TOMMY STEELE FILMOLOGY

KILL ME TOMORROW – 1957 – role of Tommy Steele

One day of work, playing himself, set Tommy on the road to filmdom! Movie starred Pat O’Brien, George Coulouris, Lois Maxwell, Robert Brown. Tommy got 4^th billing for one day of work singing “Rebel Rock”! Directed by Terence Fisher. From British Cinema.

THE TOMMY STEELE STORY – 1957 – role of Tommy Steele

Filming began only six months after Tommy’s first recording, with guest appearances by The Steelemen, Humphrey Lyttelton and his band, the Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group, and other great acts of the day. Classic “rags to riches” story. Features 14 top hits of the day: Elevator Rock, Will It Be You?, Two Eyes, I Like, Doomsday Rock, Cannibal Pot, Time to Kill, Teenage Party. Butterfingers, You Gotta Go, Take Me Back Baby, A Handful of Songs, Water Water, and Build Up – written mostly by Tommy Steele, along with Lionel Bart and Michael Pratt. Soundtrack produced by Decca Records. Directed by Gerard Bryant. From Anglo Amalgamated Films. The film premiered at the Rialto Cinema, Leicester Square in May, 1957 and was proclaimed to be “The true story of Britain’s most sensational entertainer.” (Of course we know that “literary license” was taken.) The film, which cost 25,000, grossed more than 500,000. Considered a great hit! (AKA ROCK AROUND THE WORLD)

THE DUKE WORE JEANS – 1958 – dual role of Tony Whitecliffe and Tommy Hudson (first fictional role)

Co-starring June Laverick and Michael Medwin. Produced by Peter Rogers. Directed by Gerald Thomas. Music and Lyrics by Michael Pratt, Lionel Bart, and Jimmy Bennett (a pseudonym for Tommy Steele). From Anglo Amalgamated. For this movie, Tommy Steele is the highest paid star in Britain! The film premiered at London’s Dominion Theatre and was considered a big box office success.

LIGHT UP THE SKY – 1960 – role of Eric McGaffey - (first dramatic role)

Co-starring Benny Hill, Ian Carmichael, Dick Emery and Sydney Tafler. Wartime drama, funny and touching. Directed and produced by Lewis Gilbert. Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart and Michael Pratt. Music arranged by Douglas Gamley. Written by Vernon Harris from the play “Light Up the Sky” by Robert Storey. One of the year’s biggest box office hits. From Regal Films. Only has one musical number – a vaudeville type song entitled “Touch It Light” with Tommy and Benny performing a dance routine.

(AKA SKYWATCH)

TOMMY, THE TOREADOR – 1960 – role of Tommy Tompkins

Co-starring Janet Munro, Sidney James, Bernard Cribbens, Virgilio Texera, Noel Purcell, Eric Sykes, Pepe Nieto. Music and Lyrics by Michael Pratt, Lionel Bart and Jimmy Bennett (a pseudonym for Tommy Steele). Songs: Little White Bull, Amanda, Singing Time, Tommy the Toreador, Where’s the Birdie, Take A Ride. Released by Decca Records. Directed by Paddy Carstairs. From Warner Pathe’ with Associated British Films. Considered one of the year’s biggest box office hits. This film shows Tommy’s flair for comedy and sense of timing as a comedian.

IT’S ALL HAPPENING 1963 – role of Billy Bowles

Co-starring Michael Medwin, Angela Douglas, Jean Harvey. Screenplay by Leigh Vance. Produced by Norman Williams. Directed by Don Sharp. From British Lion Films, a Universal Studios release for Warner Home Videos. Three songs by Tommy: The Dream Maker, Maximum, Eggs and Chips. Other songs by various artists for a fund-raising variety show: The Wind and the Rain, Meeting You, Somebody Else, That’s Loving, What Do You Know It’s Summer, A Day Without You, Once Upon a Time in Venice, Watching the World Go By, The Boy on the Beach.

(AKA THE DREAM MAKER)

HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE – 1967 – Role of John Lawless, the butler.

