Telstar: The Joe Meek Story
Telstar: The Joe Meek Story | |
---|---|
Directed by | Nick Moran |
Written by | James Hicks Nick Moran |
Produced by | David Reid Adam Bohling Simon Jordan |
Starring | Con O'Neill Kevin Spacey Pam Ferris JJ Feild James Corden Tom Burke Ralf Little Sid Mitchell |
Cinematography | Peter Wignall |
Edited by | Alex Marsh |
Music by | Ilan Eshkeri, with songs by Joe Meek and others |
Production company | Aspiration Films |
Distributed by | G2 Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 119 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £1.2 million |
Telstar: The Joe Meek Story is a 2008 film adaptation of James Hicks' and Nick Moran's play Telstar, about record producer Joe Meek, which opened at the New Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End in June 2005.[1] The film is directed by Moran and stars Con O'Neill, who also played Joe Meek in the original play, while Kevin Spacey plays Meek's business partner, Major Wilfred Banks.
Plot
The film tells the story of record producer Joe Meek, the songwriter-producer behind the 1960s hits "
Cast
- Con O'Neill as Joe Meek
- Kevin Spacey as Major Wilfred Banks[2]
- Pam Ferris as Mrs Violet Shenton
- JJ Feild as Heinz Burt[2]
- James Corden as Clem Cattini[2]
- Tom Burke as Geoff Goddard
- Ralf Little as Chas Hodges
- Sid Mitchell as Patrick Pink (aka Robbie Duke)
- Mathew Baynton as Ritchie Blackmore
- Shaun Evans as Billy Kuy
- Callum Dixon as John Leyton
- Tom Harper as Alan Caddy
- Jon Lee as Billy Fury
- Nigel Harman as Jess Conrad
- Carl Barât as Gene Vincent[2]
- Justin Hawkins as Screaming Lord Sutch[2]
- Nick Moran as Alex Meek
- Jess Conrad as Larry Parnes
- Clem Cattini as Chauffeur
- Chas Hodges as Mr Brolin
- John Leyton as Sir Edward
- Robbie Duke as Stagehand
- Mike Sarne as Backstage Manager
- David Hayler as John Peel
- Craig Vye as Mitch Mitchell
- Joan Hodges as Biddy Meek
- Jimmy Carr as Gentleman
- Jim Field Smith as Ken Howard
- Marcus Brigstocke as Alan Blaikley
- Rita Tushingham as Essex Medium
- Gary Whelan as Detective
- Jack Roth as Youth
- Guy Lewis as Charles Blackwell(Music Arranger)
- Alan Scally as George Bellamy
- Dominic Arnall as Roger LaVern
Some of those portrayed in the film assisted with the production, or appeared in minor roles playing older characters alongside the actors portraying their younger selves. Singer
Criticism
After the premiere, Robbie Duke, formerly Patrick Pink, who had been Meek's young protégée and was present when Meek killed his landlady and himself, complained at how the filmmakers had portrayed his relationship with Joe Meek, suggesting that they had been lovers. He expressed his anger to the press,
Critical reception
Siobhan Synnot of the Scotland on Sunday praised the film because it did not employ the usual "cinematic gloss". She opined that it begins with a humorous tone but transforms into a "harrowing film", adding that Telstar "knocks the wind out of the sails" of The Boat That Rocked in that the performances are "more substantial and engaged". Synnot concluded that "like Meek's records, Telstar is raw, fatalistic and somewhat crudely put together, but it also boasts both-barrels, mega-watt energy."[6] The Guardian reviewer called it "fascinating but patchy".[2]
See also
References
- ^ Oberon Books: Telstar Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2012-08-11
- ^ a b c d e f g Jason Solomons (21 June 2009). "Telstar film review". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ Sunday Express, 7 June 2009: Joe Meek: Tragic demise of a gifted musical maverick Retrieved 2012-08-11
- ^ "Yahoo! Groups". Groups.yahoo.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Eaton, Duncan (19 June 2009). "Family's anger at Heinz Burt film's gay 'slur'". Southern Daily Echo. Newsquest. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ Synnot, Siobhan (13 June 2009). "Film review: Telstar". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 12 February 2013.