Page 13 | Rita, Sue and Bob too

BeachBlondey · 2023-02-09T13:00:08+00:00

As a Happy Valley fan, I was surprised to find out that the actors who played Nev and Clare in Happy Valley, were actually in two main roles of the Rita, Sue and Bob too film from the 80s. It's made me think about that old film again, and I'm actually shocked that it was made at all. There is some discussion online today about the film, and most comments are along the lines of "great film", "a British Classic", and so forth. The plot (for those who haven't seen it), is centered around a fully grown married man, who seduces --grooms-- two 15 year old school girls and engages in lots of sex with them, mainly in his car (iirc). How the hell was this okay, to put this out as a comedy, even back then? And how can the majority of people who remember the film, still think it's a great British classic?

Ragwort · 13/02/2023 22:36

I knew Andrea Dunbar at the time she wrote the play, I was at University in Bradford and a group of us formed a sort of 'Feminist Group' under the guidance of some really inspirational lecturers. We raised enough money to buy a refuge, one of the first refuges during the Erin Pizzey days ... (without wishing to sound boastful I think that is the proudest achievement of my life ... we used to help women leave abusive situations ... it was all very different to how refuges are organised today of course).

Andrea had an incredibly tough life, it's a very sad story.

x2boys · 14/02/2023 07:20

Ragwort · 13/02/2023 22:36

I knew Andrea Dunbar at the time she wrote the play, I was at University in Bradford and a group of us formed a sort of 'Feminist Group' under the guidance of some really inspirational lecturers. We raised enough money to buy a refuge, one of the first refuges during the Erin Pizzey days ... (without wishing to sound boastful I think that is the proudest achievement of my life ... we used to help women leave abusive situations ... it was all very different to how refuges are organised today of course).

Andrea had an incredibly tough life, it's a very sad story.

It is and her daughters had an even worse life so sad 😢

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 14/02/2023 07:59

Ragwort · 13/02/2023 22:36

I knew Andrea Dunbar at the time she wrote the play, I was at University in Bradford and a group of us formed a sort of 'Feminist Group' under the guidance of some really inspirational lecturers. We raised enough money to buy a refuge, one of the first refuges during the Erin Pizzey days ... (without wishing to sound boastful I think that is the proudest achievement of my life ... we used to help women leave abusive situations ... it was all very different to how refuges are organised today of course).

Andrea had an incredibly tough life, it's a very sad story.

That's amazing, and a great achievement.

Aggieh · 14/02/2023 18:02

Rita sue and Bob too is a classic and although not meant to be it is a comedy
Lines like "u took ur fuckin time" and the old man shouting "u tell em bob" while prancing about "up the IRA"
Hilarious i watched this film so many times I know it practically word perfect.
Yes it's sad and based on a real occurrence but it was like all films made for entertainment

Americano75 · 14/02/2023 20:18

Ragwort · 13/02/2023 22:36

I knew Andrea Dunbar at the time she wrote the play, I was at University in Bradford and a group of us formed a sort of 'Feminist Group' under the guidance of some really inspirational lecturers. We raised enough money to buy a refuge, one of the first refuges during the Erin Pizzey days ... (without wishing to sound boastful I think that is the proudest achievement of my life ... we used to help women leave abusive situations ... it was all very different to how refuges are organised today of course).

Andrea had an incredibly tough life, it's a very sad story.

That's an astonishing achievement! Everyone wants to leave the world a better place than they found it and you can definitely claim that.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 14/02/2023 20:22

I was born in 1969 so about the same age as the girls at the time and yes we were having sex with married men, much older men it was prevalent.

Original poster

BeachBlondey · 15/02/2023 17:44

Greensleevevssnotnose · 14/02/2023 20:22

I was born in 1969 so about the same age as the girls at the time and yes we were having sex with married men, much older men it was prevalent.

I was also born in 1969, and never did this! I would have found anyone over 20 positively old!

OP posts:

QforCucumber · 15/02/2023 17:58

The difference is @BeachBlondey that from your posts you very likely didn’t grow up in a rough council estate in the north and instead are watching from a very privileged position

Wantthisfriend · 18/02/2023 23:05

It was OK to put out films like this, portraying violence against children, for the same reason it is still OK to portray violence in very many films even today, as though its some form of entertainment. Violence of any kind, whether physical, sexual or any other, on screen for the purpose of entertainment is vile. We all know it, yet very few of us are saddened by it, do anything about it or even notice it anymore.