Rent That'll Be the Day (1973)

Sharp British Kitchen Sink Drama - That'll Be the Day review by GI

This is a really smart British kitchen sink drama set in post war Britain and charting the early years of a young man deserted by his father who, despite his intelligence, abandons his future, runs away from home and tries to discover some direction in life. Rising pop star David Essex is rather excellent as the young man, Jim MacLaine, and courageous with this role as Jim is a despicable character. Cowardly, deceitful and lacking any sense of responsibility the film follows his life from leaving his domineering mother to fairground worker and his eventual return home, marriage and ultimate desertion of his wife and child. Along the way he treats women as objects (in part revenge for his early rejection by girls) and at one time rapes a teenager. So for Essex to not only take this role but also manage to play the part with such conviction warrants applause. The film accurately creates Britain of the late 50s and early 60s and the depiction of an everyman who yearns for fame and fortune but who is selfish and weak is superbly done. Ringo Starr gives an excellent performance as Jim's friend and mentor but who is ultimately betrayed by him and the remaining cast are all fabulous including James Booth, Robert Lindsay and Rosemary leach. The soundtrack is fantastic with many classic rock 'n' roll songs from the period. A forgotten gem and a drama that deserves rediscovery so highly recommended if you've never seen it.

Jukebox Realism. - That'll Be the Day review by Steve

A British version of those Hollywood coming-of-age jukebox musicals set in the rock 'n' roll years which were in vogue around the turn of the seventies. Only there's no sun, surf and sports cars. This is extraordinarily desolate! David Essex plays a mixed up kid who drops out of school to take a string of dead end jobs while working up the ambition to join a rock band.

So, there's a scene at the beach. But it's not packed with buff teenagers glistening in the sunshine. The surly runaway is working a low paid job renting deckchairs in the relentless English rain! This isn't idealised nostalgia. But it does have the best soundtrack of any of these fifties memory pieces, and the spin off album was a huge seller.

Critics assumed that the anti-hero is based on John Lennon, which doesn't flatter the former Beatle one bit. Essex portrays an abominable scumbag! Fortunately he has enough superficial charm to make plausible his incessant sexual conquest. But behind the star's good looks, this man is a monster.

Ringo Starr is pretty good as his dodgy rocker mate, and there are a few cameos by other rock stars, like Keith Moon and Billy Fury. It's interesting how the film takes a normally romantic genre and makes it so pessimistic. But of course, the fifties in the UK was a time of austerity. It's an interesting curiosity, but not a feelgood experience.