The Killing of Sister George

As part of LGBT History Month, Birmingham LGBT and SHOUT Festival present a free screening, discussion and Q&A of the iconic and controversial film ‘The Killing of sister George’.

The Killing of Sister George, which earned an X rating in the US and faced censorship challenges in Britain for its explicit portrayal of lesbian sexuality, is both repugnant and fascinating. It is full of negative stereotypes and sensationalised drama. But it also offers a glimpse into the real-life world of lesbian social life in 1960s Britain, including a scene shot in the famous Gateways Club.

Our panel discussion will place the film in its historical context and talk about the importance of bars to lesbian culture, then and now.

This screening with include a panel discussion and Q&A lead by Dr Mo Moulton (University of Birmingham). Dr Mo Moulton is lecturer in the history of race and empire at the University of Birmingham. In addition to her work on decolonization, she has published in “British Queer History” an essay on the queer life of Anglo-Irish builder and writer Katherine Everett. She also teaches on subcultures and sexual and ethnic minorities in modern Britain.

This screening is presented by mac birmingham in partnership with the Centre for Modern British Studies (University of Birmingham) and Birmingham City Council’s LGBT+ Allies Network.

18 (140 min)
Director: Robert Aldrich
Cast: Berryl Reid, Susannah York, Coral Browne, Ronald Fraser, Patricia Medina, Hugh Patrick
English | 1968