Author: Roger Mellor
The Golden Disc (1958) (Released in the USA as 'The Inbetween Age')
Between 1956 and 1958 film producers were confused. They didn't know whether rock and pop was just a passing fad (like 3D movies, another 1950's phenomenon), or whether 'rock was here to stay'. So producers were clearly hedging their bets with 'The Golden Disc' (Directed by Don Sharp), which manages to embrace a wide range of musical styles. The musical numbers (musical director: Philip Green) feature :'I'm Gonna Wrap You Up' (by Ray Mack, Philip Green) performed by Dennis Lotis; 'Before We Say Goodnight' (by Norman Newell, Philip Green) performed by Mary Steele; 'Dynamo' (by Tommy Connor) performed by the Terry Kennedy Group ; 'C'min and be Loved' (by Len Paverman) performed by Terry Dene ; 'Charm' (by Ray Mack, Philip Green) performed by Terry Dene; 'The Inbetween Age' (by Ray Mack, Philip Green) performed by Sheila Buxton ; 'Let Me Lie' (by Sonny Stewart) performed by Sonny Stewart and his Skiffle Kings; 'Candy Floss' (by Len Paverman) performed by Terry Dene; 'Lower Deck' (by Phil Seamon) performed by Phil Seamon Jazz Group; 'Balmoral Melody' (by Philip Green) performed by Murray Campbell ); 'Johnny O' (by Len Praverman) performed by Nancy Whiskey, and 'The Golden Age' (by Michael Robbins, Richard Dix) performed by Terry Dene. 'The Golden Disc' includes some skiffle, rock n' roll, jazz (in an all to brief 'Birth of the Cool' type piece from a British jazz combo), ballads, and even a trumpet solo clearly modelled on the then popular Eddie Calvert. The story revolves around the 'Lucky Charm' coffee bar (the name 'sounds gay' says wide eyed Mary Steele who looks and sounds as if she has just stepped out of a 1950's television commercial for OMO or DAZ, and probably has). Her acting is wooden and awkward - Mary Steele is delightfully bad, in a particularly 1950's way.....The movie also stars Canadian Lee Patterson (who had very period hairstyle, became a regular star of British second features between 1956 and 1960), and the DJ David Jacobs (as a TV presenter of 'Tip for the Top'). However, if you recall being a 1958 teenage bobbysoxer who screamed and swooned at the microphone technique of Denis Lotis and mobbed him at the stage door of provincial variety theatres, or are an archeologist interested in 1958 pop, then you will find much to enjoy. For this is the real thing........however bad it may seem to us in hindsight, particularly in this very 'B' grade movie from Butchers Film Productions, which was filmed at (the soon to close) Walton Studios, Walton on Thames. With movies like this, it is not difficult to see why........
By Roger Mellor If you have any comments on this review, or the movie, you can e mail me at: roger@mellor48.freeserve.co.uk Check out the British Musical Movies site at: http://britmusicalfilm.webjump.com
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