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My Favourite Film |
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This page was created Sunday 15th August 1999. Updated Sunday 2nd May 2010. |
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My Favourite Film |
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This page was created Sunday 15th August 1999. Updated Sunday 2nd May 2010. |
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Above: Trailer as posted onto YouTube. For a WMV Version Click Here |
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Above right: the movie has finally been released on DVD in the UK, in PAL format Region 2. Released on Monday 29th March 2010, it is available from shopping sites such as Amazon.co.uk. Support the release and enjoy one of the best films ever. Released by Optimum Releasing Ltd. Studio Canal. |
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Above: Mark Lester and Jack Wild interviewed on Wogan in December 1987. As found on YouTube. |
Above: Tribute to Jack Wild who died during 2006. As found on YouTube. |
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Synopsis Daniel (Mark Lester) is a shy boy who meets and makes friends with someone his middle-class parents would not approve of. His name is Ornshaw (Jack Wild) and they remain good friends until Danny falls in love with classmate Melody (Tracy Hyde). Ornshaw is jealous that his friend has found another interest. Re-establishing their friendship, Ornshaw helps the two with plans to get married... |
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Front & back covers to the soundtrack LP. 1984 Daily Mail clipping for "Now and Then", a TV series featuring Tracy Hyde. Thoughts This 1971 film re-unites Mark Lester and Jack Wild of 'Oliver!' fame. It was produced by David Puttnam and directed by Waris Hussein, the director of the first ever 'Doctor Who' story back in 1963. Waris manages to produce a very enchanting, nostalgic film full of little details that really make it immensely pleasurable to watch. All the three leads are excellent and the supporting cast add extra strengh. Roy Kinnear gives my favourite performance of his career: rather than being a bumbling chubby person he shows real depth when trying to explain to Melody why she can't get married at her age. It's a very touching scene and Kinnear is magnificent. Ken Jones as Mr Dicks makes for a convincing nemesis for Ornshaw, and this makes for hunmorous viewing. Sheila Steafel and Keith Barron (uncredited) also add something to the proceedings as Danny's parents, whilst Kate Williams (of TV series 'Love Thy Neighbour') is perfectly cast as Melody's put-upon mother. It's a humorous film with lots of subtle touches. It also contains a fantstic soundtrack by the Bee Gees and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Whilst the film was not a financial success at the time of release, it is a very underrated film that seems to enjoy an ever growing cult following.
L to R: Cover for the 1987 British video release. Hong Kong DVD Cover. 2005 DVD release - This one is a superb transfer of the film, better than the other DVD. This was a film I saw once in the '70's and one I couldn't wait to see again. The next time I noticed it was on was in 1983 on Central TV (UK) at 1:30pm on a Friday afternoon. I rushed home to see it and was surprised that it lived up to my expectations. It made me laugh out loud and I was an instant fan. I've watched it many times since then and was pleased when it finally got released on DVD (in Hong Kong) a few years ago. An even better DVD print from Japan became available in 2005 and finally, as of 29th March 2010, is now available in the UK. Tracy Hyde went on to appear in a TV series titled 'Now and Then' back in the early 1980's. It lasted for two series (12 episodes), featured Sam Kelly, June Brown and Ray Burdis? as Randall and I'd be interested to see them again as it was quite fun. Set during WWII and the present day, it was a fine nostalgic series. I doubt if many people remember it at all.
L to R: Alternate DVD Cover. Rare laser disk version. Cover of a 22-page 1971 Japanese booklet. Spanish poster. |
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Film Availability 'Melody' has been released on video and (Asian) DVD at various points in the past and if you're familiar with auction sites like Ebay, www.ebay.com/ there are quite often copies of the DVD or VHS version of the film for sale / auction within it. The film is also now avaialble in Region 2 PAL from internet shopping sites, having finally being released in the UK. The UK release contains a widescreen print of the film that is very good (though not as sharp as the Japanese release of a few years ago), and has a 3 min 25 second long UK trailer I'd never seen before.Remember though to check what format the film is in before getting it (for example Britain uses the PAL format, America uses the NTSC format) as not all videos/TVs will play all formats. There is also a soundtrack CD which Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) have for sale (import) which I recommend buying.The Japanese DVD contains a fantastic print of the film, the best I've ever seen of it. It's in widescreen, in English, and has been beautifully mastered. On the DVD there is also a version of the film with the dialogue dubbed into Japanese: that version is full-screen and nowhere near as good a print as the English version. Tim Harris (Sunday 2nd May 2010) |
CAST / PRODUCTION CREDITS
These have been taken from the film titles. If anybody can confirm who plays 'Neville' I'd be grateful.
