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Bronco Bullfrog (1969)
"On September 3rd, 1969, Britain woke up to skinheads. They had been around
for
ages of course but that was the day the Daily Mirror christened the
movement. At
the same time, Barney Platt - Mills, an upper class film director was about
to
release a seminal British film, Bronco Bullfrog which would actually help
push
forward the next fashion craze - suedeheadism.
Bronco Bullfrog is the first film Mike Leigh should have made. It is set
in the East
End and was filmed in six weeks in and around Stratford. Using young actors
from Joan Littlewood's acting workshop, much of the film is improvised from
the script thus giving the film an authenticity lacking in most other home
grown
efforts. (See Quadrophenia) Bronco Bullfrog follows the resigned council
estate life
of one Del Walker, harassed at home, harassed by his girlfriend's mother.
One day,
he meets up with Bronco, a mate on the run from borstal, and together they
pull off
a job. Then the police come knocking..
Bronco Bullfrog is a kitchen sink drama which at first viewing might
disappoint.
Keep with it. Bronco really is a film that reveals more and more with each
showing.
It is also worth checking to view that crossover period from Skins to
Suedies.
Bronco wears standard skinhead clobber but Del with his long hair and penny
collars is where 1970 was heading. A young skinhead called Gary Kingham
(works in William Hunt now) went to see Bronco at the cinema.
(The advert was a picture of a skinhead's boots and jeans) He later told me
for
my book The Soul Stylists, 'When that guy came out wearing a penny collar
shirt,
we all laughed. A month later, we were all wearing them.'
Such is the power of the Bronco."
Paolo Hewitt (All rights reserved)
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Smashing Time (1967)
Starring Rita Tushingham, Lynn Redgrave and Michael York. Arguably the ultimate British Mod picture. Tushingham and Redgrave play country girls new in Carnaby Street seeking fame and fortune. The girls experience many jobs and escapades until Redgrave becomes a hot recording star and Tushingham a top model. The film's punch has the girls turning their backs on the Mod scene and returning home to the country. The film wanted to show how fast the new fads and faces were coming and going during this frenetic period.
Website
To Sir With Love (1967)
Starring Sidney Poiter.
The presence of Lulu acting and singing gives the film that 60`s feel.
Details and buying
Privilege (1967)
Starring Paul Jones and Jean Shrimpton. Set in the future (1970), pop star Jones has attracted a tremendous following thanks to his rebellious stance. He becomes a pawn of the establishment and he eventually goes beyond rebellion by denouncing the establishment and his conformist audience. The ambitious film was censored by the BBC and Shrimpton never made another film.
Bedazzled (1967)
Starring Peter Cook and Dudley
Moore. Wild, even bizarre, comedy. Moore plays a timid short order cook granted several wished by devil Cook.
The comedy team wrote the script and composed the songs. Comedy of it`s time. But better than the recent Hollywood rubbish.
Soundtrack
I'll Never Forget What's 'Is Name (1967)
Michael Winner directs and Oliver Reed stars as an advertising golden boy, fed up with his success, quits his job to return to writing for a small literary magazine, wanting to leave his former life behind. He finds, however, that it's not so easy to escape the past...
Alfie (1967)
Starring Michael Caine. Part kitchensink, part dig at the "permissive society", Caine made his name as the playboy Cockney, taking advantage of the times as he coldly plays the field of women around him. Good score by Sonny Rollins.
Website
Soundtrack
Details and buying
Up The Junction (1967)
Based on a Nell Dunn novel, Up the Junction features Suzy Kendall as Polly, a Chelsea girl, who in an attempt to forsake her upper-class roots, takes a factory job in working-class Battersea. There, she is confronted with very heavy issues; domestic violence, abortion, and the all-around malaise of life in Battersea. Dennis Waterman is Peter, Polly's Lambretta riding boyfriend. Features incredible soundtrack by the Mike d'Abo line-up of Manfred Mann.
