Schlesinger: From Oscar Winner to Tory Ads

Director John Schlesinger, renowned for his pioneering work in kitchen-sink dramas and for bringing bisexuality to mainstream cinema, also produced a nine-minute film promoting the Conservative Party in 1991. This move came three years after the implementation of Section 28, a controversial law. Schlesinger's career began with acclaimed films such as 'A Kind of Loving' and 'Darling', followed by the Oscar-winning 'Midnight Cowboy' in 1969, which became the first X-rated film to win Best Picture. His 1971 masterpiece, 'Sunday Bloody Sunday,' explored a bisexual character and featured a significant on-screen kiss between two men, pushing boundaries in LGBTQ+ representation.

Despite commercial successes like 'Marathon Man,' Schlesinger's career later saw a series of films that did not achieve the same acclaim, including 'Honky Tonk Freeway' and 'The Next Best Thing.' His personal life was deeply intertwined with his filmmaking; his partner, Michael Childers, was a constant presence on his sets. The centenary of Schlesinger's birth is being marked by retrospectives in both the UK and Palm Springs, aiming to re-evaluate his diverse and sometimes contradictory body of work. His legacy is celebrated not only for cinematic achievements but also for his frankness about his sexuality and his advocacy for LGBTQ+ visibility in film.