Thursday, July 24, 2025

My Review of The Colour Of His Hair (2017)

 


Written by Elizabeth Montagu
Directed by Sam Ashby

John (to Peter): "Are you prepared for the consequences if we do go to the police?"

Ah, Josh O'Connor. One of the most talented actors working today and something of a favourite among the gays. He's had also had some gay/bisexual roles and in 2017, there was two of them. I already reviewed the sublime God's Own Country and now there's this one.

A short film focusing on the trial of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu along with Michael Pitt-Rivers and Peter Wildeblood from 1964. These men were sent to prison for a year for being gay. The Conservative Government under the guidance Sir John Wolfenden to report of male homosexuality.

This short film focused on John (Sean Hart) and Peter (Josh O'Connor). They live together and it's established that they're a couple. It's also quickly established that they're a couple. Worse than that, they're now victims of blackmail.

As the pair argue about who could possibly be blackmailing them, the film cuts to various scenes. The scenes are real life accounts of gay men who were arrested for homosexuality at the time as well as the formation of the Lesbian and Gay News Media Archive In London. The depictions of life under discriminatory law was shown among those scenes.

Getting back to John and Peter, there's certainly more insight into their private. Both men fear the outing of their relationship and the impact it'll have with their families and work life. By the end of the movie, it's John that had no choice but to go to the police. 

- The genesis of this short film came from an incomplete script from Lord Montagu's sister, Elizabeth.
- You can watch this movie online and it's included in the 2018 release of the Boys On Film series.
- There's images of naked men, erect penises, an old issue of Gay Times and various slogans like "I Can't Think Straight" in the intersped scenes.
- Chronology: 1960s London in John and Peter's home.

The Colour Of His Hair did mix things with both a documentary and a drama when I think one format might have suited it better. Saying that, the performances are rather good. 

Rating: 7 out of 10 

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