Up the Junction

Up The Junction was made during the Summer of 1967 though there isn't much love & peace to be found in this film. Arguably the only likeable characters are Polly, an uptown girl who's trying to slum it in Battersea, and Pete (Dennis Waterman) the 'bit of rough' she falls for, and they're not without flaws. I always loved Dennis Waterman in Minder and his character in this film could easily pass for a young Terry McCann; anyone who doubts his ability as a straight actor should watch the showdown between Pete and Polly in the hotel room. The two sisters Sylvie and Rube are sweet & bubbly on the outside but later on reveal a nasty side, especially when mocking a work colleague who appears to have learning difficulties.

Apart from Pete, all the men are depicted as selfish, sex mad and prone to violence.

Up The Junction came out a few years after the golden age of kitchen sink drama, and maybe lacks their gritty Northern humour, but there's still plenty to recommend including some lovely, sweeping London skylines, nice views of the iconic Battersea power station, and a groovy soundtrack by Manfred Mann. Anyone nostalgic for the late 1960s will probably enjoy it.