Dateline Diamonds

I did! I'm a great fan of 60s music but the Small Faces are a huge part of the build up and a minor part of the film. It's "interesting" to watch Kiki Dee, The Chantelles and other pop "legends" but this is not a musical (in fact it's probably best to shut your eyes and ears when most of the music is on!).

The plot is, actually, not bad and all of us who are old enough to remember the Pirate Stations will be fascinated to see Big L used as a smuggling drop off point! Pretty predictable plot but the list of British movie stalwarts (Kenneth Cope, Conrad Phillips, William Lucas etc.) and Kenny Everett (wonderful to see him in 1965) make this a B movie that deserves an "average rating".

If you like 60s stuff then step this way!

DATELINE DIAMONDS is one of those cheesy British films that attempts to prop up a flagging plot by incorporating a number of musical routines into the running time; on offer here are performers including The Small Faces and Kiki Dee. How much you enjoy said music depends on your liking of the talent involved, so as ever, your mileage may vary on this one.

The rest of the film is a kind of quasi-crime thriller in which old hands William Lucas and Kenneth Cope are a couple of robbers who attempt to get away with the perfect crime. The only problem is that CARRY ON stalwart Patsy Rowlands happened to witness the crime, leading to plenty of nonsensical plotting and weak attempts at comedy.

Another stalwart of British crime cinema, Conrad Phillips, also makes an appearance. It's a pity that DATELINE DIAMONDS has such a poor script as with the right tinkering it might have been something more interesting, like the wacky GONKS GO BEAT. As it stands, it's depressingly poor.

My wife said "it's so bad, it's good", but it was so bad it was dreadful. The music aspect was just embarrassing and The Chantells "performing" on Radio London must be one of the most cringeworthy scenes I have ever seen. The crime story was also absurd. The break in (that should be walk in) of the jewellers and the blowing of the safe was just ridiculous. Don't waste your time, even for a glimpse of the very early days of The Small Faces and a fresh faced Kenny Everett

There's a song in this i wish I could get on cd first taste of love by rey Anton love this film l was 4 when it came out I got it on DVD they should have had a soundtrack released love all the pirate radio scenes as I love sixties music love a lot of these great sixties musicals great all star cast kenneth cope William lucks patsy Rowlands just three of the great cast the chantells and a great early appearance of Kiki dee

You're unlikely to come across this movie unless you're a) a big fan of the Small Faces, b) a connoisseur of British B-pictures, or c) an insomniac. However, should an opportunity to see DATELINE DIAMONDS present itself to you, there are worse ways to spend an hour and a half, such as watching Birmingham City FC.

The plot manages to encompass diamond smuggling, '60s music, international police co-operation, safe-cracking, pirate radio, and the frantic plugging of as many different bands as the running time would permit.

There is the customary fun to be had spotting various British actors and actresses although I, as a David Hemmings fan, was disappointed to discover he wasn't in it (unless it was literally a blink-and-you'll-miss-him appearance). There is also quite a well detailed sequence where the chief bounder breaks into a safe in, where else, Hatton Garden.