Telstar: The Joe Meek Story (2008)

Director:

Nick Moran

Writers:

James Hicks (writer)
James Hicks (play)

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Hit after hit... someone's going to get hurt

Plot:

A music-infused drama about Joe Meek, the flamboyantly gay, tone deaf, songwriter-producer behind the '60s hits "Have I the Right," "Just Like Eddie," "Johnny, Remember Me" and "Telstar." |

Plot Keywords:

London England | Lawyer | 1960s | Recording Studio | One Word Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Con O'Neill	...	Joe Meek
Kevin Spacey	...	Major Wilfred Banks
Pam Ferris	...	Mrs. Violet Shenton
JJ Feild	...	Heinz Burt
James Corden	...	Clem Cattini
Tom Burke	...	Geoff Goddard
Ralf Little	...	Chas Hodges
Sid Mitchell	...	Patrick Pink
Mathew Baynton	...	Ritchie Blackmore
Shaun Evans	...	Billy Kuy
Callum Dixon	...	John Leyton
Tom Harper	...	Alan Caddy
Jon Lee	...	Billy Fury
Nigel Harman	...	Jess Conrad
Carl Barât	...	Gene Vincent

Also Known As:

Telstar (UK) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Holloway Road, Holloway, London, England, UK

Company:

Aspiration Films

Trivia:

Ralf Little plays the part of musician Chas Hodges, whilst Chas Hodges himself appears in the part of Mr. Brolin.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When the group are touring in the black van it is quite clearly set in 1963 & yet the registration plate of the van shows the suffix "D" which was issued in the year 1966.

Soundtrack:

Play it Cool

Fame, fortune and it all goes horribly wrong

Saw this last night at the LFF, and while it does betray its stagey origins from time to time, there is much to enjoy in this biopic of Joe Meek, legendary music producer and nutcase. The film doesn't shy away from the murkier aspects of this mercurial character's life - the drugs, the rent boys, the cottaging, the verbal and physical abuse meted out to all and sundry - but Meek does emerge as something of a sympathetic character. I guess that's why so many people put up with him - there must have been something charming about him.

Good performances - including a pointless cameo from Kevin Spacey as Meek's financial backer, the appropriately named Major Banks. Standouts include the young actors playing Heinz and Patrick, the latter being a general factotum-cum-boyfriend who is one of the few people loyal to the last.

Nick Moran should be commended for bringing this quirky, sometime shocking story to the screen - whether it will find an audience beyond 60s music fans or those with a morbid curiosity for stories of pop scandals will remain to be seen.

Incidentally, I live in Islington and walked home past 304 Holloway Road, where almost the whole film takes place. It did send shivers down my spine.