Looking Back at "Beautiful Thing"

Beautiful Thing played a huge part in my own coming out as it was probably the first truely happy gay love story I saw after finally getting up the guts to go into a gay bar myself (where I found a group of friends and a community I hadn't really known was out there). At the time, I never even considered the loose ends or the unrealistic ending. It was tagged as an "Urban Fairytale" and that's exactly what it was. It made perfect sense to me that Jamie and Ste would slow dance their way into the sunset, with all of their working class neighbours dancing along side them.

This film is my family's favorite gay/coming of age film.  The actors who play Ste and Jamie have magnificent chemistry (not to mention one of the best on-screen gay kisses this side of "Brokeback Mountain").

The film is not perfect, but it is a delight to watch.  The soundtrack of classic The Mamas and the Papas and Cass Elliot tunes sets the perfect tone for the film. "Make your own kind of Music" is perfectly placed in the film.

 The actress who plays Leah is nothing short of amazing.

I can't recommend any similarly themed film any higher than this one.  If you can find a copy, snatch it up.  More difficult to find, but worth the effort and money, is the soundtrack.  It is loaded with gems. 

I'm always on the look out for good movies.I've heard of this before but after reading the comments, I'll be sure to check it out!

I enjoy this film every time I see it. The coming-of-age story reminds me of when I was younger and the first time I fell in love. When you fall for someone everything else seems to fall in the background, nothing else matters. It's a good feeling, and it's nice to remember it. I like to imagine a happy ending for Jamie and Ste.

I have seen this movie at least 4 times and very time I see it, it brings joy to my heart. I had a secret high school boyfreind back in 1977. This movie always brings back those days of pure joy. Despite the fear of being found out and living a straight life on the outside, we were as in love as any other first time loves can be. We were living for the moment thinking things would just work out and that is what I always see in this movie. The scene of the boys trying to figure out how to make a move on each other and the run through the woods to make out cold be scenes of my life. Whether it is 1977, 1996, or 2007, first love is difficult and unforgettable for anyone. I just wished we could have danced in public into the sunset. This movie will always remind me of Scott.

I've always been a fan of British Pop culture. I had a few near misses with this scenario myself as a teen....but never pushed beyond the fantasy until I was an adult. Happily the boys were average blokes with all the odds agains them, yet somehow they prevailed My earliest idol was Cass Elliot and found Leah's adoration of her heartwarming. I will google her to see what ever became of her!

"Beautiful Thing" to this day is one of my favorite gay movies. I have to admit the soundtrack is what does it for me. It does for "The Mama's and the Papas" what "Muriel's Wedding" does for "ABBA." The movie has it's flaws but overall will put a smile on my face every time I watch it. It's the kind of small film that you can enjoy over and over: the music, cute boys, pull-at-your-heart-strings melodrama, and the I've-been-there feeling it inspires in gay/straight/young/old.

I came out rather late in life and this film was one of the first few that I watched when I finally managed to break down the closet door.  It has a positive message, full of hopeful naivete, certainly, but sweet intentioned enough to overlook.  It was a great film for me at the time.  It told a story of hope for generations that come after.

A little box popped up on Logo that said AfterElton has a retrospective of the actors and what they are doing now.  I haven't found it anywhere on this site, so if you know, please send me a message.

Love this movie - probably one of the most romantic gay movies ever made.  Now, if I can just find what Ste and Jamie had. . .      

This film is for me, one of the most amazing things ever. I know it's not an amazing film, but theres just so much attached to it for me now *plus mama cass, hello she rocks!!* 

I've seen it live once in liverpool with my friend (who came out just after which was nice!)

ah great memories attached to the film and the soundtrack :)

James

x

Greeat movie.

I love this film so much that I went out and purchased it myself.

My life partner of 30 years watch this movie a lot.

As a result of the fight Sandra and Tony have in which she asks him what he ever fought for, she realizes what a drifter he is, not just a surfer bum, but an easy-going laid-back person that never takes up a fight. This is why she suddenly ends their relationship. She also realizes how much she loves her son (the story of the frilly hat and the big blue pram called Queen of the Road).

Jamie asks his mother in front of her friend Louise to come to the Gloucester with him and Ste. Sandra is, if you look at her face, at first shocked to have her friend learn her son is gay. The friend doesn't flip and she confidently makes the crack about never having grandchildren. She is really saying, It's okay my son is gay. In this moment she accepts more of her son's identity.

Then she steps outside and sees her son and Ste dancing in the street. They made their love fully public. It takes a moment, but she realizes how much her son loves Ste and she discovers this is her new cause to fight for:  her son and his boyfriend. All her other stuggles have eased; she has a new job with better pay and a nice flat above it. She and Leah join them in the street, dancing in solidarity. She watches the crowd, daring anyone to say or do anything that will hurt Jamie or Ste. As a result, she knows she cannot leave Ste in Thamesmead with his abusive father and brother. She takes him (They are certainly not the type to miss him) and Ste lives with them at their new flat.

She makes a go of the bar, even making the place gay-friendly.

This is such a good movie. There are plenty of scenes that will break your heart but there are also many funny ones. I always laugh at the beginning when Jamie ditches "PE class"(can't remember what they call it) and the new teacher is yelling Hugh Janus to get him to come back, because the other boy's told him that was Jamie's name. The veteran Indian PE teacher who screams "balls Mr.Bennet".Leah was so funny and so sad. When she opened the door for Ste's brother and she is wearing the green facial mask and holding the hairbrush like a mic was so funny.  The girls who like Jamie and want him to come back to their flat for a drink. When he turns them down they turn and tell him "then I suppose a shag is out of the question". The hippie boyfriend who is constantly lecturing on the empowerment of women. Leah's wide-eyed grandmother. The elderly woman neighbor with her umbrella drink and her unseen husband yelling at her to cover herself up. Even at the end when Leah and Sandra are dancing and Leah says she is going to find herself a nice dyke "a tall one". Great movie