Sweet Beat

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Sweet Beat
Sweet Beat film US Theatrical release poster (1959).png
U.S. theatrical release poster
Directed byRonnie Albert
Screenplay byRon Ahran
Story bySheldon Stark
Produced by Jeffrey S. Kruger
StarringJulie Amber
Sheldon Lawrence
Irv Bauer
CinematographyS.D Onions
Edited byJay Dea
Music by Malcolm Lockyer
Production
company
Flamingo Film Productions
Release date
  • 1959 (1959)
Running time
57 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Sweet Beat (U.S. title: The Amorous Sex) is a 1959 British 'B' [1] black-and-white musical film directed by Ronnie Albert and starring Julie Amber, Sheldon Lawrence and Irv Bauer. [2] The screenplay was by Ron Ahran based on a story by Sheldon Stark. It includes appearances by several American pop acts including The Melo-Kings and The Five Satins.

Contents

Plot

Bonnie Martyn, winner of a holiday camp beauty contest, heads to London seeking fame as a singer. She is promised a record deal, and is tricked into going to New York. She is eventually reunited with her boyfriend Bill Lacey.

Cast

Production

Filming locations included Butlin's holiday camps at Clacton-on-Sea and Cliftonville, and London's The Stork Room, run by Al Burnett.

Soundtrack

The film featured the following songs:

In 1959 a 7-inch double A/B side EP was released in the UK with "Tonite Tonite", "I Remember", "Boppin' at the Hop" and "Luva Luva Love Me" (Top Rank Records, JKR 8007). [3]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A mild and artless warning to the stage struck, relying on striptease, "pop" numbers and holiday camp and night club backgrounds for its teen-age appeal. Direction and performance are very uneven." [4]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "poor", writing: "Bottom-budget pop musical/moral warning has that home-made look." [5]

Home media

The film was released on DVD in 2009 by Pegasus Entertainment.

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References

  1. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 205. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. "Sweet Beat". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  3. "Various – Music From The Film Sweet Beat". Discogs. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  4. "Sweet Beat". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 26 (300): 160. 1 January 1959 via ProQuest.
  5. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 383. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.