‘The Family Way’: the forgotten British comedy-drama soundtracked by Paul McCartney
Among gritty thrillers and bawdy sex comedies, there are many hidden gems to be found within the landscape of British cinema. The country has delivered some incredible films over the years, asserting itself as a key player in genres like horror, social realism, and comedy, but this naturally leads some great titles to fly under the radar.
In the case of 1966’s The Family Way, a soundtrack by The Beatles’ own Paul McCartney couldn’t stop it from fading into relative obscurity, now remaining most popular with die-hard fans of Britain’s kitchen-sink era and lovers of ‘60s cinema. Yet, the film is a fascinating look at the traditionalist views that shaped Britain at the time, which wasn’t as swinging as the ‘60s were often made out to be.
The progressive and liberated sensibility that supposedly defined much of Britain during the era of psychedelic rock, sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and hippie culture was not as widespread as movies and music would lead us to believe. The Family Way takes an honest look at the experience of a young working-class couple whose marriage is met with a series of issues that are complicated by family interference, societal expectations, and class.
Disney star Hayley Mills, best known for her role in the original version of The Parent Trap, gave one of her first adult performances as Jenny, a young woman set to go on her honeymoon with her new husband, Arthur (Hywel Bennett). Yet, after they realise they’ve been scammed, the pair face no other choice than to move into Arthur’s family home, a cramped building with no bathroom. A lack of privacy – and a practical joke played by his brother – prevents the pair from consummating their marriage, an issue that comes to plague the couple and drive them further apart.
On the surface, The Family Way looks like little more than a throw-away comedy-drama about married life, but the movie’s dissection of class, masculinity, sex, and community is really quite groundbreaking. Directed by Roy and John Boulting, also known for their other Mills and Bennett vehicle Twisted Nerve, the brothers’ film reflects upon generational clashes and repressed desire with nuance, allowing John Mills (the real-life dad of Hayley) to give a career-defining performance as Ezra, Arthur’s father.
He is representative of your typical and traditional working-class man, desperate to maintain a sense of pride and masculinity at all times despite some clearly repressed feelings. Even on Arthur’s wedding night, he tries his hardest to beat his son at an arm-wrestling match, turning himself bright red with his relentless quest for victory.
It’s one of the most important moments in the film, with Arthur recognising his father’s need to win and secretly giving in, resulting in a moment of recognition between both parties. Ezra can’t bear the thought of his son getting older and eventually usurping him as the man of the house, and a sense of grief for his son, who is no longer a child, seems to linger over him throughout the film.
The Family Way approaches sex head-on, although it’s far from explicit. Sex becomes a huge taboo – it seems as though you’re going to be shamed for doing it too early or doing it too late, with the whole village weighing in on the fact that Arthur and Jenny aren’t a ‘real’ married couple. Other people’s opinions significantly affect the couple, particularly Arthur, who struggles to feel like a real man.
McCartney’s score, which was made with the help of George Martin, is the perfect touch, with the instrumental tracks bearing much of McCartney’s signature elements, like brass. There’s a Sgt Pepper quality to some of the instrumentals too, which was released by The Beatles just a few months later. The score has a quintessentially British feel to it, reflecting the film’s preoccupation with capturing an accurate portrait of the country during this era.
The Family Way is an unassuming movie that creeps up on you, and only as you immerse yourself further into the world of the dysfunctional Fritton family does the emotional impact of the film – and Mills’ performance as Ezra – truly hit you.
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