The Young Ones (film)
Encyclopedia
The Young Ones is a British musical released in 1961, featuring singer Cliff Richard
. The musical was directed by Sidney J. Furie
and was produced by Kenneth Harper and Andrew Mitchell for the Associated British Studios at Elstree. The original screenplay was written by Peter Myers and Ronald Cass
, who also wrote most of the songs. The cast included Robert Morley
, Carole Gray, Melvyn Hayes
, Teddy Green, Richard O'Sullivan, Robertson Hare
, Gerald Harper
, Rita Webb
, and The Shadows
. Herbert Ross
choreographed the musical numbers.
from unscrupulous millionaire property developer, Hamilton Black (Morley). The gang decide to put on a show to raise money to buy a lease renewal. The twist is that Cliff Richard's character, Nicky Black, is in reality Hamilton Black's son. He keeps this secret from his friends until some of them try to kidnap Black senior, at which stage he reveals himself to the attackers. The following scene shows Nicky and his friends pleading with Black Senior to give the club back to the youth. He eventually relents and the credits roll.
. The film was originally intended to feature the Shadows in more major acting roles, and scripts were duly tailored to them, including a character with glasses (intended for Shadows lead guitar
ist Hank Marvin
, but eventually played by Richard O'Sullivan), a character with blonde hair, intended for bassist
Jet Harris
but played by Melvyn Hayes
, who was required to bleach his normally black hair for the role. The eventual film sees them more as musicians, especially since they also wrote Got A Funny Feeling and We Say Yeah for the soundtrack.
musical The Blues Brothers
. The title of the film was used for the British television series The Young Ones
(1982-1984), which had many references to Cliff Richard throughout its twelve episode run.
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
. The musical was directed by Sidney J. Furie
Sidney J. Furie
Sidney J. Furie is a Canadian film director. Furie is perhaps best known for directing American Soldiers, The IPCRESS File, The Entity, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Lady Sings the Blues, The Boys, Gable and Lombard, Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York and the Iron Eagle films.Also...
and was produced by Kenneth Harper and Andrew Mitchell for the Associated British Studios at Elstree. The original screenplay was written by Peter Myers and Ronald Cass
Ronald Cass
Ronald Cass was a screenwriter and a composer. He co-wrote the films Summer Holiday and The Young Ones.-Biography:Cass was born in Llanelli, Wales to Saul and Rachel Cass, the second of five sons...
, who also wrote most of the songs. The cast included Robert Morley
Robert Morley
Robert Adolph Wilton Morley, CBE was an English actor who, often in supporting roles, was usually cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment...
, Carole Gray, Melvyn Hayes
Melvyn Hayes
Melvyn Hayes is an English actor probably best known for playing the effeminate Gunner "Gloria" Beaumont in the 1970s BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum,-Early life and career:...
, Teddy Green, Richard O'Sullivan, Robertson Hare
Robertson Hare
John Robertson Hare was an English comedy actor, popularly known as Bunny, who came to fame in the Aldwych farces. He is known for routinely losing his trousers on-stage, at which point he would utter his catchphrase "Oh Calamity"...
, Gerald Harper
Gerald Harper
Gerald Harper is an actor, best known for his work on television, having played the title roles in Adam Adamant Lives! and Hadleigh ....
, Rita Webb
Rita Webb
Rita Webb was an English character actress, mainly in comedy roles.Born Olive Webb in Willesden, Middlesex, England, she is best known for her appearances as a stooge for Benny Hill in his long-running Thames Television series...
, and The Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
. Herbert Ross
Herbert Ross
Herbert Ross was an American film director, producer, choreographer and actor.-Early life and career:Born Herbert David Ross in Brooklyn, New York, he made his stage debut as Third Witch with a touring company of Macbeth in 1942...
choreographed the musical numbers.
Plot summary
The story concerns Richard and his chums (including Hayes, Green and O'Sullivan, in roles originally intended for members of The Shadows) trying to save their youth clubYouth club
A youth club or youth social club is a place where young people can meet and enjoy activities such as football, soccer, basketball, table tennis, or video games, and other religious, sports activities are frequently sponsored by a community center....
from unscrupulous millionaire property developer, Hamilton Black (Morley). The gang decide to put on a show to raise money to buy a lease renewal. The twist is that Cliff Richard's character, Nicky Black, is in reality Hamilton Black's son. He keeps this secret from his friends until some of them try to kidnap Black senior, at which stage he reveals himself to the attackers. The following scene shows Nicky and his friends pleading with Black Senior to give the club back to the youth. He eventually relents and the credits roll.
Background
This was Cliff Richard's third film, following Serious Charge and Expresso BongoExpresso Bongo
Expresso Bongo, a 1958 West End musical and a 1959 film, was a satire of the music industry. It was first produced on the stage at the Saville Theatre, London on 23 April 1958. Its book was written by Wolf Mankowitz and Julian More, with music by David Heneker and Monty Norman, also the...
. The film was originally intended to feature the Shadows in more major acting roles, and scripts were duly tailored to them, including a character with glasses (intended for Shadows lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist Hank Marvin
Hank Marvin
Hank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...
, but eventually played by Richard O'Sullivan), a character with blonde hair, intended for bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Jet Harris
Jet Harris
Jet Harris, MBE was an English musician. He was the bass guitarist of The Shadows until April 1962, and had subsequent success as a soloist and as a duo with the drummer Tony Meehan....
but played by Melvyn Hayes
Melvyn Hayes
Melvyn Hayes is an English actor probably best known for playing the effeminate Gunner "Gloria" Beaumont in the 1970s BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum,-Early life and career:...
, who was required to bleach his normally black hair for the role. The eventual film sees them more as musicians, especially since they also wrote Got A Funny Feeling and We Say Yeah for the soundtrack.
Legacy
The plot of the film was cribbed for the 1980 John LandisJohn Landis
John David Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedies, his horror films, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson.-Early life and career:...
musical The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers (film)
The Blues Brothers is a 1980 musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from a musical sketch on the NBC variety series Saturday Night Live. It features musical numbers by R&B and soul singers James...
. The title of the film was used for the British television series The Young Ones
The Young Ones (TV series)
The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comedy to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers...
(1982-1984), which had many references to Cliff Richard throughout its twelve episode run.