Soundtrack
Original novel
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Wonderwall (1967)
Typical of swinging London at it's height. A mad professor (Jack MacGowran) dismantles his "not too pleasant" flat to eavesdrop on the freaky goings-on next-door, developing an obsession with a model (Jane Birkin) living there, and spying on her. And after that, it`s psychedelia supreme, with a George Harrison soundtrack for good measure!
Details and buying
Website
Poor Cow (1967)
Starring Carol White and Terence Stamp. White portrays a promiscuous teenager whose husband and lover are both criminals, drifting along until deciding to remain with husband and child. White may have been hipper than Christie and once
said she felt uncomfortable during her first American trip because of her clothes. White's London wardrobe was ahead of its time in America. Donovan contributes music.
Details and buying
Original novel
The Jokers (1967)
Starring Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed. Satire of young London, with a pair of rich brothers making the rounds of posh parties. Their anarchic spirit gets the better of them, and increasingly elaborate pranks result in their making off with the Crown Jewels.
Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush (1968)
Starring Barry Evans and Judy Geeson. British movie about a young Mod seeking to lose his virginity. From the Hunter Davies' (The Beatles) novel of the same name, the film captures the mood of swinging London pretty well. Features performances by the Spencer Davis Group, Stevie Winwood, Traffic and Andy Ellison. Not bad if you can find it.
Soundtrack
Tonight Let's All Make Love In London (1968)
A documentary tour of 1967 London featuring Michael Caine, Julie
Christie, the Rolling Stones, the Animals and Pink Floyd.
Details and buying
Original novel
Soundtrack
Work Is A Four Letter Word (1968)
Starring David Warner and Cilla Black. A futuristic farce about a young man's obsession with mushrooms. Cilla sings the title tune.
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Mrs Brown You`ve Got A Lovely Daughter: (1968)
Herman's Hermits belatedly jump on the "bands in films" bandwagon.
Soundtrack
The Touchables (1968)
A pop star is kidnapped by four independently wealthy dolly birds who live in an inflatable dome. This bizarre and rarely seen film is so typically 60`s, complete with eclectic soundtrack. If you have a copy, please email me
Website
What`s Good For The Goose (1969)
Norman Wisdom is Timothy Bartlett, who picks up a couple of hitch-hiking girls on his way to a business meeting, falls for one and in an attempt to win her, ends up shedding his suits for something "swinging". Check out the Pretty Things in the psych "Screaming Apple" club, and the "mirrored up" scooters outside.
The Guru (1969)
Starring Michael York and Rita
Tushingham. The Guru is arguably the last film of the era. No doubt inspired by George Harrison, pop star York travels to India for a clash of cultures pointing out his generations's shallowness.
The Italian Job (1969)
Starring Michael Caine, Noel Coward. The first of 2 films that are still at the centre of British popular culture. The Italian Job, featuring Caine being typically Caine, fresh out of prison and inheriting the plans to a gold heist from his deceased former boss. With the help of Mr Bridger (Coward), he tries to pull off a daring bullion raid in Italy, aided by the British Mini and a fine supporting cast. Brilliant.
Website
Details and buying
Groupie Girl (1970)
Classic example of a late 60`s youth film. The plot is simple, girl wants to meet pop stars, becomes groupie, moves from band to band, and realises it isn`t the glamorous lifestyle she had hoped for. Add to that a brilliant (but unavailable) soundtrack, and you have a forgotten gem.
Details and buying
Get Carter (1970)
Starring Michael Caine. Get Carter is the British Gangland film at it`s best, the violent story of Jack Carter, a tough Enforcer
who works for the Fletcher Brothers. Having found out that his brother has died under strange circumstances, Carter travels north to find out what happened. But the local underworld are going to make sure that Carter never knows the truth. This is a tough and uncompromising look into a world where people live on the peripheries of violence and respectability. The remake will never get near it.
Website
Original Novel
Details and buying (Video)
Details and buying (DVD)
Soundtrack
Vinyl Soundtrack
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