Young @ Heart (2007)

Directors:

Stephen Walker
Sally George

Release Date:

2 October 2008 (Germany)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Tagline:

Rock 'n Roll Will Never Die

Plot:

A story of the Young at Heart Chorus, a group of senior citizens who perform contemporary and classic rock and pop songs.

Plot Keywords:

Chorus | Massachusetts | Rock Music | Elderly | Cancer

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Joe Benoit	...	Himself - aged 83
Helen Boston	...	Herself - aged 76
Louise Canady	...	Herself - aged 77
Elaine Fligman	...	Herself - aged 83
Jean Florio	...	Herself - aged 83
Len Fontaine	...	Himself - aged 86
Stan Goldman	...	Himself - aged 76
Jeanne Hatch	...	Herself - aged 79
Eileen Hall	...	Herself - aged 92
Donald Jones	...	Himself - aged 76
Fred Knittle	...	Himself - aged 80
Norma Landry	...	Herself - aged 78
John Larareo	...	Himself - aged 74
Patricia Larese	...	Herself - aged 75
Miriam Leader	...	Herself - aged 87
Patsy Linderme	...	Herself - aged 75
Brock Lynch	...	Himself - aged 81
Steve Martin	...	Himself - aged 77
Joe Mitchell	...	Himself - aged 73
Dora B. Morrow	...	Herself - aged 83
Gloria Parker	...	Herself - aged 77
Liria Petrides	...	Herself - aged 80
Ed Rehor	...	Himself - aged 82
Janice St. Laurence	...	Herself - aged 77 (as Janice St Laurence)
Bob Salvini	...	Himself - aged 75
Jack Schnepp	...	Himself - aged 76
Bob Cilman	...	Himself - aged 53
Jim Armenti	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Billy Arnold	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Chris Haynes	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
F. Alex Johnson	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Ed Wise	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Steve Sanderson	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Diane Porcella	...	Herself - Administrator
Sakina Ibrahim	...	Dancer
Michael Konderwicz	...	Dancer
Trevin Bond	...	Dancer
Nicole Konderwicz	...	Dancer
Chelsea Reyes	...	Dancer
Kashana Sharif	...	Dancer
Jo Meysha Woods	...	Dancer

Directed by
Stephen Walker
Sally George		(music videos)

Produced by
Hannah Beckerman	....	executive producer
Sally George	....	producer
Jane Villiers	....	executive producer: feature film

Cinematography by
Ed Marritz		(director of photography) (as Eddie Marritz)

Film Editing by
Chris King

Production Management
Tracy Garrett	....	production manager
Steve Harrow	....	post-production supervisor

Art Department
James McDonald	....	designer: "Alive and Well" poster

Sound Department
John Cameron	....	second sound recordist
Danny Finn	....	dubbing mixer
Danny Freemantle	....	assistant sound editor
Glenn Freemantle	....	sound supervisor
Mark Mandler	....	sound recordist
Dan Richardson	....	performance sound
James Ridgway	....	assistant re-recording mixer
James Ridgway	....	narration recording engineer
Richard Straker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Sturmer	....	engineer: Dolby
Andrew Wilkinson	....	supervising sound editor

Visual Effects by
Joseph Boyle	....	data operator: The Moving Picture Company
Matthew Bristowe	....	digital film recording supervisor: The Moving Picture Company
Alexis Haggar	....	visual effects supervisor: The Difference
Begoña Lopez	....	digital film recording supervisor: The Moving Picture Company (as Begona Lopez)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ellen Augarten	....	still photographer
Jason Ellis	....	second camera: music videos
Jason Ellis	....	still photographer
Mike Hodder	....	gaffer: music videos
Asia Kepka	....	still photographer
John Laprade	....	theatrical lighting
Richard Numeroff	....	third camera
Simon Poulter	....	director of photography: music videos
Stephen Walker	....	second camera

Editorial Department
Simon Astbury	....	colorist
Ben Cull	....	colorist editor
Peter Dale	....	commissioning editor: More4
James Doggett	....	avid assistant
Paul Dray	....	laboratory contact: Deluxe, London
Alec Gibson	....	grader: Deluxe, London
Chris Gray	....	on-line assistant
Steve Harrow	....	post-production consultant
Vid Price	....	editor: music videos
Miriam Rowe	....	avid assistant
Thomas Urbye	....	colourist: music videos

Music Department
Melina Alexandrou	....	music coordinator: Channel 4
Jim Armenti	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
Billy Arnold	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
Joe Benoit	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Helen Boston	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Louise Canady	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Bob Cilman	....	musical director: Young @ Heart Chorus
Elaine Fligman	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Jean Florio	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Len Fontaine	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Stan Goldman	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Eileen Hall	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Jeanne Hatch	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Chris Haynes	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
F. Alex Johnson	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
Donald Jones	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Jeremy Kimberlin	....	music advisor: Channel 4
Fred Knittle	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Norma Landry	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
John Larareo	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Patricia Larese	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Miriam Leader	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Patsy Linderme	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Brock Lynch	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Steve Martin	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Joe Mitchell	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Dora B. Morrow	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Gloria Parker	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Liria Petrides	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Ed Rehor	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Bob Salvini	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Steve Sanderson	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
Jack Schnepp	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Janice St. Laurence	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus (as Janice St Laurence)
Ed Wise	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band

