Live It Up!

This movie dates from the pre-Hard Day's Night era when Britpop movies were less concerned with a cohesive plot than simply assaulting the senses with as many potentially chart-making musical numbers as possible. It is particularly interesting because of the high ratio of musical numbers written and/or produced by legendary British maverick pop mogul Joe Meek, including songs by Heinz, Gene Vincent, Kim Roberts, Andy Cavell & The Saints and Coronation Street actress Jennie Moss as well as some of the background music. Too many people think of the British Invasion as starting with the Beatles in 1964; this movie showcases an earlier version of it and is a valuable document as such to anyone genuinely interested in studying the rise of popular music, fashion and teenage attitudes in Britain in the early 1960's.

Good God, this shows us why the British film industry was never really going to be able to rival Hollywood. I kind of liked the bizarrely unmotivated musical numbers - especially one scene which featured abeehived girl in a rather fetching synch waisted dress but the plot was contrived in the extreme. The scene with his father was handled with an admirable restraint, but on the whole this film is just too embarrassed, too self-conscious, too aware of its own limitations. Hard to believe this comes from the same decade as Blow-Up - far more savvy about fashion and 'swinging' London

Forget the plot. Forget the acting (which isn't that bad). I finally found a remastered DVD of this film in excellent quality. I acquired the title track "Live it Up" on a 45 by Heinz, which made me want to see this movie. I love Joe Meek's music anyway, but to have clips of some of his stars (I don't care that they're miming) plus Gene Vincent!! well it makes this short film well worth having a look at.

It's short enough that you won't get bored if you're not really keen on the trivial amateurish story lines they had in these types of movies. The music interupts it regularly anyway.

Search out the DVD as the commentary is also worth listening to. A wonderful period piece, no doubt!! I gave it a 9 just because of its wonderful feel as well as the great music and the rarity of seeing any footage of these early 60's singers & groups.

Sit back & enjoy!!

The late David Hemmings plays teenager Dave Martin, a postman who fronts his own group called The Smart Alecs who dream of being bigger than The Beatles. They record a demo tape at a recording studio to take to the record companies, but things seem to be going pair shaped when he loses the tape. There is also his father to contend with who thinks he's wasting his time with all that pop music nonsense.

A minor British pop musical made at the height of Beatlemania. There are some well staged musical numbers from Kenny Ball & The Jazzmen who perform Hand Me Down My Walking Shoes, Heinz sings the title song and Don't You Understand while Patsy Ann Noble's in there too with Accidents Will Happen. The direction by Lance Comfort is smooth while the musical numbers are composed and arranged by the legendary British pop producer Joe Meek who made hits such as Johnny Remember Me by John Leyton, Just Like Eddie by Heinz and Have I The Right by The Honeycombs. All in all nostalgic fun!

I bought this film on video in Oxford just before Christmas on the same day that the press announced David Hemmings had died! Incidentally, the cast includes Nancy Spain and the film was shown at our local cinema on Grand National day in 1964 when my father saw the film - the day that Spain was sadly killed in a car crash.

Live It Up was followed by a sequel, Be My Guest, which is in the same dated but entertaining and nostalgic vein as this one.

As someone who lived through it, I am mortified to read some of the history of British rock and roll. It did not start with The Beatles. At the time that this film was being put together, The Beatles were just gathering their phenomenal momentum. And - although Cliff and the Shadows, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan and Helen Shapiro are omitted - this is what the British rock scene was like. There are some familiar people here: Australian actress/singer Patsy Ann Noble, Heinz from The Tornadoes is the singer in David Hemmings's band. Also watch out for cult band The Outlaws which contains Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore, and Chas Hodges from Chas and Dave.

Some people think that all the music is by Joe Meek. Although the film is a must for Joe Meek fans, I know for a fact that Patsy Ann Noble was under contract to Norrie Paramor at EMI. So far as I am aware, she had no connection with Joe Meek at all.

If the story of the film is good or bad, and if the bands are miming, who cares? The film is a time capsule, and a look at a British pop industry that was about to undergo a huge revolution and would never be the same again.