Based on the star's famous love of animals, this musical comedy portrays Billy setting out to add a sheepdog to his vast entourage of animals and coming back with an irresistible horse named Armitage instead. To his manager's horror, Billy smuggles the horse backstage during rehearsals for his big show and the horse proceeds to create havoc. Little do either of them know that Armitage is actually a thoroughbred racehorse. Then Billy's horse contracts pneumonia and Billy must choose between love of his horse and the big show.
The film is a semi-autobiographical musical comedy based on a script by Fury's manager. It was one of several rock musicals from Nat Cohen at Anglo-Amalgamated, starting with The Tommy Steele Story and including Play It Cool (1962) also with Fury.[4] In July 1964 Fury signed a contract with Anglo to make three films over the next two years of which I've gotta horse was to be the first.[5]
The film was shot on location in Techniscope at Great Yarmouth where Fury had just finished his summer season at the Royal Aquarium Theatre which was used as the theatre in the film, with shooting also taking place at Shepperton Studios. It took place in September 1964. [6][7][8]
According to Amanda Barrie, continuity on the film was poor because Hume would routinely throw out pages of the script if running behind schedule. She also says the first two weeks of filming had to be re-shot because the wrong film stock had been used. Barrie says she and Fury had an affair during filmig.[9] The film features Fury's race horse, Anselmo, and several of his dogs.
"Wonderful Day" (Mike Leander), performed by the cast.
Billy Fury's numbers included his backing group The Gamblers, consisting of Jim Crawford (lead guitar/vocals), Alan George (piano/organ), Andy Mac (drums), Ken Brady (sax), Tony Diamond (guitar, trumpet, vocals) and Alan Sanders (bass vocals).[7]
The film's soundtrack album "I've Gotta Horse" was released in March 1965. It was produced by Dick Rowe for Decca Records (Decca LK 4677). It does not include four of the songs from the film: "I Must Be Dreaming", "Like a Child", "My Friend" and "How Can You Tell".[7]
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The line-up of songs and production numbers is unusually generous: sometimes there is only a brief snippet of dialogue or story development (not that there is, in fact, much of a plot) to separate them. The dance ensembles are executed with precision, yet despite a general liveliness and even suggestions of imagination in the presentation, they lack that eye-catching exuberance and flair which one associates with Hollywood: somehow or other the polish does not create a real shine. Billy Fury makes an agreeable hero, but it is Amanda Barrie who, despite having little to do, steals the show through sheer personality and an ability to make a mediocre line sound like a pearl of humour."[11]
References
↑ "A pop veteran". Daily Herald. 25 July 1964. p.4.
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