Other crew
Matt Curtis	....	title design: main and end title
Jeff Derose	....	fixer: music videos, USA
Joel Dundorf	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232
Craig A. Emanuel	....	legal services: Loeb and Loeb (as Craig Emanuel)
Linda Flanigan	....	business manager
Erik Hyman	....	legal services: Loeb and Loeb
Sakina Ibrahim	....	choreographer
David Jenkins	....	representative: The Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton
Eva Johnsson	....	production coordinator
Sarah Kohler	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232
Michael Konderwicz	....	choreographer
Bob Mahnken	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232
Duane Robinson	....	representative: The Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton
Rob Skelton	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232
David Wiggall	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232

Thanks
Joe Benoit	....	this film is dedicated to
Richard P. George	....	this film is dedicated to
Eileen Hall	....	in memory of: who passed away on July 9 2007, aged 93. And is now sitting on her rainbow.
The Harmonicats	....	special thanks
Rena Ronson	....	special thanks
Bob Salvini	....	this film is dedicated to
Anita Walker	....	special thanks
Jeffrey Walker	....	special thanks
Kitty Walker	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• Walker George Films
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (in association with) (as Channel 4)

Distributors

• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Le Pacte (2008) (France) (theatrical)
• PiX (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Rialto Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (2006) (UK) (TV)
• Homescreen (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Senator Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Shoval Film Production (2008) (Israel) (all media)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Canada) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Vendetta Films (2007) (New Zealand) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Difference, The (visual effects by) (as The Difference)

Other Companies

• Academy of Music, Northampton (MA)  with special thanks to (as The Academy Of Music Audience)
• Academy of Music, Northampton (MA)  with special thanks to (as The Academy Of Music Theatre)
• Anvil Post Production  sound re-recorded at (as Anvil Post Production, London)
• City of Northampton, MA  sponsor: Young @ Heart Chorus (as City of Northampton, Massachusetts)
• Clear Cut Pictures  post production: original documentary
• Daily Hampshire Gazette  still photography: © 2007
• Loeb and Loeb  legal services
• Look, The  digital intermediate post-production
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance services
• Moving Picture Company, The  digital film recording
• National Endowment for the Arts, The  sponsor: Young @ Heart Chorus
• Peter Pan Bus Lines  acknowledgment
• Pinewood Studios Group, The  optical sound transfer (as Pinewood Sound)
• Professional Negative Cutting  negative cutting (as Professional Neg Cutting)
• Rapid Pictures  post production: feature
• Sapex Scripts  continuity script
• Sound 24  sound post production
• Steeple Post Production Services  post-production management
• The Massachusetts Cultural Council  sponsor: Young @ Heart Chorus

Also Known As:

Young at Heart (USA) (alternative spelling)
Young@Heart (USA) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild language and thematic elements.

Runtime:

USA:107 min | Germany:109 min (European Film Market)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:6 (f) | Germany:6 | Ireland:G | New Zealand:PG | South Korea:All | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Aerostat Promotions, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Movie Connections:

References The Sound of Music (1965)

Soundtrack:

Fix You

Forever Young

Greetings again from the darkness. This is about the most fun I have had at a movie in a long time. It is inspirational and heart-felt and emotional and enlightening. This group of elderly people are true entertainers and work hard at their craft.

The documentary approach by director Stpehen Walker at times is intrusive and abrupt, but the charm of the performers overcomes whatever clumsiness the film crew throws out. Choir director Bob Cilman is a pleasure to watch as he really drives the group to reach levels they otherwise wouldn't touch. Watching them try to capture a Sonic Youth song is at times painful, but in the end, redemptive. Even more painful is the "Yes I Can" sequence, but worst of all is watching one poor singer just unable to grasp his lines in the James Brown song "I Feel Good". Luckily, his onstage mishap has no bearing on the performance or his own enjoyment. What a triumphant moment.

The "stars" of the group are the ultra charismatic Eileen Hall. She is 92 years of dynamite! Opening the film belting out "Should I stay or should I go?" is even better when she describes it as a "Crash" song rather than "The Clash". Without a doubt the most touching performance in the film is from the amazing voice and persona of Fred Knittle as he sings Coldplay's "Fix You" in tribute to his recently deceased singing partner.

I dare anyone to keep a dry eye during Dylan's "Forever Young" or not bust out a smile during Bowie's "Golden Years". The video aspects do not take away from the film at all and "Staying Alive" will have you dancing in your seat! This is one of the special few for all ages. It is a must see and may require a little work or patience ... but it is absolutely worth the wait and the trip.