As part of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act (which partially decriminalised male homosexuality in England and Wales) the British Film Institute has issued a number of restored iconic British films on DVD – including Entertaining Mr Sloane and Loot, both adapted from plays by queer writer, Joe Orton.
Entertaining Mr Sloane (pictured) is a story of manipulation and repressed sexuality focusing on an older brother and sister who both have designs on the same young man, while farcical comedy Loot is a satirical look at 20th century society with an impressive ensemble cast (including Richard Attenborough). The new restorations include never-before seen bonus content, including new interviews and tributes to the man himself.
It’s also been 50 years since Joe Orton’s murder at the hands of his lover, Kenneth Halliwell, a relationship documented in Stephen Frears’ 1987 film Prick Up Your Ears, which featured Gary Oldman playing a properly promiscuous, Orton, cruising fellas from London to Morocco. Maybe that partly forgotten classic should be part of the BFI restoration set too? We’re just saying.