Forever Young (1983 film)
Encyclopedia
Forever Young is a 1983 film written by Ray Connolly
and directed by David Drury
for Channel 4
as part of their First Love series.
) and Michael (Nicholas Gecks
) were best friends at school in the 1960s. They played guitar and sang together and dreamed of becoming the next Lennon and McCartney or Simon and Garfunkel
. Their partnership ended when Michael decided to become a priest. Jimmy eventually became a university lecturer of English literature. The two meet again twenty years later when Jimmy sees posters advertising one of Michael's regular fundraising concerts in his church hall. At first, the two are delighted to see each other but they gradually remember the events that drove them apart.
The events are shown in flashback. At one of their concerts, Jimmy (played in flashback by Julian Firth
) catches sight of Maureen (Oona Kirsch) and tells Michael (Jason Carter
) he has fallen in love. During a strip game involving a music quiz, Maureen becomes topless, which attracts Michael's attention and eventually the two of them make love after one of Jimmy and Michael's concerts.
The events of the past are mirrored in the present day. Father Michael is good friends with Mary (Karen Archer) and her son Paul (Liam Holt) who idolises him and wants to become a priest himself. However Jimmy and Mary get together. The IMDB entry for Forever Young describes this as an act of revenge by Jimmy. Paul discovers them making love and runs away to the church. Michael insists that Paul return home. Thus Michael loses the friendship of Jimmy, Karen and Paul and at the end of the film he is shown bereft.
.
Ray Connolly
Ray Connolly is an English novelist, screenwriter and journalist.He is perhaps best known for writing the screenplays for the films That’ll Be the Day and the sequel Stardust and for his many interviews with the Beatles...
and directed by David Drury
David Drury
David Brian Drury is a former English cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper who played for Cumberland.Drury made his debut for Cumberland in the Minor Counties Championship on 28 May 1985, playing as a specialist batsman at number seven...
for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
as part of their First Love series.
Plot
Jimmy (James AubreyJames Aubrey (actor)
James Aubrey was an English stage and screen actor. He trained for the stage at the Drama Centre London. He made his professional acting debut in a 1962 production of Isle of Children. Aubrey made his screen acting debut in the 1963 adaptation of Lord of the Flies. Aubrey performed with the Royal...
) and Michael (Nicholas Gecks
Nicholas Gecks
Nicholas Gecks is an actor who appeared in Series Four of Rumpole of the Bailey as his modernising colleague Charles Hearthstoke.Gecks starred as Father Mike in the 1983 film Forever Young.-Notes:...
) were best friends at school in the 1960s. They played guitar and sang together and dreamed of becoming the next Lennon and McCartney or Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
. Their partnership ended when Michael decided to become a priest. Jimmy eventually became a university lecturer of English literature. The two meet again twenty years later when Jimmy sees posters advertising one of Michael's regular fundraising concerts in his church hall. At first, the two are delighted to see each other but they gradually remember the events that drove them apart.
The events are shown in flashback. At one of their concerts, Jimmy (played in flashback by Julian Firth
Julian Firth
Julian Firth is a British actor, best known for his roles as troubled inmate Davis in the cinematic version of the film Scum and as Brother Jerome in the long running television series Cadfael....
) catches sight of Maureen (Oona Kirsch) and tells Michael (Jason Carter
Jason Carter (actor)
Jason Brian Carter is an English actor, best known for his role as Ranger Marcus Cole on the science fiction television series Babylon 5....
) he has fallen in love. During a strip game involving a music quiz, Maureen becomes topless, which attracts Michael's attention and eventually the two of them make love after one of Jimmy and Michael's concerts.
The events of the past are mirrored in the present day. Father Michael is good friends with Mary (Karen Archer) and her son Paul (Liam Holt) who idolises him and wants to become a priest himself. However Jimmy and Mary get together. The IMDB entry for Forever Young describes this as an act of revenge by Jimmy. Paul discovers them making love and runs away to the church. Michael insists that Paul return home. Thus Michael loses the friendship of Jimmy, Karen and Paul and at the end of the film he is shown bereft.
Music
The film is full of music from the 1950s. The lyrics to the theme music to the film, the song Forever Young, were written by Ray Connolly to a tune based on Farewell to Stromness by Peter Maxwell DaviesPeter Maxwell Davies
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, CBE is an English composer and conductor and is currently Master of the Queen's Music.-Biography:...
.
Other notable cast members
- Alec McCowenAlec McCowenAlexander Duncan "Alec" McCowen CBE is an English actor. He is known for his work in numerous film and stage productions. He was awarded the CBE in the 1985 New Year's Honours List.-Personal:...
... Father Vincent - Rudi Davies ... Suzie (as Ruth Davies)
- Philip McGoughPhilip McGoughPhillip McGough is an English television actor best known for his 2010 role of Dr. Charlie Bradfield in the BBC Birmingham based soap opera, Doctors.-Career:...
... Ian - Kathy BurkeKathy BurkeKatherine Lucy Bridget Burke is an English actress, comedienne, playwright and theatre director. She is best known for her portrayals of Perry in the Harry Enfield film Kevin and Perry Go Large, and of Linda La Hughes in the British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme...
... Girl - Michael SundinMichael SundinMichael Sundin was a television presenter, actor, dancer and trampolinist, who is best remembered for his short time as a Blue Peter presenter .-Career history:...
... Peter - Nick BerryNick BerryNicholas "Nick" Berry is a British television actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Simon Wicks in the British soap opera EastEnders from 1985 to 1990 and as PC Nick Rowan in the British drama television series Heartbeat from 1992 to 1998.-Career:Berry started acting at the age of...
... Boy At School - Carol MacReadyCarol MacReadyCarol MacReady is a British actress, who is perhaps best known for the role of Mrs. Dribelle in Bodger and Badger.Other television shows she appeared in include:*Agatha Christie's Poirot*The Darling Buds of May*The Alleyn Mysteries*The Woman in White...
... Brenda