Robert, a young orphan, lives in the country with his puritanical Aunt, Belle Weston. She treats him as though he were a girl. He is kept away from school, made to wear Shirley Temple-type clothes, forced to play with dolls, and referred to at all times as 'Roberta'. Whenever he misbehaves, he receives harsh punishment.
Drake, an American, gets a job in the Weston house as handyman, and is appalled at Belle's inhuman treatment of the child. But he dare not tell the police as she threatens to notify the authorities that his work permit has expired.
After making off with a valuable bracelet, Drake decides to blow the whistle on Belle...
Based on a story by Charles Beaumont, this is a startling allegory of human sexuality. The boy is being forced to lead an unnatural life by pretending to be something he is not, and his protests fall on deaf ears. Given that this was made only two years or so after homosexuality was legalised in Britain, I'm sure it struck a chord with some viewers.
George Maharis, who plays 'Drake', would have been familiar to television audiences from 'Route 66'. Barbara Jefford is outstanding as the nutty-as-a-fruitcake 'Belle', as is Kim Burfield as the tormented child. Adrienne Posta, cast as the unnamed girl whom Drake beds, was 'Rita' in the 1971 film 'The Alf Garnett Saga'.
Drake, an American, gets a job in the Weston house as handyman, and is appalled at Belle's inhuman treatment of the child. But he dare not tell the police as she threatens to notify the authorities that his work permit has expired.
After making off with a valuable bracelet, Drake decides to blow the whistle on Belle...
Based on a story by Charles Beaumont, this is a startling allegory of human sexuality. The boy is being forced to lead an unnatural life by pretending to be something he is not, and his protests fall on deaf ears. Given that this was made only two years or so after homosexuality was legalised in Britain, I'm sure it struck a chord with some viewers.
George Maharis, who plays 'Drake', would have been familiar to television audiences from 'Route 66'. Barbara Jefford is outstanding as the nutty-as-a-fruitcake 'Belle', as is Kim Burfield as the tormented child. Adrienne Posta, cast as the unnamed girl whom Drake beds, was 'Rita' in the 1971 film 'The Alf Garnett Saga'.
