pdmanning-20710
Joined Oct 2016
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Reviews7
pdmanning-20710's rating
Razor sharp script; outstanding casting; and very funny. The production design has a lush colour palette and above all the camera work is to die for
It bears many repeated viewings
Don't miss
I saw this film aged 11 when it came out and loved it. It seemed fresh and exciting - and importantly it was in colour! It was full of possibility and aspiration to this post war lad.
Film and TV at this time seemed set upon diluting rock n roll by transforming its stars into 'all round entertainers'. Once Elvis had been neutered by his period in the army, films involving popular music involved clean cut clones like Fabian or Ricky Nelson - or a squeaky clean Elvis himself. Cliff was a UK version of this phenomenon - himself an Elvis clone initially smouldering for Jack Good on TV's 'Oh Boy!', but polished up for this film, his sexual threat now removed.
Someday someone will produce a proper study of the period 1958 to 1962, where nothing dangerous seemed to happen and rock lay fallow. Actually rock was just regrouping for the Mersey sound and more.
The film however is a UK version of a typical Hollywood musical, and by UK standards some money has been spent. Looking at it now though, you can see it was a throwback even then.
On a personal note I have a soft spot for the old long gone Finsbury Park Empire - near where used to live - which is the supposed location where 'the young ones' put on a show.
In fact this film may be the origin of the cliche 'Hey - why don't we put the show on right here?!'
Also as a small footnote - reckon the production designer of 'Absolute Beginners' in 1986, owes The Young Ones a debt
Film and TV at this time seemed set upon diluting rock n roll by transforming its stars into 'all round entertainers'. Once Elvis had been neutered by his period in the army, films involving popular music involved clean cut clones like Fabian or Ricky Nelson - or a squeaky clean Elvis himself. Cliff was a UK version of this phenomenon - himself an Elvis clone initially smouldering for Jack Good on TV's 'Oh Boy!', but polished up for this film, his sexual threat now removed.
Someday someone will produce a proper study of the period 1958 to 1962, where nothing dangerous seemed to happen and rock lay fallow. Actually rock was just regrouping for the Mersey sound and more.
The film however is a UK version of a typical Hollywood musical, and by UK standards some money has been spent. Looking at it now though, you can see it was a throwback even then.
On a personal note I have a soft spot for the old long gone Finsbury Park Empire - near where used to live - which is the supposed location where 'the young ones' put on a show.
In fact this film may be the origin of the cliche 'Hey - why don't we put the show on right here?!'
Also as a small footnote - reckon the production designer of 'Absolute Beginners' in 1986, owes The Young Ones a debt
The concert footage is early 1970s so what seemed quite grand then in terms of presentation is now a bit quaint. The stage is comparatively small and the band play quite close together. No video screens of course. The audience are seated amazingly and remain sitting! The fantasy sequences and visual effects are strangely 60s and frankly tiresome and a bit embarrassing.
The band are recognisably themselves - John Paul Jones with that stupid pudding bowl haircut, everyone else pre-dental remodeling. And the performances are pretty much as I recall seeing them at the time.
Page is fundamentally a pretty messy guitarist who tries to play too fast and makes lots of errors but the band certainly rocks. Today a band like Zep would have either prerecorded backing tracks or the odd session musician to supplement the band. But not here - to their credit it's all just the four guys.
The performances are pretty good - but funnily enough the reformation concert in Celebration Day to my ears is at least as good and better recorded.
Worth a look for fans despite the awful fantasy sequences
The band are recognisably themselves - John Paul Jones with that stupid pudding bowl haircut, everyone else pre-dental remodeling. And the performances are pretty much as I recall seeing them at the time.
Page is fundamentally a pretty messy guitarist who tries to play too fast and makes lots of errors but the band certainly rocks. Today a band like Zep would have either prerecorded backing tracks or the odd session musician to supplement the band. But not here - to their credit it's all just the four guys.
The performances are pretty good - but funnily enough the reformation concert in Celebration Day to my ears is at least as good and better recorded.
Worth a look for fans despite the awful fantasy sequences