Article in preparation
More about Guys In Uniform Studio
This series of articles aims to update and extend my original survey of the work of 'Guys in Uniform' at mitchmen
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| Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline 01 |
Above: An atmospheric staging of a disciplinary session at a military establishment. The two offenders hang their heads, deferring to the punisher's authority and anxious not to aggravate him.
There is a colour variant of this image which reveals that the man in authority here has removed his shorts, they lie on the floor at the back. Apart from that incongruous detail, it seems a logical first image in continuity terms. Like most of 'Guys in Uniform' output, this set doesn't have a discernible storyline.
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| Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline 02 |
The two men 'assume the position' under the watchful eye of their nemesis, who is properly dressed now, but seems in no hurry to start.
The images in this article come from a 'Guys in Uniform' set which I have called 'Double Discipline'. It is probably the best known example
of their work - with good reason! The situation of two men in PT kit, up for punishment with a cane, is memorable. You are
immediately struck by the tight and very brief, white shorts, which visually are an advance on the efforts of Royale Studio. Of course, Guys in Uniform had the option of using flimsier garments than Royale did in the 50s.
Royale's black and white images of men in shorts were bedevilled by 'white-out' of shorts under the glare of bright lights, erasing the details. The wider availability of colour 20 years later solved that problem, although the bending figure on the left above is a near miss. The pants are lit to show off
the target areas very well, and the glimpse of bulges between the legs
is amazing. The hems of their shorts show off chunky thighs,
while the ankle socks with blue hoops (also classic sports wear in their
day) reveal solid calves - these men are fit!
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| Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline 03 |
The Offender who is first up lowers his shorts and the ritual begins.
The blond-haired man wielding the cane here is not entirely convincing as a military disciplinarian, but I suppose we might regard him as an 'Instructor'. His skimpy shorts have a thick black waistband rather like those worn by professional boxers. In fact, there's a striking resemblance to a pair of shorts worn by a hunk, who graced the front cover of Zipper 45 a few years later, in 1984 (below).
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| Boxer on Front cover of Zipper 45 |
Sadly, this man didn't appear anywhere else as far as I know, and the shorts fashion didn't catch on for official contests.
There's a break in continuity in the images we have at this point. You'd expect another picture very similar to No 3, but showing the 2nd offender taking his turn to be caned, a classic 'double'. He does indeed get his lot in the next image, but much else has happened in the meantime...
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| Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline 04 |
In image 4, the first offender has been dispatched to stand facing the wall and his hands have been tied behind his back, suggesting a rebellion might have quelled. His shorts are in a higher position, a concession, perhaps, to allow him to shuffle with dignity. Or perhaps his unsuccessful attempt to 'cover up' was responsible for his wrists being restrained. The Instructor is not yet finished with him, but his raised head suggests he remains defiant.
One of the two stools has now disappeared. The remaining man lowers his shorts and takes his turn alone.
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| Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline 05 |
The indentation visible here shows the instructor means business. No 2's filthy shoes won't have gone down well with him, and might have earned him something extra. (However, they afford us a convenient way of distinguishing the two men, in the absence of visible faces).
His colleague at the wall dips his head, as if acknowledging his comrade's treatment, but whether in sympathy or sudden dismay on his own account is impossible to say.
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| Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline 06 |
Having completed his allocation of strokes, 'mister dirty shoes' takes his turn at the wall. His shorts are now down round his ankles. We can only speculate how that came about, but he seems to have decided it prudent to leave them there, so we get to appreciate his chunky backside.
He seems to be standing protectively over a glass of water that appeared in some of the earlier pictures. Finding the session too hot? Well, you might detect a rosy hue to his cheeks, but this studio didn't go beyond mild simulation. No doubt, though, there must have been some playful taking advantage of the situation. Purely in the interests of authenticity, of course.
No 1 is recalled for a second dose, and his kneeling position here suggests he's still not being co-operative. You can see the front of the Instructor's shorts quite clearly here with the badge in the waistband, not to mention a telling bulge underneath. He has a number of tattoos on his arm, which spelt 'rough and butch' in those days. That bodes ill for the rebel.
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| Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline 07 |
You sense a certain extra energy and determination here, as the Instructor resumes his thankless task of correction. His swing is hampered, though, which won't improve his temper.
My eye is drawn back to the man facing the wall, he has a beautiful
figure and an upright posture (a cross between at attention and at
ease) that is very manly. There's a
treat for neck freaks, like me (despite a near 'white-out').
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Come back in a few days
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More Guys in Uniform in the next post.
