Saved events

Chained Girls + Introduction by Selina Robertson (18*)

Queer 60s

,Cinema 2
A black and white film still showing two women, one in her bra and an open jacket, the other in a dress. They are close, suggesting an intimate relationship.

There’s something to outrage everyone is this jaw-dropping exploitation film about lesbians from 1965.

'They roam the big city streets in large gangs assaulting everyone who falls within their path.' And that's one of the milder lines from this pulp pseudo-doc about lesbians from the 1960s, packed with dubious statistics and offensive stereotypes. A wacky mix of moralising ('can we keep lesbianism from becoming a serious social problem?') and titillation (plenty of topless shenanigans), the film veers increasingly off the rails, culminating in an act of violence towards a new member of the love-cult of the 'daughters of Sappho'. 

Easy to mock today, this laugh-out-loud would-be exposé is nonetheless revealing of the toxic attitudes towards queer women in some sectors of 1960s society. A wild and fascinating curio from a bygone era, with invaluable footage of pre-Stonewall Greenwich Village. 

Tagged with: Cinema Queer 60s
Film information
  • Release year   1965
  • Country of origin   USA
  • Director   Joseph P. Mawra
  • Runtime   1hr 5mins

Selina Robertson is a film programmer, researcher and founder member of queer feminist curating collective Club des Femmes. In 2025 she co-curated Sun, Sex and Socialism: The Cinema of Stephanie Rothman.  She is an associate lecturer at Birkbeck.   

Queer 60s

Cinema 2

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.