September 5, 2008

7:00 pm

Before the Beatles: The Early Days of British Rock and Roll
free
details here: http://www.loc.gov/rr/mopic/pickford/pickford-current.html

Play it Cool (Independent Artists/Anglo Amalgamated, U.K., 1962). Dir Michael Winner. Wrt Jack Henry. With Billy Fury, Anna Palk, Michael Anderson Jr., Dennis Price, Richard Wattis, Helen Shapiro, Shane Fenton and the Fentones, Bobby Vee, Jimmy Crawford, Danny Williams. (81 min, b&w, 35mm)

with:

It’s Trad Dad ; U.S. title: Ring-a-Ding Rhythm (Amicus Productions/Columbia, 1962). Dir Richard Lester. Wrt Milton Subotsky. With Craig Douglas, Helen Shapiro, Felix Felton, Arthur Mullard, Alan Freeman, Gene Vincent, Brook Brothers, Chubby Checker, Gary “U.S.” Bonds, Gene McDaniels, Del Shannon, John Leyton, Mr. Acker Bilk, The Temperance Seven, Kenny Ball. (78 min, b&w, 35mm)

In Play it Cool , Liverpool rocker Billy Fury plays “Billy Universe,” leader of the Satellites, a young, scuffling rock band who are headed for the top—just ask them! In the meantime though, they’ve got to help a runaway heiress find her singer-boyfriend in the nooks and crannies of Soho, where they encounter fellow British rockers Shane Fenton (later known as Alvin Stardust) and Helen Shapiro (who later toured with the Beatles), and American visitors Bobby Vee and Jimmy Crawford. Handsome, dynamic and personable, Billy Fury (1940-2003) was one of the best of Britain’s early rock stars. His singing style unabashedly echoed Elvis and Buddy Holly, but he still put his songs over with class and energy.

It’s Trad Dad refers to the British school of Dixieland Jazz known as “Trad” (for “traditional”), which in the 50’s and early 60’s held its own with skiffle and early rock and roll among the younger set in England. When the doddering Lord Mayor of an unnamed “New Town” suburban development finds his quiet cup of coffee disrupted by The Temperance Seven jazz band, he determines to expunge all of the younger generation’s loud music from his quiet, model community. Undaunted, two local teens mount their own show, seeking talent from the local Trad scene as well as among visiting American rock and rollers at the local TV station. This was the first feature film directed by Richard Lester, and his first collaboration with cinematographer Gilbert Taylor. Two years later, the pair would strike gold with A Hard Day’s Night. (MB)

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