Stardust *** (1974, David Essex, Adam Faith, Marty Wilde, Keith Moon, Edd Byrnes) – Classic Movie Review 5452

Director Michael Apted’s popular 1974 British drama is the sequel to 1973’s hit That’ll Be the Day and again stars David Essex as Jim MacLaine in returning writer Ray Connolly’s effective tale of the rise and fall of a pop star.

The film is once again much better than expected thanks to Essex’s convincing and appealing performance, the appearance of several golden oldies (Adam Faith, Marty Wilde, Keith Moon and Edd Byrnes), a recognisably real yarn and Apted’s firm direction.

The rise and fall story has moved on to the middle of the Sixties, when Jim is having various problems with his manager Mike (Adam Faith) and his group The Stray Cats.

There is enjoyable music from Dave Edmunds, who also appears as Alex. It is now valuable as a revealing period piece, too. Future Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan, 20, plays Kevin. He was appointed Britain’s Chief Scout in July 2004.

Also in the cast are Rosalind Ayres, Karl Howman, Ines des Longchamps, Paul Nicholas, Richard LeParmentier, John Normington, David Daker, James Hazeldine, Anthony Naylor, Charlotte Cornwall, Rose Marie Klespitz, David Healy, Marjorie Yates, Donald Sumpter and Michael Elphick.

It runs 112 minutes, is made by Goodtimes Enterprises, is released by EMI-Columbia, is shot by Anthony B Richmond, is produced by David Puttnam and Sanford [Sandy] Lieberson, is set designed by Brian Morris, with Dave Edmunds and David Puttnam as the music arrangers and music producers.

Edd Byrnes (Edward Byrne Breitenberger) was born  in New York City on 30 July 1933. He played the hip-talking parking-lot attendant Kookie in the TV series 77 Sunset Strip (1958-63) with lines like ‘Baby, you’re the ginchiest!’

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5452

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