MovieChat Forums > Edge of Darkness (1986) Discussion > Was there a gay relationship

Was there a gay relationship

posted 14 years ago by kc55mo
7 replies | jump to latest

between Pendleton (Charles Kay) and Harcourt (Ian McNeice)? In the last episode it showed them both in bathrobes and just having showered.

[–] Flanged 14 years ago

There was obviously one between the American colonel who got killed in El Salvador and the unexplained English boy called called John who lived with Jedburgh... but as for H and P, I'm not sure at all.

I got the feeling that Harcourt would've been up for that sort of thing, but Pendleton is a bit harder to read... not sure if his booze-ups with the SAS point toward straightness or gayness, tbh.

Could it have been another subtle visual joke about how desperately underfunded their organisation was - two top agents forced to share a room and shower?
.

[–] doppelganger 14 years ago

Considering they were staying at Gleneagles, one of the most prestigious and expensive hotels in Scotland and the taxpayer was picking up the bill, I assumed it was probably a Stateroom so why not "share"?

[–] scorpio000 14 years ago

yes.
(am watching this film now.)

Pendleton:"harcourt and i stayed home and watched the telly"
disc 2 scene 1

[–] scorpio000 14 years ago

.........*episode "breakthrough"*

[–] jbaddock 10 years ago

Not so sure, myself. Harcourt certainly gives the secretary (Ellen?) a very lingering look as she walks away from him in the first scene he's in. It happened so soon after his first line that I couldn't help but think it was a deliberately placed indication as to his orientation. Pendleton also describes Harcourt as a 't**t' when he's taking Craven to meet him, which also tends to undermine the notion of a closer relationship, IMHO. The line about watching the telly was part of the flippant approach they both adopted - they had been watching computer screens, after all.

[–] Prismark10 10 years ago

I doubt it.

Its that man again!!

[–] JacintoCupboard 10 years ago

The series was full of spurious sex references that had zip to do with the story or character development. My guess it was someones prurient idea of 'spicing things up'. Looks ridiculous today unless one is infantile enough to believe that being not (sexually) straight served as a metaphor for being crooked or devious as well. It's idiotic.