Melody (1971)

Director:

Waris Hussein

Writer:

Alan Parker (original story and screenplay)

Release Date:

21 April 1971 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A tender love story for everyone who was ever ten years old.

Plot:

Two youngsters declare to their parents that they want to get married. Not sometime in the future but as soon as possible...

Plot Keywords:

Child Smoking Cigarette | Childhood | Love | Parenthood | Children

Cast

Mark Lester	...	Daniel
Tracy Hyde	...	Melody
Jack Wild	...	Ornshaw
Colin Barrie	...	Chambers
Billy Franks	...	Burgess
Ashley Knight	...	Stacey
Craig Marriott	...	Dadds
William Vanderpuye	...	O'Leary
Peter Walton	...	Fensham
Camille Davis	...	Muriel
Dawn Hope	...	Maureen
Kay Skinner	...	Peggy
Lesley Roach	...	Rhoda
Sheila Steafel	...	Mrs. Latimer
Roy Kinnear	...	Mr. Perkins

Also Known As:

S.W.A.L.K.
To Have Somebody (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:A | South Korea:All | Finland:S | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Archbishop Temple school, Lambeth Road, Lambeth, London, England, UK

Company:

Hemdale Productions

Trivia:

Jack Wild was playing an 11-year-old, despite being 17 at the time of filming.

Quotes:

[in the school office about to get "slippered"]
Mr. Dicks: Now, why are you here, Ornshaw?
Ornshaw: Because you invited me, sir.
Mr. Dicks: And why did I invite you, Ornshaw?
Ornshaw: Well, because I couldn't translate the latin, sir.
Mr. Dicks: Why, Ornsahw? WHY?
Ornshaw: Because it's a bloody silly out-of-date language do you mean, sir?
Mr. Dicks: Two was it, Ornhsaw... I think we'll make it four...
[trying to hold his temper]
Mr. Dicks: ...and why do you think it's a... silly out-of-date language, Ornshaw?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Soundtrack:

Give Your Best

Took Part

My School took part in making this film, (Archbishop Temples). I remember like it was yesterday, We spent 5 Days away from normal school lessons and were paid 5 POUNDS a day, just to take part. Believe it or not I played football (soccer) with Jack Wild & Mark Lester when they were not filming. Our entire school went to see the premiere of the film before it was released to the public, that was great fun. Like everyone else I saw this film again many years later on sattelite, God, that brought back memories, not so much about the contents of the film but about those wonderful days of no school lessons and getting paid for it. If there is anybody out there who also took part or even went to my school, drop me a line, I would love to hear from you.

Bas.