Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Encyclopedia
Rita, Sue and Bob Too is a 1986 British film directed by Alan Clarke
about two West Yorkshire
teenaged schoolgirls who have a sexual fling with a married man. It was adapted by Andrea Dunbar
, based on two of her stage plays; Rita Sue and Bob Too (1982) and The Arbor (1980). Its portrayal of 'ordinary' people's lives made it a cult film
soon after its cinematic release.
. About to finish their final year at school, they are generally disillusioned with life and their circumstances. In their spare time, they earn money babysitting for Bob and Michelle, a relatively affluent couple living in a large detached house in a more desirable part of town. Without Michelle's knowledge, Bob embarks on an affair with both Rita and Sue, who take it in turns to have sex with him in his car on the Moors
surrounding Bradford. When Michelle eventually finds out, she leaves Bob - but not before confronting Rita and Sue outside their homes in front of their families and neighbours. When Bob later develops a preference for Rita, the two girls fall out. Rita then decides to move in with Bob, whilst Sue begins seeing Aslam, a Pakistani
boy from the local taxi firm where she works. She moves in with him at his sister's house, but subsequently leaves him after he becomes too controlling and starts beating her. Rita and Sue then reconcile and Sue moves in with Rita and Bob and the three embark on a ménage à trois
.
Alan Clarke
Alan Clarke was a television and film director, producer and writer, born in Wallasey, Merseyside, England.Most of Clarke's output was for television rather than cinema, including work for the famous play strands The Wednesday Play and Play for Today...
about two West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
teenaged schoolgirls who have a sexual fling with a married man. It was adapted by Andrea Dunbar
Andrea Dunbar
Andrea Dunbar was a British playwright best known for Rita, Sue and Bob Too, an autobiographical drama about the sexual adventures of teenage girls living in a run-down part of Bradford, Yorkshire...
, based on two of her stage plays; Rita Sue and Bob Too (1982) and The Arbor (1980). Its portrayal of 'ordinary' people's lives made it a cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
soon after its cinematic release.
Plot
Rita and Sue are two working class girls from a rundown council estate in BradfordBradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. About to finish their final year at school, they are generally disillusioned with life and their circumstances. In their spare time, they earn money babysitting for Bob and Michelle, a relatively affluent couple living in a large detached house in a more desirable part of town. Without Michelle's knowledge, Bob embarks on an affair with both Rita and Sue, who take it in turns to have sex with him in his car on the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
surrounding Bradford. When Michelle eventually finds out, she leaves Bob - but not before confronting Rita and Sue outside their homes in front of their families and neighbours. When Bob later develops a preference for Rita, the two girls fall out. Rita then decides to move in with Bob, whilst Sue begins seeing Aslam, a Pakistani
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
boy from the local taxi firm where she works. She moves in with him at his sister's house, but subsequently leaves him after he becomes too controlling and starts beating her. Rita and Sue then reconcile and Sue moves in with Rita and Bob and the three embark on a ménage à trois
Ménage à trois
Ménage à trois is a French term which originally described a domestic arrangement in which three people having sexual relations occupy the same household – the phrase literally translates as "household of three"...
.
Cast
- Siobhan FinneranSiobhan FinneranSiobhan Finneran is an English television and film actress from Oldham in Lancashire, England.-Career:Siobhan's first major role was as Rita in the 1986 film, Rita, Sue and Bob Too. Since 2007 she has played Janice in ITV's popular comedy drama Benidorm, appearing in all 4 series and both specials...
as Rita - Michelle HolmesMichelle HolmesMichelle Holmes , born Corinne Michelle Cunliffe, is an English actress who has appeared in several television serials.Born in Rochdale, Lancashire, she performed in a pop band called The Dunky Dobbers....
as Sue - George CostiganGeorge Costigan-Early life:Costigan was born in Portsmouth and grew up in Irlams o' th' Height and Weaste in Salford. He attended St. Augustine's C of E Primary School on Bolton Road in Pendlebury, then Wardley Grammar School on Mardale Avenue in Wardley near Swinton.-Career:...
as Bob - Lesley SharpLesley SharpLesley Sharp is an English stage, film and television actress, particularly well known for her variety of British television roles including Clocking Off, Bob & Rose and afterlife.-Early life:...
as Michelle - Kulvinder GhirKulvinder GhirKulvinder Ghir, born in Nairobi, Kenya, is a British actor, comedian and writer of South Asian ancestry, best known for his roles in Rita, Sue & Bob Too, Blood & Peaches, Bend It Like Beckham and the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me...
as Aslam - Willie Ross as Sue's Father
- Danny O'Dea as Paddy
- Maureen Long as Rita's Mother
- Patti Nichols as Sue's Mother
Filming locations
- ButtershawButtershawButtershaw is a residential area of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It is bounded by Horton Bank Top to the north, Wibsey to the east, Woodside to the South and Shelf to the west....
– The Boulevard council estate - (Rita's house; Sue's flat). - Baildon – (Bob & Michelle's house on Bramham Drive; moorland scenes).
- HaworthHaworthHaworth is a rural village in the City of Bradford metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It is located amongst the Pennines, southwest of Keighley and west of Bradford. The surrounding areas include Oakworth and Oxenhope...
– (the school trip). - ShipleyShipleyShipley may refer to:Places in England*Shipley, Derbyshire*Shipley, West Sussex*Shipley, West Yorkshire**Shipley People*Ann Shipley, Canadian politician*Burton Shipley, first Maryland Tarrapins men's basketball coach...
– (the scene where the girls finish babysitting and are walking home past the garage) - BradfordBradfordBradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
– Alexandra St, just behind Rand Street (Great Horton, near the University) the house Sue moves to with Aslam. Luna Cabs (Leeds Road) where she works and meets him.