The Young Ones

The Young Ones (US title: "Wonderful to Be Young!") 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.

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 club 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 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 Bongo. 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 guitarist 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.

Soundtrack

Songs featured on the soundtrack include:

1. Friday Night
2. Got A Funny Feeling
3. Peace Pipe
4. Nothing's Immpossible
5. The Young Ones
6. All For Love
7. Lessons In Love
8. No One For me But Nicky
9. What D'You Know, We've Got A Show? (featuring a medley of music hall and other songs)
10. When The Girl In Your Arms Is The Girl In Your Heart
11. Mambo
12. The Savage
13. We Say Yeah

Miscellanea

• The title of the film inspired the television series The Young Ones, which had many references to Cliff Richard throughout its twelve episode run.
• The plot of the film was cribbed for the 1980 John Landis musical The Blues Brothers

External links

• The Young Ones at the Internet Movie Database

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