WISH YOU WERE HERE from PALACE pictures (1987). This was loosely based on a "British" madam named Cynthia Payne. It's a coming-of-age-story of a 16-year-old teen girl (Early 1950's).
Back in the 1980's. Each Foreign movie that wasn't distributed by a big film studio. They were distributed into the United States through Independent theaters. "Wish You Were Here" came from England and was a hit with $3 million at the box office. It grabbed $3.3 million in the U.S. The production budget climbed to $1.2 million and grossed $12 million worldwide. (Movie ticket price for 1987 was $3.91).
"Wish" was praised by critics and its' popularity grew by word-of-mouth. Film audiences had the power to make a hit at the box office. I heard about this movie through newspaper ads, radio and film critics. (We didn't have the Internet back then). I walked into an Independent theater to watch it.
The story is simple. Lynda Mansell (Emily Lloyd) is a 16-year-old blonde from a small coastal town. She was very close to her mom who died and misses her every day. Lynda is outrageous, fun and very frank with her words. She loves to taunt the men with her sexual awakening. It drives her conservative town "nuts" which included her dad and sister. She follows her own path and lives life to the fullest.
"Wish" broke ground for focusing on the sexual constraints of the 1950's. A woman's sexuality was dealt with humor and sensitivity. It never fell into sleaze even though it was frank about sex.
This movie finally reached BluRay in 2023. Check it out.
Below is a Re-mastered Trailer "Wish You Were Here" 1987.
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