Some People (film)

Some People is a 1962 film directed by Clive Donner.[2] It stars Kenneth More and Ray Brooks and is centred on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.[3]

Some People
Directed byClive Donner
Written byJohn Eldridge
Produced byJames Archibald
StarringKenneth More
Ray Brooks
CinematographyJohn Wilcox
Edited byFergus McDonell
Music byRon Grainer
Production
company
Vic Films Productions
Distributed byAnglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
June 1962
Running time
93 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$200,000[1]

Premise

An aircraft engineer, who also acts as a voluntary choirmaster and youth worker (played by Kenneth More) tries to help a group of teenagers in Bristol, by encouraging positive social development after they lose their motorcycle licences. They are all in dead-end jobs with no home life and on the fringes of petty crime, but are musically talented.

Cast

Production

Director Clive Donner, who had been working in advertising, was approached to make a documentary to promote the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. They researched people who worked on the scheme. Donner felt the documentary would only reach people who already knew about the scheme, and suggested they make a dramatic feature instead.[6]

The film was produced by advertising producer James Archibald, who envisioned it as a way to promote the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. He used this to get star Kenneth More to appear for nothing and for Anglo Amalgamated to distribute for free. The film was shot on location.

Archibald said generous donations such as these enabled the film "is a $700,000 film that will be brought in for less than $200,000 because of the generosity of the film industry and others."[1]

The film was shot entirely on location in Bristol with Anneke Wills recalling that 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.

Local filming locations were used including the W.D. & H.O. Wills cigarette factory, Royal York Crescent, Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Theatre Royal, the Palace Hotel, Bristol South public baths, the city docks, The Portway and Lockleaze, with Lockleaze School used for much of the interior filming.

Kenneth More agreed to play his role for nothing apart from his expenses because he had no other offers around the time, and the movie was for a good cause: all proceeds were to go to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme who commissioned the film[7] and the National Playing Fields Association. During filming he began an affair with one of the cast, Angela Douglas, who became his wife.[8] Donner called More's casting "our ace in the hole."[6]

The film features a test flight of the Bristol 188.

Reception

According to Kinematograph Weekly the film was considered a "money maker" at the British box office in 1962.[9] The film reportedly made a profit, in part because of its low cost.[10] Donner said the film was a "huge success" which made "a lot of money" for the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and also reignited his film career.[6]

The title song was performed in the film by Valerie Mountain and The Eagles. Pye Records released their version as a single. Other versions were released by Carol Deene and the former bass player for The Shadows, Jet Harris.

Variety called it "reasonable entertainment."[11] It was one of More's last films as a star.[12]

References

  1. "Archibald Sets His British Youth Film". Variety. 11 April 1962. p. 33.
  2. "Some People (1962)". BFI. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
  3. Karl Williams. "Some People (1962) - Clive Donner - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  4. Valerie Mountain, Allmusic entry
  5. Valerie Mountain And The Eagles – Some People Discogs. Retrieved 1 December 2018
  6. Fowler, Roy (March 2000). "Clive Donner Side 9". British Entertainment History Project.
  7. "Some People – a forgotten film!".
  8. Kenneth More, More or Less, Hodder & Staughton, 1978 p 184-185
  9. Billings, Josh (13 December 1962). "Three British Films Head the General Releases". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  10. E. A. (19 July 1964). "Bankhead's Back, Other Items". New York Times. ProQuest 115852896.
  11. "Some People". Variety. 25 July 1962. p. 6.
  12. Vagg, Stephen (16 April 2023). "Surviving Cold Streaks: Kenneth More". Filmink.


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