Search - The Cliff Richard Collection (The Young Ones / Summer Holiday / Wonderful Life) on DVD

Outstanding, nostalgic collection

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 03/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This amazing box-set comprises of the three musicals Cliff Richard made in the 1960's. "The Young Ones", "Summer Holiday" and the vastly-overlooked "Wonderful Life" which is only available exclusively in this box set.THE YOUNG ONES was the top British box-office attraction of 1961, and still my favorite of all the Cliff Richard films. In the film, Cliff plays Nicky Black, the handsome son of a wealthy businessman (Robert Morley) whose talents lie in performing and not business like his stuffy father. When the local youth-club is to be torn down, Nicky, his girlfriend Toni (Carole Gray) and their friends decide to stage a benefit show, with Nicky as the "Mystery Singer".Top stuff. Carole Gray is showcased in several splashy numbers including her song "No One But Nicky". Gray was one of the top West End stars of the day and had made acclaimed performances in "West Side Story" as well as "The Boy Friend".SUMMER HOLIDAY was the follow-up to mega-hit THE YOUNG ONES, and features fine performances from Melvyn Hayes and Una Stubbs, with Broadway's Lauri Peters, fresh from her run as Liesl in "Sound of Music", as Richard's love interest Barbara Winters.
In the film Richard and his car-mechanic mates decide to drive a cumbersome double-decker bus from London to Athens for a vacation. Along the way they indulge in some rather amusing escapades.WONDERFUL LIFE was lushly filmed on location in the Canary Islands, with Melvyn Hayes and Una Stubbs again co-starring. This time, a young Susan Hampshire ("Monarch of the Glen") is wooed by Richard. This film features many overly-designed dance numbers, and Richard is at his vocal best.The transfers for all three films are remarkably-clean and free of dirt and scratches. The colors are fully-saturated and the 2-channel stereo sound serves its purpose. All three films are in their correct aspect ratio (2:35:1)On the whole, to have all three films available in this box-set is superb. THE YOUNG ONES and SUMMER HOLIDAY are also available individually."

Cliff Richard Movies on CD

R. Reynolds | United States | 03/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've not seen these on DVD yet, as they haven't been released, but I have seen the movies before. I'm giving it a 5 Star rating mainly because I can soon buy and enjoy these long sought after films!For those of you who enjoy Cliff Richard music and his old movies, this will be a great acquisition for you! Many of his early 60s hits appear in the movies along with some other great songs. Not all the songs are great, but there is enough enjoyable music to please most everyone. I'd equate these movies with the Elvis movies and other teen idol movies from that time. They're not academy award material, but they sure are fun to watch and reminesce to -and better than most of the films from that genre. Hopefully the picture and sound quality will be good. The release of these films on DVD will be a great prize for Cliff's many fans here in the USA and for [a great price] for the three, this is a real bargain! For anyone who's a Cliff fan or who enjoys early 60s music from that era, buy this set!!! ...and for anyone who doesn't know of Sir Cliff Richard, you've been missing out on one of England's great treasures!"

Wake up America ! to the delights of these British musicals

Byron Kolln | 08/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The three films in this DVD package can be viewed as a trilogy - all were
British financed and produced by Associated British Picture Corporation, in
Colour and Widescreen, between 1961- 64, a time when Cliff Richard was
Britain's best-selling pop singer. Sir Cliff has been a British institution
for over 40 years, and these films did much to widen his appeal to all age
groups.
Although they were hardly noticed when given a limited release in the USA
under other titles, 'The Young Ones' (TYO) and 'Summer Holiday' (SH) were
major UK box office hits of their day. 'Wonderful Life' (WL) was not so
successful - The Beatles 'A Hard Days Night ' made it suddenly appear rather
quaint and old- fashioned, but Cliff had a 3 picture deal with ABPC, so
they had to go ahead with it
The films share many common personnel : all have screenplays and several
songs by the talented West End revue writers Peter Myers and Ronnie Cass;
they feature Musical Director Stanley Black ; Choreographers Herbert Ross
(TYO, SH, soon to be a major Hollywood film director) and Gillian Lynne (WL,
later to stage 'Cats' worldwide) ; Directors Sidney Furie (TYO, WL) and
Peter 'Bullitt' Yates (SH), the instrumental group 'The Shadows' (who have a
bigger acting role in WL), and the young regulars Una Stubbs, Melvyn Hayes,
Richard O'Sullivan and Teddy Green (TYO). Some of the dancers are featured
in all three films.
All the plots involve involve idealistic youth (Cliff and Gang) versus
cynical/corrupt middle age: Propert tycoon Robert Morley (TYO), American
father of heiress Lauri Peters (Lionel Murton) (SH), and fading film
director Walter Slezak (WL), whose real-life film credits go back to silent
era. Yes, the plots are feeble and the scripts simple-minded, but these are
no more than an excuse to feature about 40 musical numbers, many in easy
listening 1960s style amongst the 'beat' numbers, which are all very catchy.
Two of the films feature extended production mumbers about putting on a
stage show (TYO), and the history of the movies (WL) which are very well
staged.
Most folks dismiss 'WL' as the weakest of the three, but it does star the
most attractive of Cliff's leading ladies, the lovely, radiant Susan
Hampshire (fresh from starring in West End Julian Slade musical ('Follow
That Girl) and Disney films, and soon to be Fleur in BBC' s 'Forsyte
Saga' ), and 1940s star Derek Bond (Nicholas Nickleby) in a comedy cameo
role as faded film star.
These films are safe family entertainment, ideal for pre-teens, and for
those 'oldies' who enjoyed them the first time round.
And if you think these films are no better than the 1960s Elvis Presley and
the 'Beach Party' films, then you are in for a pleasant surprise- the songs
and dances are of much higher quality. The DVD transfers are bright and
sharp, and the sound crisp and clear. So this is a clarion call to America -
Discover now what you have been missing all these years !"

Cliff & The Shadows rock the UK before the Fabs

R. Riis | NY | 06/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cliff Richard went virtually unnoticed in the US in his 1960s heyday, but the films he made were more energetic and sincere than all but a few made by Elvis. "Summer Holiday" is a bit thin on plot but a colorful, tuneful treat. "The Young Ones" presents a gritty-but-clean look at the UK club scene circa 1960. It's a hoot. "Wonderful Life" is the lesser of the three films, but still enjoyable -- and unavailable outside of this boxed set. Finally, this set comes in at the price of two of the DVDs bought separately. Nice!"