The Smashing Bird I Used to Know

The Smashing Bird I Used to Know is a 1969 British drama/sexploitation film, directed by Robert Hartford-Davis and starring Renée Asherson, Patrick Mower, Dennis Waterman, Madeleine Hinde and Maureen Lipman.[1] As with other Hartford-Davis films, The Smashing Bird I Used to Know contains elements from different genres including psychological drama and social commentary. It is best known however as a sexploitation piece featuring nudity, attempted rape and lesbianism. The film features the first screen credit of the then 15-year-old Lesley-Anne Down in a supporting role.[2]

The film was not released in the U.S. until 1973, retitled by AIP as School for Unclaimed Girls.[3] More recent issues of the film in the UK have also used this title as being less dated and more indicative of the film's content [4] AIP also reissued the film a year later under their shadow company United Producers Organization as Hell House Girls.

A scene outside a cinema shows the poster for Hartford-Davis’ previous film Corruption starring Peter Cushing in the background.