Cousins tangle with passion, partners, and forbidden impulses in swinging London and the European countryside.
THE BUTTERCUP CHAIN
When two people are in love they're a couple. When four people are in love they're the Buttercup Chain.
Born to twin sisters on the same day in London, France and Margaret are more like brother and sister than cousins. Curiosity and passion link two cousins and another couple in a dangerous way in Europe.
Quick Answer
The Buttercup Chain is a 1970 United Kingdom drama and romance film directed by Robert Ellis Miller about cousins France and Margaret, whose close bond is tested when they seek romantic partners for each other, only to confront complex feelings and tangled relationships.
Programmer's Pick
Long before DNA tests became a party game, The Buttercup Chain asked just how close two cousins can get in the name of love—and curiosity. The film leans into sixties-era sexual exploration, all set to languid riversides and bubble baths. Discomfort never looked so picturesque.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
This British drama adapts Janice Elliott's 1967 novel, bringing together director Robert Ellis Miller and screenwriter Peter Draper with a cast featuring Hywel Bennett, Jane Asher, and Leigh Taylor-Young.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
Explore the fraught relationship between cousins France and Margaret as their pact to find partners stirs forbidden feelings.
Much of the film unfolds in the picturesque European countryside, adding beauty and charm to its romantic drama.
From skinny dipping to concealed nudity and complicated liaisons, the film embodies the era’s unfiltered attitude toward sexuality.
France and Margaret’s origins—born to identical twin sisters on the same day—add a layer of psychological complexity to their connection.
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
When was The Buttercup Chain released? +
The Buttercup Chain was released in 1970.
Who directed The Buttercup Chain? +
Robert Ellis Miller directed The Buttercup Chain.
How long is The Buttercup Chain? +
The Buttercup Chain has a runtime of 95 minutes.
What genre is The Buttercup Chain? +
The film is a drama and romance.
