What a Crazy World

An early Sixties star vehicle for Joe Brown, Marty Wilde and Susan Maughan, What a Crazy World turns out to be rather better than it might have been. As so often happened with musical films of that period, fashions had moved on by the time it was released, with solo singing stars of the late Fifties being supplanted by beat groups, led by the Beatles. The appearance here of the novelty act Freddie and the Dreamers is a harbinger of what was to come. A Hard Day's Night was released only a year later and occupies a completely different world from this film, which must have seemed quaintly old-fashioned to young cinema-goers.

However, times have moved on and we can now appreciate WaCW for its virtues, which are many. It's lively, fun, and well shot in B&W CinemaScope, and most if not all of its outdoors scenes were shot in genuine London locations, giving it a feeling of authenticity and avoiding staginess, despite its theatrical origins. It's pretty clear that none of the principals is a trained actor, but in the context of the admittedly hackneyed story this doesn't really matter. Stalwarts of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop (like Harry H. Corbett) provide a steady bedrock for the juvenile leads.

There is perhaps a little too much chirpy Cockney on show and, apart from the title number, the songs are not terribly good. Unfortunately, near the beginning of the show there is a jaw-droppingly racist sequence set in a Labour Exchange where it's made clear to the Sixties audience that foreigners (a) talk funny (b) are lazy and (c) are nevertheless after native Brits' jobs. All we can do now is gasp.

The print I saw on Talking Pictures TV was in immaculate condition and I expect that it would very good in HD.

It was Rock Around The Clock that really ignited the craze for rock n roll musically.Most of them made very cheaply and quickly forgettable.This is built round the comment Joe Brown.No actor with an engaging personality.This features both pop stars and experienced actors.The mix works rather well.The music is catchy if unmentionable.There is a lot of location work in sixties London.Also featured are popular entertainments of the sixties.Bingo and ten pin bowling being uses of old cinemas.We also see an extract from The Mummy,a Hammer success of the era.This is no classic but it is an interesting picture of an era now over half a century ago.

Terrific throwback and nostalgic look at the early 1960s and London. Lots of familiar faces including Harry H Corbett doing a brilliant turn as the perpetually angry blue collar dad. The affable Joe Brown leads a group of ne'er do wells through the markets, cafes, pubs and clubs of London. The songs aren't great, but neither do they feel too forced or crowbarred in to the story. The similarities (parallels) between this film and Grease are uncanny. The manic Freddie and the Dreamers add some comic relief. Pretty good movie, even in 2020!

OK, it was great to see a very young Joe Brown, Marty Wilde and sexy Susan Maughan but other than that it was SO dated. It is of my period but there is no way I would have paid to go and see this when it was released.

I'm sorry, but pop films of this era British or American just look like something the local school threw together with and 8mm cine camera.

The only thing I like to watch this type of film for is to see the cars of this period when I bought my first one.

Perfect for those who like to look back at a London in black & white and full of bomb sites. It's the usual working class scenario of bored kids hoping to make it rich with a pop song, and parents in mundane jobs. The film is a good period piece and shows pretty much what the 60s were really like for those who think it was 'swinging' for anyone other than a select few.