That’ll Be the Day **** (1973, David Essex, Ringo Starr, Rosemary Leach, James Booth, Robert Lindsay, Billy Fury, Keith Moon, Rosalind Ayres, Deborah Watling) – Classic Movie Review 5453

Director Claude Whatham’s 1973 British pop musical drama is thoroughly enjoyable, and deeply old-fashioned, with a thrilling nostalgic vintage soundtrack. David Essex gives an appealing, expert star performance as Jim MacLaine, a troubled, restless working class 20something, abandoned by his father (James Booth).

He works in his mum’s shop, joins a fairground and then leaves his mum (Rosemary Leach) and family to become a showbiz star as a pop musician.

There is a fresh, truthful script by Ray Connolly that overcomes the familiarity of the story, pleasing work from Ringo Starr as Essex’s sidekick, Keith Moon and Billy Fury, and classy direction by Whatham.

Deeply old-fashioned it may be, but it is nostalgia with edge, and that is why it is so enjoyable, along with the vintage songs.

Also in the cast are Brenda Bruce, Robert Lindsay, James Ottaway, Deborah Watling, Daphne Oxenford, Kim Braden, Beth Morris and Rosalind Ayres.

It runs 90 minutes, is made by Goodtimes Enterprises, is released by Anglo-EMI, is shot by Peter Suschitzky, is produced by David Puttnam and Sanford Lieberson, with music supervision by Neil Aspinall and Keith Moon, and art direction by Brian Morris.

Though the film is set in 1958, later classic songs are freely, including Dion’s Runaround Sue (1961), Del Shannon’s Runaway (1961), Johnny Tillotson’s Poetry in Motion and Brian Hyland’s Sealed with a Kiss.

Bobby Vee’s closing song That’ll Be the Day was replaced on the American release by Rock On (written and sung by David Essex).

Billy Fury, born Ronald William Wycherley (1940–1983), sings Long Live Rock (Written by Pete Townshend) and That’s All Right Mama (Written by Bob Dillon).

It was a hit and quickly followed by a sequel: Stardust (1974).

RIP Deborah Watling, who died on 21 July 2017 from complications from cancer. The daughter of actor Jack Watling, she starred in seven Doctor Who serials.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5453

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

Rosemary Leach was born on 18 December 1935 in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England.