Seaside Swingers

This is not a great film and is badly dated. I gave it a 10 anyways based solely on seeing Jennifer and Susan Baker sing the song "Romeo Jones". I had not seen this film since the 60s yet this scene popped into my head recently as I recalled having a huge crush on these twin sisters when I was a kid. I had not thought of this in years and tracked down a copy of the film on eBay. The performance was as wonderful as I remembered and I still have a crush on these girls. They only were in a handful of films but they are completely adorable. I find it hard to believe that they were not in more films or offered a record contract. There is not much info on the web on the twins so I have no idea what paths their lives took after they quit making films. The rest of the cast is more than capable with John Leyton (the Great Escape), Ron Moody (Oliver) and Michael Ripper (Every Hammer film ever made), and do the best they can with a substandard script. There is a couple of bizarre performances by Freddie and the Dreamers and a busty Liz Fraser to liven things up, but the real attraction for me is the Baker Twins. Their performance so impressed me when I was 10 years old that it remained in my head for over 40 years. I am just glad that it worked it's way out of my subconscious mind so I could enjoy it all over again.

Every Day's a Holiday is a Cliff Richard musical without the Bachelor Boy himself.

It even has Ron Moody and Richard O'Sullivan who appeared in some Cliff Richard musicals.

Freddie and the Dreamers play some crazy cooks, in essence they take on the role of the Shadows.

The story involves a group off teens taking a job at a holiday resort and take part in a talent competition that will be televised.

Gerry Pullman has fallen for a girl but find himself dealing with a rival. The story is flimsy and silly.

The film is a little too cheesy and a bit of its time period. There is mirror scene where Gerry riffs Frank Sinatra but the Al Jolson scene is unfortunate. The cinematography is by Nicolas Roeg which is a plus for the movie.

It also has too many songs and they are rather forgettable, unlike say the songs in Summer Holiday.

However it does have some interesting dance numbers from choreographer Gillian Lynne.

I vividly recall my grandmother watching Freddie and the Dreamers cavorting about dressed as chefs on her new television and telling us all how much she liked him.

Seen today the biggest surprise the thing offers is the presence of Nicolas Roeg's name on the credits. Butlins at Clacton provides an attractive backdrop, the choreography by Gilliam Lynne is lively, but it's aggressive energy rapidly gets tiring and it seriously shows it's age when the hero sings to himself in blackface.

John Leyton signally fails to build on the profile he recently earned from 'The Great Escape while Mike Sarne is aptly dismissed as "White Fang, king of the woolpack" as the Honorable Timothy Gilpin. But Ron Moody and Michael Ripper make a surprisingly charming singing duo (we're expected to believe that Ripper was once a boy soprano), while Liz Fraser is always good to see.

Despite the hype at the time of its release, this musical offering was never particularly good and, if you are expecting to hear any classic sixties tracks, then go and buy a CD. For the most part the music consists of numbers which you would be disappointed to find on the 'B' side of a single. The dancing is similarly uninspired - the usual (for the time) jumping up and down and from side to side with arms outstretched, rather like a manic aerobics session. The love triangle and older versus younger generation plot is simplistic. The acting is variable with stalwarts such as Ron Moody, Liz Fraser and Michael Ripper there to balance the less able pop artistes. However, as a piece of sixties nostalgia,particularly with its holiday camp setting, the film is well worth a look and Freddie and the Dreamers are always value for money.

A feather-light musical comedy involving a group of college kids who enter a talent contest at a summer resort. Grazina Frame sings a catchy song called "1st time bitten, 2nd time shy," the Baker twins sing a fluffy piece of nonsense called "Romeo Jones," and Freddie & The Dreamers make an appearance singing "Don't do that to me." Anyone who enjoyed sitting through the likes of "Having a wild weekend" and "Ferry cross the mersey" should enjoy this one as well.