The Virgin Soldiers ⁞⁞ Queer Classics

The 1969 UK comedy The Virgin Soldiers follows Private Brigg (Hywel Bennett), a young soldier contending with a boring life stationed in Singapore in 1950, which has him and his fellow British soldiers filling their time with plots to lose their virginity and avoid any military action. Brigg quickly sets his sights on Phillippa (Lynn Redgrave), the daughter of their Regimental Sergeant Major Raskin (Nigel Patrick). Among his brigade of young recruits is an openly gay couple, Patsy Foster (Gregory Phillips) and Sidney Villiers (Wayne Sleep). The two supporting characters are accepted among their fellow soldiers. They are shown sharing a cot in the soldiers' barracks and holding hands among their comrades. Despite the film's tone as a sex comedy, Foster & Villiers are never portrayed as the butt of any jokes, despite some campy portrayals, including a moment when both faint at the sight of blood, leading to their only conflict within the film's plot. Foster accidentally cuts Villiers's arm while taking part in weapons training, due to them distracting each other showing off their skills. Foster later apologizes to the annoyed and injured Villiers while helping him comb his hair. This, however, does not lead to any real rift, as the two are shown holding hands moments later as they exit the showers. 

Despite the time period depicted, Foster & Villiers are actually shown to be the most stable relationship of the film, as it focuses on the sexual romps of their straight counterparts, with varied results. Phillippa's parents are not shown to be particularly close and Phillippa & Brigg's connection lacks any real depth, with no romantic ending. Foster & Villiers are shown happy in their coupling as their fellow soldiers stumble. Foster & Villiers are reprimanded by the troop's sergeant Driscoll (Nigel Davenport) while the soldiers are camping in the forest on a mission when he sees that they are wearing pajamas, instead of their uniforms. They walk away holding hands, leading him to demand they refrain from doing so. His stern treatment of the two, however, lacks any harsh punishment or bullying. He spots the two sleeping together upon his arrival in the barracks at the start of the film, but remains silent. At the end of the film, Foster & Villiers surprise their comrades by announcing they are not going home as the other soldiers are packed up to leave. They reveal they are staying so they can be together, again highlighting them as the couple who receives a happy ending. One of the other soldiers quips that "it must be love" after hearing of their decision.  

 

Queer Classic Film Facts:  

• The film was based on the international best-selling book by Welsh author Leslie Thomas, published in 1966. It was Thomas' debut novel and would lead to two book sequels. The characters of Foster & Villiers are adapted from their book counterparts, who were also portrayed as an openly gay couple in the military.
• Director John Dexter would go on to direct the drama I Want What I Want. Released in 1972, that film chronicled the life of a transgender woman who escapes an abusive home in order to finally live her true life. It would be his fifth and final film as a director. 
• Lead actress Lynn Redgrave would later receive an Academy Award Nomination for her supporting role in the gay themed film Gods & Monsters.
• The film was considered a success in the United Kingdom, as the 17th highest-grossing film at the UK box office in 1969. However, it performed poorly when released in the United States. 
• Openly gay performer Wayne Sleep made his feature film debut in The Virgin Soldiers. Though he would make occasional appearances in film and television throughout the 70's and 80's, Sleep gained his biggest notoriety for his skills as a dancer and choreographer, trained at The Royal Ballet School.
• Gregory Phillips famously made his film debut in the 1963 musical I Could Go on Singing, where he played the fictional son of legendary queer icon Judy Garland. Phillips would continue acting into the early 1970s.
• The film's 1977 sequel Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers featured many returning characters, including Foster and Villiers. However, the roles were recast and the duo were played by Brian Godfrey & Peter Bourke, respectively. 
• This was not the first film with queer representation to feature Nigel Patrick. The actor previously starred in The Trials of Oscar Wilde in 1960. The film chronicled the famous conflict between Wilde and the Marquis of Queensberry, whom Wilde accused of slander in court after Wilde's romantic relationship with Queensberry's son, Lord Alfred Douglas, caused Queensberry to target Wilde's reputation.
• Rachel Kempson joined her daughter Lynn Redgrave in the film, with the two actresses portraying mother and daughter. Kempson's previous film, Two Gentlemen Sharing, also included a prominent gay character. It was released the same year as The Virgin Soldiers. 
• John Hopkins wrote the film's screenplay. Hopkins married actress Shirley Knight the same year The Virgin Soldiers was released. Knight would go on to play the adversarial grandmother to gay character Andrew Van De Kamp in multiple episodes of the hit series Desperate Housewives.