Primitive London (1965): cast, story & where to watch
1965 · Film · ★ 4.3
Released in 1965, Primitive London is a documentary film directed by Arnold L. Miller, running about 87 minutes. “Shocking! Incredible! The most bizarre motion picture you have ever seen!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The sensational follow-up to "London in the Raw," "Primitive London" sets out to reflect society's decay through a sideshow spectacle of 1960s London depravity—and manages to outdo its predecessor. Here, we confront mods, rockers and beatniks at the Ace Café, cut some rug with obscure beat band The Zephyrs, smirk at flabby men in the sauna and goggle at sordid wife-swapping parties as we discover a pre-permissive Britain still trying to move on from the post-war depression of the 1950s.
Who’s in it. Primitive London stars David Gell as Narrator, MacDonald Hobley as Self, Billy J. Kramer as Self and Vickie Gray as Self, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.3/10, Primitive London has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from BFI Player. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Primitive London page.
If you liked it. Fans of Primitive London tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Primitive London (1965)?
- In GB, Primitive London is available to rent or buy from BFI Player. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Primitive London worth watching?
- Primitive London holds an audience score of 4.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy documentary. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Primitive London?
- Primitive London stars David Gell, MacDonald Hobley, Billy J. Kramer, Vickie Gray and Beatrice Kotter.
- When was Primitive London released?
- Primitive London was released in 1965, with a runtime of about 87 minutes.