Sweet Beat
{{Short description|1959 British film by Ronnie Albert}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Sweet Beat
| image = Sweet_Beat_film_US_Theatrical_release_poster_(1959).png
| caption = U.S. theatrical release poster
| director = Ronnie Albert
| story = Sheldon Stark
| producer = Jeffrey S. Kruger
| writer =
| screenplay = Ron Ahran
| editing = Jay Dea
| music = Malcolm Lockyer
| starring = Julie Amber
Sheldon Lawrence
Irv Bauer
| cinematography = S.D Onions
| studio = Flamingo Film Productions
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1959}}
| runtime = 57 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
}}
Sweet Beat (U.S. title: The Amorous Sex) is a 1959 British 'B'{{Cite book |last=Chibnall |first=Steve |title=The British 'B' Film |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=205}} black-and-white musical film directed by Ronnie Albert and starring Julie Amber, Sheldon Lawrence and Irv Bauer.{{Cite web|title=Sweet Beat|url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150281924|access-date=1 February 2024|website=British Film Institute Collections Search}} 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.
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
- Julie Amber as Bonnie Martyn
- Sheldon Lawrence as Bill "Larry" Lacey
- Irv Bauer as Dave Lafferts
- Leonie Page as Tina Miller
- David Browning as Gerry Turner
- Al Burnett as club owner
- Keith Fordyce as disc jockey (himself)
- Billy Myles as himself
- Cindy Man as herself (cut from U.S. version)
- Fred Parris as himself
- Lee Allen as himself
- The Mello-Kings as themselves
- The Five Satins as themselves
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:
- "Thanks" (Peter Warren, Adrienne Birkhard, Jeff Kruger)
- "Just for the Asking" (Buddy Kaye, Leon Carr)
- "Recently" (Tommie Connor)
- "Careless Caresses" (Billy Myles)
- "The Joker" (Billy Myles)
- "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart?" (Winfield Scott)
- "Boppin' at the Hop" (Lee Allen, A.Tyler)
- "Sweet Beat" (Tony Crombie)
- "Luva Luva Love Me" (George Scheck)
- "Tonite Tonite" (Billy Myles)
- "I Remember (in the Still of the Nite)" (Fred Parris)
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).{{Cite web |title=Various – Music From The Film Sweet Beat |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4641595-Various-Music-From-The-Film-Sweet-Beat |access-date=1 February 2024 |website=Discogs}}
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."{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1959 |title=Sweet Beat |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305826727/8031C0A2E7E429BPQ/1 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=26 |issue=300 |pages=160 |via=ProQuest}}
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."{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=B.T. Batsford Ltd. |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=383}}
Home media
The film was released on DVD in 2009 by Pegasus Entertainment.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0056542|Sweet Beat}}
Category:British black-and-white films