Take Me High

Last updated

Take Me High
"Take Me High" (1973).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by David Askey
Written by Christopher Penfold
Produced by Kenneth Harper
Starring
Cinematography Norman Warwick
Music by Tony Cole
Distributed by Anglo-EMI Film Distributors Ltd.
Release date
  • 1973 (1973)
(UK)
Running time
90 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Take Me High (also known as Hot Property) is a 1973 British film directed by David Askey and starring Cliff Richard (in his final film role), Deborah Watling, Hugh Griffith, George Cole and Anthony Andrews. [1] It was written by Christopher Penfold.

Contents

Cast

Production

Set and filmed mainly in Birmingham, it features many landmarks from the city, including Gas Street Basin, Alpha Tower, the Council House (as a hotel), Spaghetti Junction, New Street, Corporation Street, Central Library and the Hall of Memory. [2]

Soundtrack

Take Me High
Take Me High album.jpg
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedDecember 1973
Recorded26–29 May & 3–6 September 1973
Genre Pop
Label Columbia (EMI) SCX6435
Producer David Mackay
Cliff Richard chronology
The Best of Cliff Volume Two
(1972)
Take Me High
(1973)
Help It Along
(1974)
Singles from Take Me High
  1. "Take Me High"
    Released: November 1973

A soundtrack album was released in December 1973 (UK LP: EMI – EMC 3016, [3] UK CD: EMI – 7243 4 77731 2 9 [4] ). The title track was a UK top 30 single (No. 27), and the album peaked at No. 41. [5] [6]

Track listing

Side One

  1. "It's Only Money" (Tony Cole)
  2. "Midnight Blue" (Tony Cole)
  3. "Hover” (Instrumental, The David Mackay Orchestra) (Tony Cole)
  4. "Why?" (with Anthony Andrews) (Tony Cole)
  5. "Life" (Tony Cole)
  6. "Driving" (Tony Cole)
  7. "The Game" (Tony Cole)
  8. "Brumburger Duet" (with Debbie Watling) (Tony Cole)

Side Two

  1. "Take Me High" (Tony Cole)
  2. "The Anti-Brotherhood of Man" (Tony Cole)
  3. "Winning" (Tony Cole)
  4. "Driving" (Instrumental, The David Mackay Orchestra) (Tony Cole)
  5. "Join the Band" (Tony Cole)
  6. "The Word is Love" (Tony Cole)
  7. "Brumburger (Finale)" (Tony Cole)

Releases

It was released on VHS by Warner Home Video in 1988. It was not given a retail release on DVD until March 2019, although a free DVD of the film was issued with the Daily Mail on 25 September 2010. [7]

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "An inauspicious feature debut for director David Askey, also marking Cliff Richard's first screen appearance since his Billy Graham vehicle of six years ago. Despite the plot's pretensions to social panacea, this is just one more creaky vehicle to display his charm and well-preserved good looks. The curious attempt to provide some realistic ballast by casting the star in the unlikely role of a merchant banker, and by relegating the songs to soundtrack accompaniment, is offset by the fact that the director's one discernible ambition is to capture as many pretty shots of Richard as possible. Hugh Griffith is left to provide scant light relief as the inevitable rumbustious eccentric." [8]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "The 'comedy' plods along with all the zip of Spaghetti Junction at rush hour. Indigestible." [9]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Jaded youth musical with no dancing but some zip and bounce to commend it to mums and dads if not to its intended young audience." [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Askey</span> English comedian and actor (1900–1982)

Arthur Bowden Askey, was an English comedian and actor. Askey was known for his short stature and distinctive horn-rimmed glasses, and his playful humour incorporating improvisation and catchphrases including "Hello playmates!", "I thank you" and "Before your very eyes".

<i>The Mod Squad</i> American television series

The Mod Squad is an American crime drama series, originally broadcast for five seasons on ABC from September 24, 1968, to March 1, 1973. It starred Michael Cole as Peter "Pete" Cochran, Clarence Williams III as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes, Peggy Lipton as Julie Barnes, and Tige Andrews as Captain Adam Greer. The executive producers of the series were Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy McHugh</span> Musical artist

James Francis McHugh was an American composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he is credited with over 500 songs. His songs were recorded by many artists, including Chet Baker, June Christy, Bing Crosby, Marlene Dietrich, Deanna Durbin, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Adelaide Hall, Billie Holiday, Beverly Kenney, Bill Kenny, The Everly Brothers, Peggy Lee, Carmen Miranda, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hank Marvin</span> English musician; guitarist for the Shadows

Hank Brian Marvin is an English multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is known as the lead guitarist for the Shadows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deborah Watling</span> English actress (1948–2017)

Deborah Patricia Watling was an English actress who played the role of Victoria Waterfield, a companion of the Second Doctor in the BBC television series Doctor Who from 1967 to 1968. She began her career as a child actress, making her debut as a regular in The Invisible Man (1958–1959). Watling is also well known for starring in the films Take Me High (1973) with Cliff Richard and That'll Be the Day (1973) with David Essex as well as playing Julie Robertson in The Newcomers (1969) and Norma Baker in Danger UXB (1979) on television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Watling</span> English actor (1923–2001)

Jack Stanley Watling was an English actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Shadows</span> English instrumental rock group

The Shadows were an English instrumental rock group, who dominated the British popular music charts in the pre-Beatles era from the late 1950s to the early 1960s. They served as the backing band for Cliff Richard from 1958 to 1968, and have joined him for several reunion tours.

