You can pinpoint to the second when British New Wave cinema fell in love with Swinging London. 25 minutes into Billy Liar (1963) Julie Christie hops out of a truck-driver’s cab with a cheery wave and, ’60s free spirit personified, goes breezing through drab downtown Bradford swinging her handbag. When she grabs the train to London at the end of the movie – leaving behind a sad, lonely town – British cinema follows her. Christie’s a luminous presence in the role that launched her, but it’s Courtney who carries the movie, living out his desperate fantasy life amid the grimy back-to-backs.
Read the full Screen Icons: Julie Christie Box Set review
Latest News
Comments