Farewell Performance

Farewell Performance
Lobby card
Directed by	Robert Tronson
Written by	Aileen Burke Leone Stuart
Produced by	Jim O'Connolly
Starring	David Kernan Frederick Jaeger Delphi Lawrence
Music by	Joe Meek
Production company	Sevenay Productions
Distributed by	J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors [1]
Release date	December 1963 (1963-12)
Running time	73 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Farewell Performance is a 1963 British crime film directed by Robert Tronson and starring David Kernan, Frederick Jaeger and Delphi Lawrence. ^{[2] [3]}

It features musical interludes from Joe Meek acts including The Tornados and Heinz.

It is considered a lost film and is on the BFI National Archive's 75 Most Wanted List of missing films ^[4] , but several scenes from the film were posted on YouTube in January 2024, with further claims that half of the film's running time is extant.

Plot

After a pop singer is murdered, the police have to figure out which of his many enemies is responsible.

Cast

• David Kernan as Ray Baron
• Delphi Lawrence as Janice Marlon
• Frederick Jaeger as Paul Warner
• Derek Francis as Superintendent Raven
• Alfred Burke as Marlon
• John Kelland as Mitch
• Toni Gilpin as Carol
• James Copeland as Andrews
• Ron Perry as Dennis
• Denise Coffey as Dickie
• Artro Morris as George
• Sean Lynch as Harry
• Hugh Futcher as Max
• Donald Tandy as Woods
• Middleton Woods as Pop
• Fred Hugh as Manager
• The Tornados as Themselves
• Heinz as Himself
• Tommy Devel and Partner as Themselves

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Although the routine plot is supported by a number of pop music interludes, presumably inserted with the object of appealing to teenagers, the backstage murder theme, and even much of the dialogue, harks back to the early Thirties. The number of suspects is more limited than usual, and the identity of the murderer is not very skilfully concealed." ^[5]

See also

• List of lost films

References

1. Vagg, Stephen (30 July 2025). "Forgotten British Film Studios: The Rank Organisation, 1963 and 1964". Filmink. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
2. "Farewell Performance". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
3. "Farewell Performance". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009.
4. "Farewell Performance / BFI Most Wanted". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
5. "Farewell Performance". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 30 (348): 130. 1 January 1963. ProQuest   1305832245.

External links

• Farewell Performance at IMDb