, she tells him that she'd like to toss trays of food over the wall to the hungry children on the outside of the embassy fence.

Paul Winfield, Rita Tushingham Lloyd swipes several trays of embassy food, and Margaret heaves the food over the fence to the hungry children.

Paul Winfield, Rita Tushingham Lloyd begins to volunteer some of his time to helping Margaret care for her orphans.

Rita Tushingham, Paul Winfield

Rita Tushingham, Paul Winfield

Paul Winfield, Rita Tushingham, Lemi Local street urchin Trung is helping to search for Lloyd's baby.

Rita Tushingham Margaret tells Trung that he is always welcome to come by her orphanage for food.

Rita Tushingham Lloyd appreciates the good work that Margaret is doing, helping orphans.

Paul Winfield, Rita Tushingham Lloyd learns that his baby has died, and so prepares to leave Vietnam.  Margaret offers to take him to the airport.

Rita Tushingham On the way to the airport, Lloyd and Margaret search for Trung.

Rita Tushingham Margaret shrugs – still no sign of Trung.

Lemi, Paul Winfield Lloyd decides to adopt Trung and bring him back to America.

Pane, Burro E Marmellata (1977) aka Abendessen Mit Anschließendem Frühstück aka Under Shock aka Sotto Choc [Film: Italy] "Vera"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• A popular TV showman finds a working telephone in the apartment across the hall, occupied by three women, Vera, Simone, and Betty.  The ladies give him a place to stay, and eventually all become romantically involved.
• Italian language, no subtitles.
• Pane, Burro E Marmellata (1977) aka Abendessen Mit Anschließendem Frühstück aka Under Shock aka Sotto Choc, on DVD, with Enrico Montesano, Rossana Podestà, Claudine Auger, Rita Tushingham, music by Piero Umiliani, cinematography by Roberto Gerardi, written by Giorgio Capitani, Franco Ferrer, Enrico Montesano, directed by Giorgio Capitani.
  • DVD Region 2, PAL format (Europe) - DVD Italia

Rossana Podestà, Rita Tushingham, Enrico Montesano, Claudine Auger Simone, Vera, and Betty let Bruno use their phone and stay in their apartment.

Rita Tushingham, Enrico Montesano Vera and Bruno go for a bicycle ride together.

Enrico Montesano, Rita Tushingham A sudden rainstorm puts an end to their outing.  They also manage to fall in the mud.

Rita Tushingham Vera fantasizes a romantic encounter with Bruno.

Gran Bollito (1977) aka Black Journal [Film: Italy] "Maria"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• Shelley Winters stars as a psychotic Italian matriarch with a penchant for slaughtering her female neighbors (all hilariously played by men in drag!) and boiling their chopped-up corpses in a big cauldron.  In the spirit of waste-not want-not, she grinds up their bones to make biscuits for afternoon tea.
• Italian language, no subtitles.
• Gran Bollito (1977) aka Black Journal, on DVD, with Shelley Winters, Max von Sydow, Renato Pozzetto, Alberto Lionello, Laura Antonelli, Rita Tushingham, Mario Scaccia, Franco Branciaroli, Milena Vukotic, music by Enzo Jannacci, cinematography by Armando Nannuzzi, written by Sergio Amidei, Nicola Badalucco, Angelo Dellagiacoma, Mario Monicelli, Alberto Piferi, Luciano Vincenzoni, directed by Mauro Bolognini.
  • DVD Region 2, PAL format (Europe) - DVD Italia

Max von Sydow A lonely neighbor (Max von Sydow in drag!) stops by to chat, unaware that she is Lea's next victim.

Shelley Winters Wielding a heavy cleaver, Lea strikes!

Lea offers some snacks to her guests.  The recipe?  Don't ask.

Rita Tushingham Maria tastes one of the snacks.

Rita Tushingham Er, kinda crunchy...

...but good!

Mysteries (1978) aka Evil Mysteries [Film: Netherlands] "Martha Gude"
• View the Internet Movie Database entry for this item
• In the winter of 1891, a stranger (Rutger Hauer) arrives in a small coastal town on the Isle of Man.  His presence soon disturbs the lives of the local inhabitants, especially the parson's beautiful daughter (Sylvia Kristel).
• Adapted from the novel by Knut Hamsun.  Filmed on the Isle of Man (in the Irish Sea, between England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales).
• Rita says, "The cinematographer was Robby Muller who did a brilliant job.  I wore a white wig and carried white flowers all the time.  I enjoyed the white wig, it gave the character a mystery which is always useful.  It was a lovely location – on the Isle Of Man – walking across the moor and all that sort of thing, self-indulgent but nice."
• At the time, it was rumored that Rita was planning to retire from acting following this film.  However, Rita says, "I could never retire from acting, I love it too much.  I was at that time spending a lot of time in Toronto and wanting to be at home for Aisha who was at school there, so I would try to fit in work during her school holidays."
• Some filmographies incorrectly list a project called The Incredible Mrs. Chadwick as occurring during this period in Rita's career.  Rita says, "It was a film that was to be shot in Montreal with Shirley MacLaine, everything was ready to shoot, then the financing dropped out, so it was never made."
• Mysteries (1978) aka Evil Mysteries, on DVD, with Rutger Hauer, Sylvia Kristel, Rita Tushingham, David Rappaport, music by Laurens van Rooyen, cinematography by Robby Müller, written by Knut Hamsun, Paul de Lussanet, directed by Paul de Lussanet.
  • DVD Region 1, NTSC format (USA, Canada) - Amazon USA, Amazon Canada

Rutger Hauer, Rita Tushingham Johan Nagel, a newcomer to the coastal village, makes the acquaintance of Martha Gude.

Rita Tushingham Martha is a good woman, but lives in poverty.

Rita Tushingham Martha is pleasantly surprised when Johan offers to buy one of her old chairs for much more than it is worth.

Rita Tushingham

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