Gonks Go Beat * (1965, Kenneth Connor, Frank Thornton, Barbara Brown, Iain Gregory, Terry Scott, Reginald Beckwith, Gary Cockrell, Jerry Desmonde, Arthur Mullard) – Classic Movie Review 11,830

Gonks are a 1960s novelty toy and collectible, created by English inventor Robert Benson, inspiring the 1965 film Gonks Go Beat. It makes you proud to be British!

Producer-director Robert Hartford-Davis’s 1965 British novelty sci-fi musical fantasy film Gonks Go Beat features Kenneth Connor, Frank Thornton, Barbara Brown, Iain Gregory, Terry Scott, Lulu, Pamela Donald, Reginald Beckwith, Jerry Desmonde, Arthur Mullard, Derek Thompson, Elaine Thompson, Graham Bond, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Dick Heckstall-Smith.

Various 60s pop acts, including Lulu and the Luvvers, The Nashville Teens and the Graham Bond Organisation, pop in and join some Brit comedy stalwarts for silly fun, with little quality but plenty of camp and now cult value.

The Romeo and Juliet tale is transferred to rival groups – rock ‘n’ roll versus easy listening, while two star-crossed lovers are in trouble.

It features 16 musical numbers and cashes in on the fad for gonk toys in mid-60s Britain. Yes, Gonks do appear in the opening title credits – round furry toys, as empty-headed as the movie.

Lulu sings the theme song ‘Chocolate Ice’ and the actor Derek Thompson performs with his twin sister Elaine.

The film was released on DVD in the UK in 2007 by Optimum Home Entertainment.

The main cast are Kenneth Connor as Wilco Roger, Frank Thornton as Mr A&R, Barbara Brown as Helen, Iain Gregory as Steve, Terry Scott as PM, Reginald Beckwith as Professor, Gary Cockrell as Committee Man, Jerry Desmonde as Great Galaxian, Arthur Mullard as Drum Master, Pamela Donald as Tutor and Gillian French as Beatland Prime Minister.

Also appearing are Lulu and the Luvvers as Themselves, The Nashville Teens as Themselves, The Vacqueros as Themselves, The Trolls as Themselves, The Long and the Short as Themselves, Ray Lewis and the Trekker as Themselves, Ginger Baker as Himself, Jack Bruce as Himself, Graham Bond as Himself, Dick Heckstall-Smith as Himself, John McLaughlin as Himself, Andy White as Himself, Derek Thompson as Singer, Elaine Thompson as Singer, Alan David as Singer, plus Carlotta Barrow, Ann Chapman, Jo Cook, Babs Lord, Sarah Martin and Lyn Symonds as Beat Girls.

The films of Robert Hartford-Davis: Crosstrap (1962), The Yellow Teddy Bears (1963), The Black Torment (1964), Saturday Night Out (1964), Gonks Go Beat (1965), The Sandwich Man (1966), Corruption (1967), The Smashing Bird I Used to Know (1969), Incense for the Damned (1970), Nobody Ordered Love (1972), The Fiend (1972), Black Gunn (1972) and The Take (1974).

Gonks are created by English inventor Robert Benson.

Gonks are a novelty toy and collectible, created by English inventor Robert Benson, originating from the UK in the 1960s.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,830

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com