Some People [DVD]

Product Information

The film was shot entirely on location in Bristol with Anneke Willis recalling the crew arrived in Bristol three weeks before shooting to get the feel of Bristol with the boys learning the local accent, riding motorbikes and visiting local dance halls with much of the script being ad-libbed. RELATED MEDIA David Hemmings and Ray Brooks play two of the bikers, while Anneka Wills, later to find fame as Doctor Who companion Polly, pops up alongside Douglas as two girls who hang out at the local church hall. While Some People is clearly the work of a director finding his feet it is nonetheless an enjoyable drama about a teenager, Johnnie, played with charm and intensity by Ray Brooks, and his struggle to choose between straightening up or continuing a descent into delinquency.

Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7thed.). London: Paladin. p.938. ISBN 0586088946. Filmed entirely on location, it captures the reality of Bristol in the heat of post-Blitz reconstruction, half tumbledown harbour city, half planners’ dream. Keeping the movie away from 'swinging London',the screenplay by John Eldridge reveals a very real down to earth quality about it,thanks to Eldidge keeping away from making the gang mindless rebels,by showing each of them to be confused,but well meaning,in their desires to find a good direction in life.Whilst some of the individual gang members sub- plots do feel over stretched,Eldridge smartly places the band dynamics right at the centre,which help to give the title a lively,jazzy edge.

Rebel Rousers

Then, fuelled by jealousy over his girlfriend’s attraction to Johnnie, Bill tries to sabotage his friend’s new found stability. It’s small stuff – squabbling and scrapping, hardly Marlon Brando territory – but that makes it feel all the more authentically British. The cast is pretty strong, headed up by Ray Brooks and David Hemmings, your typical denim-clad teenage tearaways, working during the day, riding fast bikes and generally causing a bit of trouble in the evenings if time permitted. Some People (1962) It was made to promote and raise money for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which had been running for around six years at the time. Kenneth More agreed to take a role for nothing, partly because it was for a good cause, and also due to the fact he had nothing else to do; his once sparkling career was in decline following the end of his contract with Rank. “Nostalgic piece of whimsy”

More also fell in love with one of his younger co-stars during filming; Angela Douglas was 26 years his junior. He eventually left his second wife for her. They married in 1968 and were still a couple on his death in 1982. Angela Douglas was gorgeous, of course, and Kenneth More was, as always, his excellent avuncular self. Brilliant, totally brilliant. (With the additional frisson of their off-screen relationship bubbling underneath). Director Clive Donner, who had been working in advertising, was approached to make a documentary to promote the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. Donner felt the documentary would only reach people who already knew about the scheme, and suggested they make a dramatic feature instead. [5] We had a script but to give the performances an authentic feel the entire story was ad-libbed. A fantastic local group called The Eagles – with Valerie Mountain singing the haunting lyrics (which Angela Douglas mimed to in the film). How beautiful we all were. How young…and how innocent!Bill rejects Mr Smith’s mentorship seeing in it an attempt to control him and breaks with Johnnie and Bert, falling in with a gang of hard-cases. Radio Times Guide to Films (18thed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p.856. ISBN 9780992936440. Band of Thieves (1962) Seven of the prisoners at Gaunstone Gaol have been encouraged to take up Trad jazz by a music-mad governor and…