Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

This film is a gem of the mid to late 60's but, at times, difficult to watch as the innocence portrayed by it's warm optimism jars with the reality of these times. I grew up in the 60's and saw that era in the fresh-faced tone of the film. 'Mulberry Bush' takes me back to a childhood Neverneverland. Was life so innocent even in those days? I like to think so but I'm pretty sure it wasn't. The problems we face today have always been with us so I am mystified how even in 1968 it was possible to make a film with such a tenuous grip on life's day to day realities. This film is magical escapism. I was eleven in 1968 and the scene of the three friends boisterously mucking around while walking home is poignant to me since that was my childhood. Suspend cynicism when watching it

The film has a special meaning to me, as I was born in Stevenage and still live there today.

The film is all about the sexual exploits of a young lad who is desperate to lose his virginity. Filmed in the 60's during the permissive society days, the fashions and music are a joy to watch.

Judy Geeson plays the love interest, and during one scene strips totally naked, which caused a stir when released! Barry Evans is the lead, called Jamie. Although the plot is nothing fantastic the whole ambiance of the film is great and still fresh today - The movie never seems to date.

Long overdue for a DVD or Video release, can't believe no-ones snapped this title up for release considering its classic status. Always mentioned in movie books and articles.

Watch and enjoy, the fashions, the locations, the music and the youth of the 60's.

Mark

I'm a big fan of 60's British music and films and this quirky if slight movie marries both in a peppy attempt to show how swinging England got its nickname.

Of course it's dated greatly particularly its attitudes towards sex and by extension women, but it retains a bright playfulness, backed up by enthusiastic acting from its mostly young cast. Mind you Barry Evans and Judy Geeson aren't quite Tom Courteney and Julie Christie, and a lot of the scenes seem pretty meaningless, but driven by Evans' to-camera pieces from the outset and taking in some other tricksy pseudo-surrealistic dream sequences, flashy camera work, a touch of farce here, a touch of orgy there, while its attractions are a mite thin, at least they're just about present and correct.

The story itself amounts to little more than Evans' trying to get his end away, moving ever steadily up the ladder of the local female population in pursuit of his dream girl Judy Geeson, to learn that she has the same outlook towards men as him, only her dream doesn't stop with him. By the movie's end our fresh-faced hero is just about ready to settle down, bewitched by a beguiling smile from a young Diane Keen, at the age of it seems 18 or 19 at most.

The film is shot in a bright clear fashion, with contemporary pop music prominent in the background - Traffic's title song is ace and gets a few airings throughout. It was funny to see practically all the leads in the popular early 70's sit-com "Doctor at Large" in frame at one point - one almost expected James Robertson-Justice to barge in on the odd scene! There's a mildly surprising frolicsome nude scene between Evans and Geeson near the end, but in truth this is only a little more surprising than seeing Geeson in long trousers just before it - every other female in the film is apparently wearing a mini-skirt.

So then, while being far from the best of the British pop-art cinema of its time, it retains an odd, slightly endearing attraction to the likes of me, who just missed out on being a teen in the 60's. Based on the evidence here, it looks as if it was this generation and not its predecessor that never had it so good (and you can interpret "it" any way you like!)

What is a great movie? Is it The third Man or Citizen Kane because they are "Great"? Classics because of their technique and artistry.Certainly. Some Like It Hot, Duck Soup, 2001, The Shawshank Redemption and Taxi Driver all are great movies for obvious reasons.But there are movies that are personal classics for different reasons. This is one of mine. Some movies, like some songs, have so many personal memories attached that they transcend artistic or dramatic reason. This movie encapsulates all the angst and fun of those oh so brief years of my youth. Forget all those smart ass, know it all films of today, this movie shows how it really was. I recently discovered a video of this movie that I had taped from TV some years ago. Today I watched it. Oh man, where did the time go?

Ok, I'm going to be objective. This is not a great movie in the same way that Citizen Kane is. The acting is, for the most part, pretty awful. The storyline is, by clasic standards, laughable. But that is not important to me. Judy Geeson, Angela Scoula and Vanessa Howard are so beautiful in this movie, British beautiful that is, I have moments of rapture when I watch them. The music, and I have the soundtrack album on vinyl, is '60's British psychedelia. Whenever I hear Andy Ellison sing 'It's been a long time' or the title song, I timeslip back to the days of my youth.

It doesn't really matter to me what anybody else says about this movie, I love it. I just wish I could do it again. Oh yesterday leave me alone. I have no regrets except for those times that slipped by so fast. The seed of memory will grow into a great tree of life as we lived it.Forgive my reminiscences.

It's Been A Long Time.

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush starts out looking like another cheap cash in on the swinging 60s, but the further into the film you get, the more you appreciate its subtleties. Barry Evans is a 17 year old virgin out to get laid, and the film very deftly handles the issues of the Sexual Revolution without pandering or preaching. Judy Geeson is the object of his affection, and though she has a lengthy topless scene she is much more than just a dolly bird. There are some wonderful cameos by Moyra Fraser and Michael Bates (the police inspector in Bedazzled) as Barry's parents, some fascinating footage of Stevenage, one of the idyllic New Towns of the 60s; and overall a marvelous story that mixes elements of Alfie and Billy Liar. Strongly recommended, especially for 60s fans.