ChristineCB

After getting a parental lecture on Beatnik Films, and after several good suggestions (such as "BEAT GIRL, aka WILD FOR KICKS 1960, dir. Edmond Greville"), those same tsk-tsk-ing parental units have been giggling about their their own fond memories of Beatnik-early '60s pop films. And of course, none of the film titles are remembered!

I realize FERRY CROSS THE MERSEY probably won't fit with the "Beatnik" side of this, but perhaps a collection could span from the Motorcycle-Delinquent Gang types like THE WILD ONE and BLACKBOARD JUNGLE into previously mentioned BEAT GIRL, Val Guest's EXPRESSO BONGO, and beyond into the FERRY CROSS THE MERSEY and Brit Invasion film era.

Is that too broad? Too diverse? My folks' eye-rolls made me think this film genre is more full of bad films than most other genres put together. Nevertheless, our shelves have never been purged merely because of "bad films" - heaven forbid!

I've enjoyed Jimmy Stewart's BELL BOOK & CANDLE and while there is a brief tribute to the Lower East Side's Beatnik-Coffeehouse life, I don't know if that film would qualify as anything close to 'beatnik' - I tend to believe
Ernie Kovacs is probably closer to Beat-dom than any bongo-playing Jack Lemmon, although Jack really did know the piano bits!

Still, it's a much sanitized version of that club scene, I'm sure. And moreover, whatever "music" they offer up isn't from the so-called stars of the era, and I think their performances should be centerpieces to this genre's films.

Or should it be depictions of lifestyle, a la WEST SIDE STORY - gag, oh please no - no WEST SIDE, no GREASE, please please. No AMERICAN GRAFFITTI types. Or am I wrong? Do these films form a crucial view on Beatnik-Early 60s lifestyle-music movies?

I also am sort of excluding the American Beach Bingo movies, too. Or is there a good argument to include those?

I am thinking these films will be London or maybe Manhattan films, not Marlon Brando puttering around or Brian Wilson in striped shirts, or American hotrods driving off of Griffith Park cliffs. But I'm open to any debates and suggestions.

I'd love to read about your reviews or memories of any films you'd care to suggest.

dylan

Shouldn't "beatnik" films be about the representation of the beat movement in the cinema?

You could start with Pull My Daisy (1959) which features most of the key players in the movement: Ginsberg, Kerouac, Orlovsky, etc. William Burroughs could be represented by Towers Open Fire (1963) and Naked Lunch (1991) There's the documentary Dont Look Back (1967) about Bob Dylan's 1965 tour of the UK which features Joan Baez, Donovan & Bobby Neuwirth and similarly Scorsese's The Last Waltz (1978) with The Band and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

You can see what Hollywood made of the Beat Generation with its dreadful version of Kerouac's The Subterraneans (1960)

D.

ChristineCB

I don't know where (or if, in my pea-brain) I have any limits to this genre - maybe we can better determine that as we go on.

Dylan's DON'T LOOK BACK seemed a little late for this collection but after you mentioned it, there is some reminiscent details in there of his early days. I'm too uneducated to know if the Folkie and Beatnik camps were antagonistic or sympathetic to each other - if there was a divide at all. And LAST WALTZ' music seems too modern but I remember there are discussions of rockabilly music with Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks at some point.

I'm slightly more aware of the genesis of Mods and Rockers, but am unclear of their relationships to the Beat Generation - if any.

Thanks for those suggested titles.

natterjack

This fits into the period, but probably isn't exactly the kind of thing that you are looking for. Bongos are present though!

Anyway its in the public domain and is free to download:

Internet Archive: Details: Ask Me, Don't Tell Me

ChristineCB

I'm downloading this film as suggested. Reading the reviews, it sounds like a more interesting film than a mere Beatnik exposé (if that indeed is what I'm looking for - WHO KNOWS what that is!! ha ha).

And there's a phrase used by one reviewer - "Post WWII Greaserdom". Pretty interesting. I am going to have to check up on pompadours and Brylcreem.

Mr SmartyPants was doing his best (worst? what's the diff!) Paul Lynde impersonation of KIDS! WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH KIDS TODAY? from Bye Bye Birdie. I think that film could put an end to my exploration of early '60s pop films, right?!! But I do like Paul Lynde...or I did until I heard Mr SmartyPants' impersonation. Now THERE is a way to lose yer lunch-!

julian_craster

Check out Frank Gorshin in the musical BELLS ARE RINGING....(MGM, US, 1959)
and THE PARTY'S OVER starring Oliver Reed (very elusive)...

Merton Park

The System with Oliver Reed is good.

theuofc

Not really a Beatnik film but it does have the obligatory drug haze scene, 60s fashions and atmosphere, with a Jerry Goldsmith score.......Dirk Bogarde as master codebreaker "Sebastian" (1968) with Susannah York and Gielgud.

All the best,

Barbara

Dirk_Bogarde_Brigade - a Yahoo Group

Freddy

A film made in 1962 and starring the late Billy Fury 'Play it Cool'. (b/w)
This was the first cinema feature film directed by Michael Winner. It also stars Helen Shapiro and Shane Fenton and the Fentones (now Alvin Stardust) and others.

Freddy

ChristineCB

Thanks for all of these! This - like all my other requests for your help in my collection-itis - is always appreciated!

ChristineCB

Thanks for all the contributions and help. Father and Mother have not returned any of the several disks yet, and today, Father was getting my husband to teach him Gerry & The Pacemaker songs (the curse of FERRY 'CROSS THE MERSEY, I know; King Tut's Tomb couldn't have a more certain affect). I'm just glad I don't have to squeal like a 16-year-old.

Mom's doing that.