| British Lion |
| Hemdale Group / Sagittarius Productions in association with Goodtimes Enterprises |
| Copyright MCMLXX Catullus Productions Ltd all rights reserved |
| Daniel | Mark Lester | (Television Film) Woman in hospital | Tracy Reed | |
| Melody | Tracy Hyde | Man in hospital | Neil Hallett | |
| Ornshaw | Jack Wild | Girls group | Deborah Childs | |
| Chambers | Colin Barrie | Heather Gibson | ||
| Burgess | Billy Franks | Susan Hassell | ||
| Stacey | Ashley Knight | Sara Maddern | ||
| Dadds | Craig Marriot | Stephanie Muldenhall | ||
| O'Leary | William Vanderpuye | Jacqueline Pullen | ||
| Fensham | Peter Walton | Caroline Stratford | ||
| Muriel | Dawn Hope | Gill Wain | ||
| Peggy | Kay Skinner | Karen Williams | ||
| Rhoda | Lesley Roach | Boys group | Leonard Brockwell | |
| Mrs Latimer | Sheila Steafel | Billy Ferguson | ||
| Mrs Perkins | Kate Williams | Robin Hopwood | ||
| Mr Perkins | Roy Kinnear | Nigel Kingsley | ||
| Granma Perkins | Hilda Barry | Peter Lewis | ||
| Headmaster | James Cossins | Stephen Mallett | ||
| Mr Dicks | Ken Jones | Kenny Robson | ||
| Miss Fairfax | June Jago | Tommy Skipp | ||
| Miss Dimkins | June Ellis | Wayne Thistleton | ||
| Mr Fellows | Tim Wylton | Roy Wain | ||
| Boys Brigade Capt | John Gorman | Ricky Wales | ||
| Betty | Petal Young | |||
| George | Robin Hunter |
| Original story and screenplay by Alan Parker |
| Produced by David Puttnam |
| Directed by Waris Hussein |
| Production Supervisor | Gavrik Losey | Construction Manager | Jack Carter | |
| Location Manager | Graham Cottle | Assistant Art Director | Bruce Grimes | |
| Art Director | Roy Stannard | Production Secretary | Joyce Herlihy | |
| 1st Assistant Director | Mike Gowans | Boom Operator | Garth Marshall | |
| Film Editor | John Victor Smith | Assistant Editor | Peter Boyle | |
| Titles | Trickfilm Studios | 2nd Assistant Director | Max Reed | |
| 2nd Unit Supervising Director | Andrew Birkin | Continuity | Zelda Barron | |
| Camera Operator | Ron Robson | Gaffer | Roy Larner | |
| Sound Recordist | Tony Jackson | Focus Puller | Peter Evans | |
| Assembly Editor | Peter Pierce | Clapper / Leader | Howard Atherton | |
| Sound Editor | Clive Smith | Key Grip | Jack Roach | |
| Dubbing Mixer | Gerry Humphreys | Director of Photography | Peter Suschitzky | |
| Casting Director | Mary Selway | Colour | Eastman Colour | |
| Wardrobe Mistress | Diane Jones | Processing | Humphries Laboratories | |
| Make up Supervisor | Betty Blattner | Associate Producer | Adrian Gaye | |
| Hairdresser | Sue Hill | Executive Producer | Ronald S. Kass |
| Music by the Bee Gees |
| "In The Morning" and "Spicks and Specks" by Barry Gibb |
| "Melody Fair", "Give Your Best To Your Friends", "First of May" and "To Love Somebody" by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb |
| "Teach Your Children" performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Graham Nash) |
| "Working On It Night and Day" by Richard Hewson & Gordon Gray |
| Additional music and arrangements by Richard Hewson |
| "Melody" original soundtrack album available on Polydor and Atco labels. |
| The producers wish to thank the Rev. Gunter Helft B.A., Lynda Carr, Shirley Craig and the teachers and children of the Archbishop's Temple School, Lambeth, without whose help this film could not have been made. |
| Filmed entirely on location in Hammersmith and Lambeth, and recorded at Twickenham Studios, London, England by Goodtimes Enterprises Limited. |
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 This is an undated photo released by Cancer Research UK (AP Photo / Cancer Research UK) |
A list of some of Jack's work: Oliver! Melody (co-starring Mark Lester) Puffnstuff (TV series and a film) Flight Of The Doves (co-starring Ron Moody) Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves |
| Thursday 2nd March 2006: Sad news that one of may favourite actors Jack Wild has died from the effects of mouth cancer. He played the Artful Dodger in Lionel Bart's 'Oliver!' but also starred in another film with 'Oliver!' co-star Mark Lester, titled 'Melody', which is my favourite film of all time. Well done mate, you will always be remembered. A few quotes from 'Melody', as spoken by Jack Wild: "You can't have people raving about winners if there's no berks like you and me running round making fools of ourselves coming last: I mean, some people are winners and some people are losers". "Don't worry, we'll have have the last laugh on this lot and him up there, we'll jack this school lark in, give old Dicks over there the old V sign and shoot off and do whatever we want to do: you mark my words, it'll happen before you can say Jack Robinson". Dicks: "Now why are you here Ornshaw?" Ornshaw: "Because you invited me Sir" Dicks: " And why did I invite you Ornshaw?" Ornshaw: "Well, because I couldn't translate the Latin Sir" Dicks: "Why Ornshaw, why?" Ornshaw: "Because it's a bloody silly out of date language do you mean Sir?" Dicks: "And why do you thinks it's a... silly, out of date language Ornshaw?" Ornshaw: "Well, because I couldn't speak to a dead Roman even if I knew the bloody lingo Sir". |
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