Rent Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1967)

Teenage Dreams. - Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush review by Steve

Charming coming of age comedy about the sexual experiences and daydreams of a teenage boy in the long summer between school and college, and his search for the ideal girl. This story has been told many times, but there's an artlessness here which is poignant as well as funny. It's a record of a time and a place; the English new towns during the sixties sexual revolution.

Barry Evans lacks charisma as the virgin in need of experience, but maybe that's appropriate. He pursues a variety of contrasting archetypes. My pick is Angela Scoular as a sexually precocious posh girl with emancipated parents. The film often echoes Billy Liar, particularly when Judy Geeson is running through her Julie Christie mannerisms.

It was shot on the streets of Stevenage with Evans on his bike setting out his teenage philosophy on life and love. This may now seem naive but it all adds up to sweet nostalgia. There are inserts of psychedelic montage and a groovy original soundtrack by Spencer Davis Group and Traffic. The girls wear trendy gear from Carnaby Street.

The film is winsome rather than sophisticated, though there is unexpected nudity. Some of the appeal is that it is so British. If this was an American B film in '68, all the kids would be cool and driving cars and tuning in and turning on. But this unpretentious time capsule has an innocence, and is probably nearer the real experiences of sixties teenagers.