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When did you first get into the cinema to see an adult film?

Old Boy

Old Boy

master brummie
Hi All,

When I was a lad the film classifications were U (Universal) A (Adult) and H (Horror) Anyone could get into the U films. Children under 16 could only see an A film if accompanied by an adult. H films could be seen by adults only.

The consequence was that when an A film was showing youngsters would hang around outside the cinema asking adults to 'Take them in' (imagine that in these days). Sooner or later the youingsters would try their hand and try to get in the cinema by saying, if asked, that they were 16.

The first time I did this I was 14 and 'Beau Geste' was showing at the Elite Cinema on Bordesley Green. I desperately wanted to see the film as I had read the book. My ruse succeeded and, from then on, if I wanted to see an A film I went to the Elite.

Has anyone else got such memories?

Old Boy
 
The Camp on Blood Island.
Saw it at the Edgbaston early 60's, had to ask someone to take me and my mate in!
 
"the Fall Of The House Of Usher" cert."H",at the Aston Cross Cinema,was my first I was about 13 told them I was 16.It scared the life out of me.The cinema down Slade Rd. (can't remember the name) was the easiest for under age admission,used to go there often.:).
 
Hi Ray: The picture house down Slade Road was called the "Star". it was basic but cheaper than the Plaza on Stockland Green. Can't remember if I went to an "A" or "H" film before I was old enough to. "The Fall of the House of Usher" terrified me. I saw it at the Plaza, Stockland Green. You can see the trailer for the l960 film with Vincent Price on Youtube.com.
 
Jennyann,
The version that I saw was earlier than 1960,I became 13 in 1949.:(
The film was in B&W and very scary,have no idea who was in it.
The "Star",my memory needs a jog now and then,thanks for that.
 
Old boy when I was fifteen at the Orient Six ways Aston but I don't remember the film. Wonder why:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:. Jean.
 
Hi Ray:
There isn't anything on Youtube for the l949 version of "The House of Usher"
that I could find. If you look at the Internet Movie Data Base site imdb.com
you can find the l949 film web site with the cast, etc. Thanks Ray.

I remember vividly "House of Wax" another H movie. Very dark and scary.
Even today when I see these overdressed bedroom layouts in stores with heavy dark drapery etc. I say to my husband if he's there "House of Wax".
We always laugh about that.
 
Where i lived was just across the road from The Tivoli Cinema, Yardley and there were enough 16yr & older youths to take us younger kids in, living in our road, one time in the stalls we took up a whole row of seats. Len.
 
Jennyann,
It was an old film when I saw it,this could be it:


The Fall of the House of Usher is a 1928 short silent horror film adaptation of the short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. It tells the story of a brother and sister who live under a family curse. It stars Herbert Stern, Hildegarde Watson and Melville Webber.
The movie was directed by James Sibley Watson and Melville Webber.


It was a double bill,playing with "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame",the one with Charles Laughton.
Ray.:1020:.
 
I think the film being referred to here is the 1960 version with Vincent Price and a whole cast of unknowns hamming their way through what I think is Poe's best story.

When I were a lad the classifications were 'U', 'A' and 'X'. The first 'X' film I saw was at The Orient a week after I got my first pair of long trousers at the age of 14, and it was 'Behemoth The Sea Monster' with Andre Morrell (who played Quatermass on BBC TV in the 1950's). It was about as scary as our cat.

Big Gee
 
The film I went to see when I shouldn't, was at the Plaza at Stockland Green, and I asked someone to take me in. The film was 'The Pit and the Pendulem'. My goodness. It frightened me to death. I had to go and ask if I could sit with a couple of older girls for protection. We never learn.
Lynda:)
 
Lynda that was one that did scare the living daylights out of me. Watched it a while back on one of the cable channells and couldn't stop laughing. Bye. Jean.
 
Big Gee,
Funny, how you remember such daft things.If I saw the same film now it would probably be hilarious.There was a scene with an "old hags" head in a glass case,and it was still alive.
It was earlier than the the film you mentioned mate,this one was a silent black & white film,I saw it around 1949-50...I think.:rolleyes:
 
I think I was about 13 or 14 when a school friend and I went to see an X film at the ABC Orient in Aston.

I have no idea what the film was but there was nothing in it that we could see was a reason for the X rating
 
A horror film called 'The Tingler' at the Weoley Cinema,1959 followed by 'Brides of Dracula,
They were X rated films but nowadays likely to be on afternoon TV. :cool:

I looked particularly young for my age 13 -14 & we were told to say we worked at the BSA if challenged altho we never were :D
The Tingler -some girls screamed & ran out after watching the films introduction leaving their boyfriends before the film even got going,lol
Scary trailer be warned

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtQTVLutDWI"]YouTube - The Tingler Trailer (1959)[/ame]
 
growing up in handsworth the kings & the queens cinamas in west bromwich were the easy ones to get into for x rated films, stand tall & look confident always worked.
 
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