Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1972
The Triple Echo
Buy The Triple Echo now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'The Triple Echo' (also known as 'Soldier in Skirts' in its U.S. release) is a 1972 British drama film directed by Michael Apted starring Glenda Jackson, Brian Deacon and Oliver Reed, and based on the 1970 novella by H.E. Bates. It was shot in Wiltshire.stated in end creditsTRIPLE ECHO, The
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 39, Iss. 456, (1 January 1972): 261.
Plot
In England during World War II, Alice, a woman running a farm in the countryside, discovers a young man named Barton roaming the fields. He helps around the farm and the two become friends, then lovers. Barton decides to desert the army. Alice offers him refuge in exchange for help running the farm in the absence of her husband, who has been taken prisoner by the Japanese. Barton puts Alice's ailing dog out of its misery by shooting it with her husband's shotgun.Pauline Kael, 'Reeling', Marion Boyars Publishers 1976, .
When the military police begin to search for Barton, he must take measures to avoid being caught, so Alice helps him form the disguise of a woman, whom she says is her sister Jill. However, Barton tells people that his name is Cathy. A sergeant soon begins to take a liking to "Cathy". As Christmas approaches, the sergeant returns to invite Alice and Cathy to a Christmas party. Alice declines, but Barton, wanting to get out and have some fun, accepts the offer. Alice warns him against doing so.
During the party, the sergeant and another soldier take Cathy and a young woman into a back room to have sex, but when Jill forces the sergeant away he realises that Cathy is really a man. Barton escapes, and the military police follow and hunt him near to the farm house where Alice is waiting. Because Alice does not want Barton to suffer at the hands of the soldiers, she shoots him dead with her husband's shotgun.
Cast
* Glenda Jackson as Alice Charlesworth
* Oliver Reed as Sergeant
* Brian Deacon as Barton
* Anthony May as Subaltern
* Gavin Richards as Stan
* Jenny Lee-Wright as Christine
* Kenneth Colley as Provost Corporal
* Daphne Heard as Shopkeeper
* Zelah Clarke as First Girl
* Colin Rix as Compere
* Ioan Meredith as Guard
Production
The film was based on a novella by H.E. Bates, which he started writing in 1968 although he had had the idea since World War Two.Short circuit: Alex Hamilton interviews H.E. Bates, profile writer of ahort stories and author of 'Triple Echo'
The Guardian 16 November 1972: 12. The novella was published in 1970. The 'Guardian' said it had "a persistent smell of fabrication right through".A respecter of mysteries
Nye, Robert. The Guardian 3 December 1970: 9.
In March 1972 it was announced that the film version would star Glenda Jackson and Oliver Reed, reuniting them after their success in 'Women in Love'.When Arkin Meets Vonnegut: Alan Arkin
By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 26 March 1972: D13 It was an early movie from Hemdale.Britain's Hemdale Expands From Film Into Legit; Pic Deals Also Pending
Variety; Los Angeles Vol. 268, Iss. 11, (25 October 1972): 29. Director Michael Apted later said the only reason he could make the film "was Glenda was available and was willing to appear for a much smaller than usual fee."
Reception
The 'Guardian' called it "nothing very special... but at least it's a good story, well told."Bated breath
Malcolm, Derek. The Guardian 16 November 1972: 12. The same paper later said the movie "got some good critical reaction but did nothing at the box office."
In 1973 Jackson said she was "fairly happy" with the film.
Awards
Michael Apted was nominated for a Golden Prize Award at the 8th Moscow International Film Festival in 1973. (The film had been banned from the festival originally but this was lifted after a small cut was made to a sex scene.Russia lifts film ban
The Guardian 10 July 1973: 7.)
Home media
The film has never been made available on DVD format in the United Kingdom or United States. It was however released in Germany under the title, "Desertiert:Der Kampf ums berleben", on 1 December 2016 from Medien GmbH distribution. The film has also been released in Spain as "La Mscara y la Piel".
On 10 January 2019, it was announced that 'The Triple Echo' would be made available on Blu-ray from Powerhouse films subsidiary, Indicator. It features a new 2K restoration of the film as well as original Mono audio. A number of new special features are included and limited edition exclusive booklet with the first pressing. The set was released on 25 March 2019.
References
Buy The Triple Echo now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1972