Expresso Bongo

Infobox Musical
name =Expresso Bongo
subtitle =


image_size =
caption =
music =Monty Norman, David Heneker
lyrics =Monty Norman, Julian Moore
book =Julian More, Wolf Mankovitz
basis =
productions =
awards =Infobox Film
name = Expresso Bongo


image_size =
caption =
director = Val Guest
producer =
writer = Wolf Mankowitz
Julian More (Play)
narrator =
starring = Laurence Harvey
Cliff Richard
Sylvia Sims
Yolande Donlan
Eric Pohlmann
Hermione Baddeley
Gilbert Harding
music = Robert Farnon
cinematography = John Wilcox
editing = Bill Lenny
distributor = British Lion Films
released = 1959
runtime = 111 min.
country = UK
language = English
budget =
preceded_by = Val Guest
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0053806

"Expresso Bongo" is a musical first produced on the stage at the Saville Theatre, London on 23 April 1958. Its book was written by Wolf Mankowitz and Julian More, with music written by David Heneker and Monty Norman, also the co-lyricist with Julian More. The production starred Paul Scofield with Hy Hazell, Millicent Martin and James Kenney. Subsequently it became a 1959 film directed by Val Guest and starring Laurence Harvey, Cliff Richard, and Yolande Donlan.

Fifty years on the film remains notable mainly as the second screen appearance by Cliff Richard and the Shadows during 1959, the first being the much darker Serious Charge.

Plot

Laurence Harvey plays sleazy hustler Johnny Jackson, who is always on the lookout for fresh talent to exploit, while managing his hectic life with his stripper girlfriend. Maise is looking to find a better life in singing. He discovers a teenage singer named Bert Rudge, played by Cliff Richard, in a coffee shop and sets about sending him along the rocky road to fame. He changes his name to Bongo Herbert and soon gets him a record deal and a relationship with singing sensation Dixie, played by Yolande Donlan.

However, Bongo soon realizes that his 50/50 contract with Johnny isn't as great as he thought it was, and breaks from Johnny's contract with help from Dixie.

This film also featured the band the Shadows, whose guitarist Hank Marvin greatly influenced such young guitarists as Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck.

External links

*http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsN/norman-monty.html Monty Norman plays
*imdb title|0053806|Expresso Bongo