Privilege *** (1967, Paul Jones, Jean Shrimpton, Mark London, Max Bacon, Jeremy Child, James Cossins) – Classic Movie Review 5975

Director Peter Watkins’s 1967 music comedy drama stars a real Sixties pop star, Paul Jones, harmonica player and lead vocalist from 1962 to 1966 with the English rock band named after keyboardist Manfred Mann.

Jones does well in a convincing and charismatic performance as the ultimate British music star Steven Shorter in this futuristic story about a pop star turned by the totalitarian state into a religious saviour as an opiate of the people. Jones sings the songs I’ve Been a Bad, Bad Boy and Set Me Free, which Patti Smith covered in the 1970s.

From a story by Johnny Speight, the writer of Till Death Us Do Part, Norman Bogner’s screenplay is not short on intelligence and power. Yet the film does not totally satisfy, certainly not as an entertainment, though it interests somewhat for its ideas and attitudes.

Unfortunately, the inevitable comparisons with 1984 and Metropolis do not flatter it. It was hard to sell then and it is a cobwebby period piece now, though an interesting one as a Swinging Sixties relic. Co-star Jean Shrimpton shows off her beauty rather than acting prowess as the artist Vanessa Ritchie hired to paint Shorter’s portrait.

Branching out from singing into acting with his solo career only mildly successful, Jones found that his performance did not bring him stardom, although the film later became something of a small cult favourite.

Also in the cast are Mark London, Max Bacon, Jeremy Child, James Cossins, William Jobb, Frederick Danner, Victor Henry, Michael Barrington and Doreen Mantle.

It is shot by Peter Suschitsky, produced by John Heyman and scored by Mike Leander. Producer John Heyman, who died on 9 June 2017 at the age of 84, is the father of David, producer of the eight Harry Potter films.

Locations include Birmingham City F C’s St Andrew’s stadium and Birmingham Town Hall.

Three of the Manfred Mann band’s most successful singles, Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Pretty Flamingo and Mighty Quinn, topped the UK Singles Chart.

Jones converted to Christianity in the mid-1980s as the result of being invited by Cliff Richard to an evangelistic event.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5975

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