Jazz Boat

I was very young when I saw this film, but remember laughing most of the time, on the edge of my seat the rest. I really cared what happened to the main character (Newley) - Spider certainly terrified me! James Booth a very under-rated actor. Lionel Jefferies was his usual exasperated self, Bernie Winters the comic relief. Why don't we see this film on tv??? A very good example of British early-sixties light comedy.

Dated but extremely enjoyable light pop vehicle for Anthony Newley, who since "Idle On Parade" had become a big name not only in acting but in the pop charts too. Newley stars with his good friend Bernie Winters, pretending to be a big time crook to impress him. Bernie in turn tells "The Gang" who want "in" with Newley, who has nick named himself as "the Cat". Also stars Ted Heath and his music and the lovely Anne Aubrey, who's short cinematic career showed more promise than she was allowed to provide! Dance sequences choreographed by Lionel Blair (with sister Joyce in the cast too!) Sheer delight! Enjoy and wallow in nostalgia!

Forty years ago Halliwell declared this bizarre retread of 'Brighton Rock' with songs "Very dated", but it now looks pretty cool again (particularly Diane Aubrey in her high-necked sweater and leather jeans).

We consider the late fifties & early sixties a more innocent era, yet when James Booth brandishes a razor at copper Lionel Jeffries, he responds with a broken bottle; and in 1960 this only carried an 'A' certificate!

I remember this film with lots of love. Yet I never see it on TV. Is it lost forever? I gotta find me someone to love sang Tone on the shore of the Thames. Spider played by actor James Booth, (under rated?) Whom I associate with as a London lad and the ever lovable Bernie Winters.

There is a spiteful regress within British entertainment establishment that Tony Newley has never been fully appreciated. He hit the heights in Vagas, wrote some of the classic popular songs and had a long lived and loved life, yet always the depressed clown. Only John Ross has done anything for him in this last 20 years by a radio show on BBC2.

Last time I saw him, Newley, was at the Hackney Theatre, or was it Highbury, well, somewhere, and he was in great voice. 1990?

If anyone knows how I can get Jazz Boat on tape or DVD please write.

This film was made on the cusp of a cultural revolution.Particularly in relation to music.At the time this film was made rock and roll was king.There were the mods and the rockers who would go down to Brighton and have a pitched battle.Ted Heath and his orchestra feature in the film.Dance bands which had held sway for over 30 years were fading away as we're the dance halls they played in.Much of the fashions shown and music heard in this film would very shortly disappear.The film is a crime drama with comedy and music.The Jazz boat of the title only appears in the last half hour of the film.Anthony Newley is rather good in the lead role and Bernie Winters is quite funny.Lionel Jefferies plays archetypal role but David Lodge is almost unrecognizable.