The Love Ban
The Love Ban is a 1973 British comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Hywel Bennett, Nanette Newman and Milo O'Shea.[2] It was based on a play by Kevin Laffan. It is also known under the alternative titles of It's a 2'6" Above the Ground World and Anyone for Sex?
| The Love Ban | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Ralph Thomas |
| Based on | the play It's a 2'6" Above the Ground World by Kevin Laffan |
| Produced by | Betty E. Box |
| Starring | Hywel Bennett Nanette Newman Angharad Rees |
| Cinematography | Tony Imi |
| Edited by | Roy Watts |
| Music by | Stanley Myers |
Production company | Welbeck Films |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films |
Release date | 25 January 1973 |
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £98,121[1] |
| Box office | £110,093[1] |
Plot
A married couple with six children experience marital difficulties. Wife Kate refuses to sleep with husband Mick until he uses birth control, while their live-in au-pair falls pregnant.
Cast
- Hywel Bennett as Mick Goonahan
- Nanette Newman as Kate Goonahan
- Milo O'Shea as Father Andrew
- Angharad Rees as Jackie
- Nicky Henson as Baker
- Georgina Hale as Joyce
- Madeline Smith as Miss Partridge
- Peter Barkworth as Bra Factory Director
- John Cleese as Contraceptives Lecturer
- Marianne Stone as Customer In Chemists
- Nina Baden-Semper as Skyline Waitress
- Cheryl Hall as Pregnant Woman
- Jacki Piper as Pregnant Woman
- David Howey as Barber
- Tommy Godfrey as Barber
- James Leith as Policeman
- Tony Haygarth as Policeman
Production
The film was based on a 1969 play by Kevin Laffan, It's a 2'6" Above the Ground World. Laffan was one of 14 children from a devout Roman Catholic family and his critical view on the Church's stance on birth control was a recurring theme of his work. The play starred Prunella Scales in a production at the Bristol Old Vic, and was a hit, moving to the Wyndham's Theatre.[3][4][5][6]
Filming
It was shot at Shepperton Studios with sets designed by the art director Anthony Pratt.
References
- Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 357. Income is distributor's receipts, combined domestic and international, as at 31 Dec 1978.
- "BFI | Film & TV Database | it's a 2'6" ABOVE THE GROUND WORLD (1972)". ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- Kevin Laffan obituary at The Telegraph
- Kevin Laffan obituary at The Independent
- Maclean, Margaret. "Playwright Kevin Laffan".
- THEATRE: A popular giant Bryden, Ronald. The Observer (1901- 2003) [London (UK)] 07 Dec 1969: 40D.