Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

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 is a 92 minute delight. I recall seeing this film advertised in the 60's & wanting to see it & missed it! So it was with great pleasure I recently acquired a tape & watched it for the first time in 2006! Was any youth as innocent as the kids depicted here? Likely the culture in 1966-67 when this film was released was less innocent. Certainly in the US, where Anti-war demonstrations were growing. But there is no hint of that here, no "gangs", no bad behavior over football, no drugs. Just the Boy wanting the Girl. Barry Evans & Judy Geeson are wonderful as Boy & Girl. The film is famous for some psychedelic scenes, and daring nudity, photographed wonderfully, but it really should be remembered for the light hearted romp it so expertly provides. The 1968 Film review in the NY Times noted the photography but was less enamored with the script. Perhaps seeing it then in the US, when more serious issues so affected youth, Viet Nam, the draft, war, body bags, the reviewers could not forgive the light hearted banter that is so much of the Barry Evans character. Yet that itself I find makes the period the film is trying to depict come very much alive nearly 40 years later. The film is highly entertaining, delightful and well worth seeing for the fresh talent and open eyed wonder of Barry Evans and the delightful young Judy Geeson. Here is a film that ought to be brought out on DVD.A whole generation or two might benefit seeing a more innocent time, and how nice it was then, minus the assorted horrors we now live with!

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

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

I was 16 in 1968.

I read Hunter Davies' original novel when it first came out, and Jamie was me. I couldn't wait for the film.

And I wasn't disappointed. Full of humour, full of great music, full of the things which were real and important to a late 60s teen and, most of all, full of heart.

Current audiences may find it a touch unsophisticated but then, we all thought we were but we weren't!

Barry Evans sadly never really lived up to the promise he showed in this film, and then died far too young. But if this film was his sole epitaph, it's a good one.