<i>Bachelor Party</i> (1984 film) 1984 American sex comedy film by Neal Israel

Bachelor Party is a 1984 American sex comedy film directed by Neal Israel, written by Israel and Pat Proft, and starring Tom Hanks, Adrian Zmed, William Tepper, and Tawny Kitaen. The film revolves around a bachelor party that a group of men throw for their friend Rick Gassko (Hanks) on the eve of his wedding and whether he can remain faithful to his fiancée Debbie (Kitaen).

<i>Control</i> (2007 film) 2007 film by Anton Corbijn

Control is a 2007 biographical film about the life of Ian Curtis, singer of the late-1970s English post-punk band Joy Division. It is the first feature film directed by Anton Corbijn, who had worked with Joy Division as a photographer. The screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh, was based on the biography Touching from a Distance by Curtis's widow Deborah, who served as a co-producer on the film. Tony Wilson, who released Joy Division's records through his Factory Records label, also served as a co-producer. Curtis' bandmates Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris provided incidental music for the soundtrack via their post-Joy Division incarnation New Order. Control was filmed partly on location in Nottingham, Manchester, and Macclesfield, including areas where Curtis lived, and was shot in colour and then printed to black-and-white. Its title comes from the Joy Division song "She's Lost Control", and alludes to the fact that much of the plot deals with the notion that Curtis tried to remain in control of his own life, and yet had no control over his epilepsy and pharmaceutical side effects.

Deborah Joy Voigt is an American dramatic soprano who has sung roles in operas by Wagner and Richard Strauss.

<i>The Green Man</i> (film) 1956 British comedy film by Robert Day

The Green Man is a 1956 black and white British black comedy film directed by Robert Day and starring Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry-Thomas and Jill Adams. The screenplay was by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, based on the play Meet a Body.

<i>Meet Mr. Lucifer</i> 1953 British film by Anthony Pelissier

Meet Mr. Lucifer is a 1953 black-and-white British comedy satire film directed by Anthony Pelisser starring Stanley Holloway, Peggy Cummins and Jack Watling. It is based on the 1951 play Beggar My Neighbour by Arnold Ridley. It opened on 26 November 1953 at the Haymarket Gaumont cinema in London. It was filmed at Ealing Studios, London, and is one of the Ealing comedies.

Frank Ricotti is an English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist.

<i>Porridge</i> (film) 1979 British comedy film by Dick Clement

Porridge is a 1979 British comedy film directed by Dick Clement and starring Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay and Brian Wilde. It was written by Clement and Ian La Frenais based on their BBC television series Porridge (1974–1977). Most of prison officers and inmates from the original series appear in the film, with the notable exceptions of Lukewarm, Blanco, Heslop, and Harris. There is also a different governor, played by Geoffrey Bayldon rather than series regular Michael Barrington.

David Mackay is an Australian record producer, arranger and musical director. He began his music career at the age of 15 in a production of Bye Bye Birdie for J. C. Williamson Theatre Company. He also worked for a time recording musical sessions for local radio.

<i>In My Life</i> (Cilla Black album) 1974 studio album by Cilla Black

In My Life is the title of Cilla Black's eighth solo studio album released in 1974 by EMI. The album was her first to be produced by Australian producer David Mackay who had notched up chart hits for Cliff Richard and The New Seekers.

<i>Revenge</i> (1971 film) 1971 British thriller film directed by Sidney Hayers

Revenge is a 1971 British thriller film directed by Sidney Hayers and starring Joan Collins, James Booth and Sinéad Cusack. The screenplay was by John Kruse. It was released in the United States in May 1976 as Inn of the Frightened People.

<i>Now You See Me, Now You Dont</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Cliff Richard

Now You See Me, Now You Don't is the 25th studio album by Cliff Richard, released in August 1982. The album is largely a mix of lightly veiled and more overtly gospel-message tracks, together with a few non-gospel tracks. It reached No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart, No. 1 in Denmark, No. 21 in Australia and No. 19 in New Zealand. It was certified Gold in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me High (song)</span> 1973 single by Cliff Richard

"Take Me High" is a song by British singer Cliff Richard, released as a single in November 1973. Written by Tony Cole, it is the title track from the film of the same name in which Richard also stars. It was released as a single with the B-side "Celestial Houses", written by Terry Britten, and peaked at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Dressed for the Occasion</i> (Cliff Richard album) 1983 live album by Cliff Richard

Dressed for the Occasion is an album by English singer Cliff Richard, recorded live with the accompaniment of the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in November 1982. It was released in May 1983 on the EMI label and reached No. 7 in the UK Albums Chart and No. 30 in Australia. It was certified Silver in the UK.

References

  1. "Take Me High". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  2. "Take Me High". ReelStreets. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  3. "Take Me High". Discogs. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  4. "Take Me High". Discogs. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  5. "Cliff Richard UK Chart Positions". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  6. Steve Turner -Cliff Richard: The Biography 0745952798-2008 Page 265 The songs, written by Australian Tony Cole, were vacuous and instantly forgettable.
  7. "DVD: Take Me High".
  8. "Take Me High". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 41 (480): 35. 1 January 1974 via ProQuest.
  9. Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 905. ISBN   9780992936440.
  10. Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 988. ISBN   0586088946.