Expresso Bongo

In 1958, Julian More and Wolf Mankowitz teamed up on the musical Expresso Bongo. Starring Paul Scofield, Millicent Martin and James Kenney, it explored the seedy side of the English music industry. Its mixture of caustic satire and witty music proved a smash hit, outperforming even My Fair Lady's contemporaneous run.

A year later, Mankowitz helped director Val Guest (The Quatermass Xperiment) bring Expresso Bongo to the screen. With singer Cliff Richard cast as musician Bert, the movie smoothed over the play's rougher edges, removing most of the songs and making Bert more likeable. Regardless, much of the nastiness shines through, largely through Laurence Harvey's energetic turn.

Johnny Jackson (Laurence Harvey) is a hard-luck agent reluctant to promote his minimally-talented girlfriend (Sylvia Sim). Spotting Bert Rudge (Cliff Richard) performing in a coffee shop, Johnny gets an idea. Through Johnny's tireless promotion, "Bongo Herbert" becomes London's next big thing. However, Bert starts to chafe at his unequal contract, which easily benefits Johnny more than him. After a liaison with feisty American actress Dixie Collins (Yolande Donlan), Bert decides to cut loose of Johnny.

Expresso Bongo captures London just before Beatlemania and the '60s mod scene exploded. The London night life pops with all kinds of attractions, from seedy stripteases and coffee joints to glamorous night clubs. Stardom is a lucky turn away, with bobbysoxers and the media looking for the next big thing. Mankowitz's script retains its razor-edge, with bristling bandinage and some surprising profanity. Guest's spirited direction provides the right atmosphere of swinging seediness, making use of long-takes and expressive cinematography.

Even bowdlerized, Bongo's depiction of the music industry isn't pretty. Johnny is absolutely shameless in advancing himself. He fast-talks producers, appears on TV and moulds Bert's image on a whim ("You know what's missing... religion!"). Even his contract isn't strictly legal. Bert's character suffers: in the play he was a talentless schemer who proves even more wily than Johnny. His depiction here as a naive, unwitting star is more conventional but still effective. Johnny's finally routed by Dixie, whom he'd ironically used to advance Bert. Her learned cynicism makes mincemeat of Johnny's pretensions.

Laurence Harvey provides a manic, sleazy energy generally lacking in his screen performances. His Johnny's one of the great movie cads, whose charm and snappy dialogue mesh with his heartless ambition - a bastard you love to hate. Cliff Richard gives a blandly likeable performance that Ricky Nelson would approve of. His musical numbers are backed by his long-time band The Shadows. Fetching Sylvia Sims and dishy Yolande Donlan provide nice accompaniment.

Expresso Bongo is an entertainingly cynical romp through pre-Mod London. It's a fascinating time capsule that retains an off-beat, nasty charm.