I love those films you get free in newspapers. I love even more the ones you get free in papers you don't actually read - this one was generously given to me by a neighbour with a lifelong hatred of Sir Cliff Richard. 'Take Me High' ( 1973 ), his last film, re-teamed him with Kenneth Harper, producer of many of his earlier pictures, including the much-loved 'Summer Holiday' ( 1963 ). It is an altogether different sort of picture. There's no Shadows, for instance, nor winsome Una Stubbs or Melvyn Hayes in a hat or Richard O'Sullivan looking like 'Harry Potter'. It is a product of a more cynical age.
Cliff is 'Tim Matthews', an ambitious young banker looking forward to promotion to a top New York job. Alas he falls out with girlfriend Vicki ( Maddy Smith ) and not even a new food mixer brings her round. There is more bad news for Cliff ( sorry, Tim ). The New York job has fallen through. Tim is instead bundled off to Birmingham. The film looks as though it is going to be a retread of Lindsay Anderson's 'O Lucky Man!', but then goes in a different direction. Tim has a rival in the shape of slimy Hugo Flaxman ( Anthony Andrews ), who is steadfastly refusing financial help to Sarah Jones ( Debbie Watling ), the owner of a struggling restaurant. Tim not only gives her the money, but a solid gold idea - why not open a new restaurant devoted to one product - the Brumburger?
Enlisting the aid of local businessman Hugh Griffith, Sarah gets her restaurant ( which seems to be doing a roaring trade even before it opens ), Hugo gets the New York job, and Tim gets to go to bed with Sarah. Happy ending time! I expected to hate this, but was pleasantly surprised. I cannot think of many musicals about the creation of a new burger, so in that respect it breaks new ground. Cliff is much too nice to be taken seriously as a ruthless banker, but gets by. He looks great throughout. Buxom Debbie Watling was a former 'Dr.Who' companion ( in Patrick Troughton's time ). She too looks great, particularly in that Pink Panther T-shirt. Lucky old Tim. New York? Who needs it? Birmingham with Debbie looks more appealing.
Director David Askey worked on L.W.T.'s 'Doctor' series and 'Bless Me Father' amongst other things. The sterling supporting cast features Richard Wattis and George Cole. Griffith's tycoon is a riot though. Watching Cole denouncing him on television, he is so incensed he whips out a gun and blasts the set. He's like one of those eccentrics who inhabits 'The Avengers'.
The opening of the Brumberger restaurant has to be seen to be believed. Crowds cheer enthusiastically as Tim and Sarah glide through the streets in an open-topped car. You have never seen so many people excited over a burger in their lives! The 1981 Royal Wedding looks like a back-garden barbecue by comparison. This tosh was penned, amazingly, by Christopher Penfold, author of many great 'Space:1999' episodes. Watling said of the film years later: "everyone knew it was going to be dreadful but didn't say anything!". She is a bit harsh. Yes it is mind-crushingly daft, but pleasantly watchable. The songs are nice too ( if you like this era's music ). The I.T.V. children's programme 'Clapperboard' devoted a two-part special to its making, not an honour bestowed on many movies so Cliff and co. must have gotten something right.
A belated Happy 70th birthday, Sir Cliff!
Cliff is 'Tim Matthews', an ambitious young banker looking forward to promotion to a top New York job. Alas he falls out with girlfriend Vicki ( Maddy Smith ) and not even a new food mixer brings her round. There is more bad news for Cliff ( sorry, Tim ). The New York job has fallen through. Tim is instead bundled off to Birmingham. The film looks as though it is going to be a retread of Lindsay Anderson's 'O Lucky Man!', but then goes in a different direction. Tim has a rival in the shape of slimy Hugo Flaxman ( Anthony Andrews ), who is steadfastly refusing financial help to Sarah Jones ( Debbie Watling ), the owner of a struggling restaurant. Tim not only gives her the money, but a solid gold idea - why not open a new restaurant devoted to one product - the Brumburger?
Enlisting the aid of local businessman Hugh Griffith, Sarah gets her restaurant ( which seems to be doing a roaring trade even before it opens ), Hugo gets the New York job, and Tim gets to go to bed with Sarah. Happy ending time! I expected to hate this, but was pleasantly surprised. I cannot think of many musicals about the creation of a new burger, so in that respect it breaks new ground. Cliff is much too nice to be taken seriously as a ruthless banker, but gets by. He looks great throughout. Buxom Debbie Watling was a former 'Dr.Who' companion ( in Patrick Troughton's time ). She too looks great, particularly in that Pink Panther T-shirt. Lucky old Tim. New York? Who needs it? Birmingham with Debbie looks more appealing.
Director David Askey worked on L.W.T.'s 'Doctor' series and 'Bless Me Father' amongst other things. The sterling supporting cast features Richard Wattis and George Cole. Griffith's tycoon is a riot though. Watching Cole denouncing him on television, he is so incensed he whips out a gun and blasts the set. He's like one of those eccentrics who inhabits 'The Avengers'.
The opening of the Brumberger restaurant has to be seen to be believed. Crowds cheer enthusiastically as Tim and Sarah glide through the streets in an open-topped car. You have never seen so many people excited over a burger in their lives! The 1981 Royal Wedding looks like a back-garden barbecue by comparison. This tosh was penned, amazingly, by Christopher Penfold, author of many great 'Space:1999' episodes. Watling said of the film years later: "everyone knew it was going to be dreadful but didn't say anything!". She is a bit harsh. Yes it is mind-crushingly daft, but pleasantly watchable. The songs are nice too ( if you like this era's music ). The I.T.V. children's programme 'Clapperboard' devoted a two-part special to its making, not an honour bestowed on many movies so Cliff and co. must have gotten something right.
A belated Happy 70th birthday, Sir Cliff!