This film is part of Free
Scarborough Ahoy!
A straight woman and a gay man cruise their way across North East England in this Tennessee Williams-inspired short.
Overview
A boozy barmaid (Frances Barber) and her newly found gay friend (Con O’Neill) quit London and hightail it to north east England on the lookout for sex and excitement in this multi-award-winning film based on Tennessee Williams’ short story Two on a Party. This sensitive and finally very moving film both celebrates and challenges the unusual relationship between the two characters.
The film, made with the National Film and Television School, makes great use of its locations in Scarborough, Whitby and Redcar, where even a steelworks and an off-season caravan park are bathed in a romantic glow. Although there is little nudity, the film was erotic enough to be screened as part of The Red Light Zone, Channel 4’s season of sex, the following year. The arresting soundtrack is provided by art rock band Cranes. Director Tania Diez, who gets terrific performances from Barber and O’Neill, went on to work in television and photography.
Related
What's a Girl Like You ... What's a Girl Like You ...
Documentary 1969 52 mins Location: Vauxhall
Scintillating look at the 1960s drag renaissance, with a visit to London's Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
Gay Black Group Gay Black Group
Magazine and Review show 1983 25 mins Location: Bloomsbury
The Gay Black Group - reasserting culture and identity on two levels.
David Is Homosexual David Is Homosexual
Amateur film 1978 38 mins Location: Lewisham
A lonely gay man discovers friends, love and activism in this rediscovered educational film made by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality
What Am I? What Am I?
Current affairs 1980 26 mins Location: Hay-on-Wye/Y Gelli Gandryll
Transgender pioneer April Ashley appears in this moving look at the challenges faced by the trans community in 1980s Britain
Illegal Tender Illegal Tender
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1987 14 mins
Queer psychedelic portrait of a young man’s desires in an industrial wasteland
Facing the Sun Facing the Sun
Drama 1980 54 mins
Sao Paulo-set love triangle drama, featuring a rare TV depiction of bisexuality.
Yorkshire Riviera Yorkshire Riviera
Amateur film 1958 19 mins Silent Location: Redcar
A nostalgic dip and drive around the North Yorkshire coast in the sun-kissed 50s.
'Scarboro' 'Scarboro'
Non-Fiction 1922 1 mins Silent Location: Scarborough
Hockey on the beach at Scarborough
Pleasant Dreams Pleasant Dreams
Home movie 1955 4 mins Silent Location: Scarborough
The relativity of pleasure, as seen with one family escaping Castleford for the delights of a brisk Scarborough beach, sea and donkey rides.
Max Jaffa: Farewell to Scarborough Max Jaffa: Farewell to Scarborough
Documentary 1986 24 mins Location: Scarborough
Middle England out on the east coast of Yorkshire enjoy the soothing music of Max Jaffa in his final year, playing for his devoted followers.
One Man's Meat One Man's Meat
Amateur film 1951 7 mins Silent Location: Scarborough
Not too sure what the poison would be in this delightful film of two couples enjoying the Yorkshire coast, certainly not the end of the day beer.
Weekend Travels Weekend Travels
Amateur film 1957 5 mins Silent Location: Scarborough
High frolics on the beach that epitomise a typical 1950s British day out at the seaside, before vests and braces went out of fashion.
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.