Goodbye Gemini

1970 "In the age of Aquarius the twins Julian & Jackie share everything - Love, men and murder"
Goodbye Gemini
5.5| 1h29m| R| en| More Info
Released: 23 September 1970 Released
Producted By: Josef Shaftel Productions
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Unnaturally close, jet-setting twins become enmeshed in the Swinging London scene, where their relationship is strained after they befriend a predatory hustler and his girlfriend.

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Josef Shaftel Productions

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BA_Harrison Infantile psychotic twins Jacki and Julian (Judy Geeson and Martin Potter) arrive in London, immediately arranging an accident for their grouchy landlady so that they can have the run of the place. The siblings then set about experiencing the swinging London party scene, where they meet louche rogue Clive (Alexis Kanner, sporting some impressive mutton-chops). After Clive is roughed up by a bookmaker to whom he owes £400, he tricks Julian into bed with a pair of transvestites, takes a few photos and proceeds to blackmail the young man. However, instead of getting cash for his troubles, Clive gets knifed in the neck instead.As a child of the '70s, I have an affinity with films from that era, especially those set in the UK, but Goodbye Gemini was a tough one to endure. It's horrible, hippy nonsense that features hedonistic characters hard to sympathise with, atrocious dialogue, and incomprehensible behaviour from all involved. An incestuous relationship between the inseparable twins is hinted at, which adds an edginess to proceedings, the music is groovy, and there are a couple of outrageously camp homosexuals who are mildly amusing (one wears a bright pink shirt and uses the word 'ducky' a lot—you don't get much more '70s than that!), but there really is very little else worthy of mention.
tomsview "Goodbye Gemini" has Nehru shirts, large ties, hair helmets and sideburns, old guys hanging around with young birds, wall-to-wall partying, a dash of transvestitism, a little incest, and an atmosphere of anything goes as long as it's outrageous. It could only be the Swinging Sixties, and as they say, if you remember them, you weren't there.The film is hard to define. It's a thriller, but with a unique vibe. Julian (Martin Potter) and Jacki (Judy Geeson) are an unnaturally close twin brother and sister who play games and live in a make-believe world. As Michael Redgrave's character says, "They carry their own universe with them". But Julian has a stronger attraction towards his sister than she has for him.When they move to London to live in a large house arranged for them by their father, things start to unravel. We learn that all is not right when Julian viciously gets rid of the housekeeper who is in charge of the household. With the run of the house, they gravitate towards the London pub and party scene.They meet some unsavoury characters especially Clive (Alexis Kanner), a bi-sexual pimp whose sadistic streak threatens to destroy the pair. At a party, Jacki also encounters politician, James Harrington-Smith (Michael Redgrave) who helps her when her life spirals out of control. As Jacki and Julian attempt to free themselves from Clive, it leads to a violent murder and a bleak ending.I first became aware of this movie when I bought the soundtrack record for a few dollars back in the 1980's. Apparently it became a bit of a collector's item before it was eventually released on CD. The music and songs catch the flavour of the 60's, and composer Christopher Gunning's lyrical main theme weaves its way through the film. Gunning is a brilliant composer, mainly for television, and hasn't done many films - this was his first - but he had great range; under the right circumstances, he could have been another John Barry.If there is one reason to watch this film it is the delightful Judy Geeson. Cute and nymph-like, she breezes through the movie for much of the time in hip-hugging satin pants, captivating all the males around her whether young, old, or closely related.The mood in the film changes just a little too abruptly in places, but it has a similar feeling of accumulating decadence to Joseph Losey's "The Servant" - although it takes its own course towards it's depressing, typical late 60's ending.Beautifully filmed, "Goodbye Gemini" captures London at a certain time, but to be honest, with its offbeat story and slightly hysterical treatment, it's probably more of a novelty item these days.
nomoons11 I really didn't know what to expect when I got to watching this. After the end, I walked away with a sense of watching twins who were not far outta their element.What you'll get with this one is a fraternal twin brother and sister come to London. They're new in town and they have 2 real issues, they haven't grown-up and they're a tad too close to each other. They're in the early 20's and they cling to each other like white on rice and still like to play childhood games we all did when we were young. Problem is, they're right smack dab in the middle of swinging London in the late 1960's and there's a lot of strange characters lurking about. Of course not 1 is even close to the bizarreness these twins are but they are of the normal variety with "criminal" tendencies and they decide to try and pounce on what they think is an "easy" opportunity. Big mistake...these twins aren't that naive.For me to go into scenes and plot would be a big mistake. I will say to expect some cross dressing, rape and murder. Strange scenes to say the least. You almost get the feeling that this was a wanna-be art film.Most of the film you'll be trying to figure how these twins were raised...i.e...how they became the way they are. Of course we never do find out. Just expect a strange film about twins who are way to close to each other for their own good.
Woodyanders Sweet, naive Jacki (a perky and appealing portrayal by the adorable Judy Geeson) and moody, petulant Julian (a solid and effective performance by Martin Potter) are a couple of rich, spoiled, and sheltered fraternal twins who live in their own odd fantasy world and have an extremely close and uneasy symbiotic relationship. Their fragile personal universe gets ripped asunder with dire consequences for everyone when sneaky and ingratiating small-time criminal Clive Landseer (excellently played with devilish charm to spare by Alexis Kanner) attempts to blackmail Julian. Director Alan Gibson and writer Edmund Ward not only offer a funky and flavorsome depiction of the seamy underbelly of the decadent Swingin' Mod London night scene (the soundtrack in particular is appropriately groovy), but also deliver a frank and disturbing exploration of the darker, more unhealthy, and suffocating side of sibling love and loyalty complete with a bold presentation of incest and a stunning sequence in which Jacki and Julian dress up in white bedsheets and challenge Clive to tell them apart. Geeson and Potter display a strong and totally convincing natural chemistry in the lead roles; they receive sturdy support from Michael Redgrave as smooth, kindly politician James Harrington-Smith, Mike Pratt as menacing hoodlum Rod Barstowe, Freddie Jones as pompous, sharp-tongued overaged partygoer David Curry, Marion Diamond as Julian's long-suffering girlfriend Denise Pryce, and Terry Scully as mincing homosexual Nigel Garfield. Kudos are also in order for Geoffrey Unsworth's crisp and vibrant cinematography and Christopher Gunning's sumptuous score. The startling downbeat ending packs a very potent punch. Worth a look.