IMDb > That'll Be the Day (1973)

That'll Be the Day (1973) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   373 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Claude Whatham
Writer:
Ray Connolly (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for That'll Be the Day on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 April 1973 (UK) more
Genre:
Drama | Music more
Plot:
Abandoned by his father at an early age, Jim MacLaine seems to have inherited the old man's restlessness... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. more
User Comments:
start of a rocky road for Jim MacLaine more (17 total)

Cast

  (in credits order)
David Essex ... Jim MacLaine

Ringo Starr ... Mike
Rosemary Leach ... Mrs. MacLaine
James Booth ... Mr. MacLaine
Billy Fury ... Stormy Tempest

Keith Moon ... J.D. Clover

Rosalind Ayres ... Jeanette
Brenda Bruce ... Doreen
Robert Lindsay ... Terry
Verna Harvey ... Wendy
James Ottaway ... Granddad
Deborah Watling ... Sandra
Beth Morris ... Jean
Daphne Oxenford ... Mrs. Sutcliffe
Kim Braden ... Charlotte
Ron Hackett ... Policeman
Johnny Shannon ... Jack
Karl Howman ... Johnny
Patti Love ... Sandra's Friend
Sue Holderness ... Shirley (as Susan Holderness)
Sally Watts ... Girl in Coffee Shop
Valerie Lush ... 1st Old Lady on Beach
Alan Foss ... Teacher
Natalie Kent ... Mrs. Rimmer
Patsy Blower ... Young Girl at Fair
Sara Clee ... Girl With Baby
Peggy Aitchison ... 2nd Old Lady on Beach
Bernard Severn ... Sutcliffe
Eugene Wallace ... Stuart
Erin Geraghty ... Joan
Tony McHale ... 1st Man in Coffee Bar
Paul Vaughan-Teague ... 2nd Man in Coffee Bar
Peter Turner ... Teddy Boy
Sacha Puttnam ... Young Jim
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Graham Bond ... Sax player
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Claude Whatham 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Ray Connolly  writer

Produced by
Roy Baird .... executive producer
Sanford Lieberson .... producer
Gavrik Losey .... associate producer
David Puttnam .... producer
 
Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky 
 
Film Editing by
Michael Bradsell 
 
Art Direction by
Brian Morris 
 
Production Management
Gavrik Losey .... production manager (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ricky Green .... second assistant director
Garth Thomas .... first assistant director
 
Art Department
Terry Apsey .... construction manager
Milly Burns .... assistant art director (as Millie Burns)
John Leuenberger .... property master
Terry Wells .... stand-by property master (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Ian Fuller .... sound editor
Tony Jackson .... sound recordist
Bill Rowe .... dubbing mixer
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Roy Larner .... electrical supervisor
Ron Robson .... camera operator
Cedric James .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Ron Taberer .... best boy (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ray Beck .... wardrobe supervisor
Ruth Myers .... costume consultant
 
Editorial Department
Stuart Baird .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Neil Aspinall .... music supervisor
Wil Malone .... additional composer: score
Keith Moon .... music supervisor
 
Other crew
Clinton Cavers .... assistant to producers
Nat Cohen .... presenter
Philip Collins .... production executive
Kay Mander .... continuity
Celestia Sporborg .... assistant to producers
Ron Swinburne .... production accountant
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
91 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Hungary:14 | Iceland:L | Finland:K-12 (video rating: 1995) | Finland:K-3 (DVD rating: 2008) | Australia:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG
Filming Locations:
Isle of Wight, England, UK more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The beach scenes were filmed around Shanklin Pier on the Isle of Wight. The pier was destroyed by hurricane force winds in 1987. more
Goofs:
Continuity: We see Jim take out a Buddy Holly album to play on his record player, but what we then hear is "Donna" by Richie Valens. more
Movie Connections:
Followed by Stardust (1974) more
Soundtrack:
What Did I Say more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful.
start of a rocky road for Jim MacLaine, 31 July 2004
6/10
Author: didi-5 from United Kingdom

David Essex got the lead role, through two films, in this story of a wanabee pop star who leaves his family and home life for a shot at the big time. Abandoned by his father as a child, Jim lets history repeat itself simply for his ambition - through 'That'll Be The Day', which establishes him as a musical talent with room to grow, through to the bleak 'Stardust' which focuses on the ups and downs of fame.

Ray Connolly's script for TBTD is ironic and clever, and gives scope to a large number of characters you remember - Rosemary Leach and Rosalind Ayres good as Jim's mother and girlfriend, Ringo Starr much better than expected as Mike who works on the fairground and takes the impressionable and cocky Jim under his wing. Mike would develop into Jim's manager in 'Stardust', where he was played by Adam Faith.

Billy Fury plays TBTD's biggest concession to a 'real pop star' as the unlikeable Stormy Tempest, while Keith Moon and Karl Howman, both in the 'Stardust' band appear briefly. Also involved in the film was the great Bonzo vocalist Viv Stanshall.

'That'll Be The Day' is often cited as the better film of the two Jim MacLaine feature, but I personally prefer the overblown, stoned, egotistical character we see in the sequel. David Essex is excellent throughout the two movies, though. The soundtrack album - a huge four-sider groaning with 50s period hits and pastiches - is still well worth a listen, although precious little of it appears in this film.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (17 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for That'll Be the Day (1973)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Did he..... miss_montana
Radio spin-off and novel!!!! g_mcoll
Lacked authenticity Joanalamode
That'll BeThe Day v Stardust Toadle
i teejay6682
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
If.... Billy Elliot Les invasions barbares Starter for 10 Maurice
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.