Buddy’s Song *** (1991, Roger Daltrey, Chesney Hawkes, Sharon Duce, Michael Elphick, Douglas Hodge) – Classic Movie Review 9956

Director Claude Whatham’s 1991 Buddy’s Song stars Roger Daltrey as Terry Clark, a middle-aged rocker who fights with his yuppie wife Carol (Sharon Duce) and teaches his aspiring teenage son, the eponymous Buddy (Chesney Hawkes), how to rock n’ roll.

Written by Nigel Hinton, based on his novel, this is an endearingly old-fashioned British pop musical, based on Daltrey’s 1986 BBC TV series Buddy. It starred Daltrey in the same role but Wayne Goddard played Buddy. The film is a sequel to the TV series.

Chesney obviously learned his lesson well, topping the charts with his hit ‘The One and Only’ (written by Nik Kershaw, and produced by Kershaw and Alan Shacklock). It enjoyed five weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in March and April 1991.

The film on the other hand performed moderately well at the UK box office. It is a pity that the script’s so corny and unbelievable because Buddy’s Song is a likeable, entertaining film with sympathetic performances, particularly from the promising Hawkes.

Also in the cast are Michael Elphick, Douglas Hodge, Paul McKenzie, Lee Ross, Nick Moran, Colin Peel, James Aubrey, Liza Walker, Emma Amos, Julia Sawalha and Ed Devereaux.

The teddy boy group Sandy Ford and The Flying Saucers play themselves as Terry’s friends, rehearsing with Buddy and becoming his backing band. It is Buddy on vocals and rhythm guitar and Sandy Ford on lead guitar.

It is produced by Daltrey, Bill Curbishley, Roy Baird and Ron Bareham. Daltrey is also musical director.

It was released with a 12 certificate in cinemas but was cut by the distributor for nudity and violence to gain a PG certificate on video.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9956

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