Co-starring Fred MacMurray, Greer Garson, Gladys Cooper, Geraldine Page, Hermione Baddeley

And introducing John Davidson and Lesley Ann Warren. Music and lyrics by the great Sherman brothers, Richard M. and Robert B!

Produced by Walt Disney and Bill Anderson. Screenplay by A.J. Carothers. Based on a play by Kyle Crichton. Adapted from a biographical novel by Cordelia Drexell Biddle. Directed by Norman Tokar. From the Walt Disney Studios.

Walt Disney would have no one but Tommy Steele for the role of John Lawless, the butler. He flew Tommy from New York where he was starring on Broadway to Hollywood to negotiate the contract personally. Tom was instrumental in re-writing much of the movie at Mr. Disney’s insistence. They made plans for Tom to return to Hollywood to continue to write for the Disney Studios, but Mr. Disney died before the plans came to fruition. The opening scene of “Fortuosity” was Tommy’s; as was the tavern number “Let’s Have a Drink On it”.

HALF A SIXPENCE – 1967 - role of Arthur Kipps

Co-starring Julia Foster, Cyril Richard, Penelope Horner, Grover Dale. Based on the stage musical “Half a Sixpence”, adapted from the novel “Kipps” by H.G. Wells. Adaptation written by Dorothy Kingley especially as a starring vehicle for Tommy Steele. Screenplay by Beverly Cross. Music and Lyrics by David Heneker. Music arranged and conducted by Irwin Kostal. Produced by Charles H. Schneer and George Sidney. Directed by George Sidney. From Paramount Studios. U.S. Presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy, visited Tommy on the set. Cost of $6 million.

FINIAN’S RAINBOW – 1968 - role of OG, the Leprechaun

Co-starring Fred Astaire, Petula Clark, Don Francks, Keenan Wynn, Al Freeman, Jr., and introducing Barbara Hancock. Film version of the 1947 Broadway hit. Based on the book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy. Music by Burton Lane, Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. Music supervised by Ray Heindorf. Screenplay by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy. Produced by Joseph Landon, Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. From Warner Bros Studios. Songs include: How Are Things in Glocca Morra?, Look to the Rainbow, If This Isn’t Love, When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love, and Old Devil Moon.

WHERE’S JACK? – 1969 – role of Jack Shepherd

Co-starred Stanley Baker and Fiona Lewis. Filmed in Ireland. Based on life of 18^th century hero/thief (a Robin Hood type character). Directed by James Clavell. From Paramount Pictures. Tommy’s ONLY non-musical, straight dramatic role (although “Light Up the Sky” came close with only one musical number.)

TWELFTH NIGHT – 1969 – role of Feste – Emmy Award winner!

Co-starring Sir Alec Guinness, Ralph Richardson, Joan Plowright, Adrienne Corri. Adapted from original play by William Shakespeare and filmed for television by ATV in stage play format for the Royal Film Performance.

QUINCY’S QUEST – 1979 – role of Quincy, the doll

Written, produced and directed for television by Tommy Steele. Adapted from his novel of the same name. Aired as a Christmas special. On Thursday, November 29, 1962, before an invited audience, ATV recorded a Christmas musical to be shown on television December 23, 1962. The original recording was filled with already published songs – many of them from Disney Studios and Broadway shows, i.e , Father Christmas, You Gotta Have Heart, La La Da, Make Me Laugh, Hey Look Me Over, The Party’s Over, and When You Wish Upon a Star.

In 1979, the legendary “Quincey’s Quest” was televised. Songs: Let’s Make Today a Happening Day, You Can’t Send a Toy to do a Boy’s Work, We are Perfect/I’m a Reject, Have Half of My Laughter, So Rare (So Much in Common), You Can Do Whatever You Put Your Mind To, Quincy, It’s Gonna Be My Turn Next Time. Characters: Griselda the fairy, Mr. Conn the puppet, Marionettes, Rebecca the doll, the Witch, Jack-in-the Box, Mr. Topp, Teddy the bear, Puffer the train, Toy Soldiers, Robots, Jerry the giraffe, Ellie the elephant, Larry the leopard, Lionel the lion, Hippo, Panda, Ostriches, Spaniel.

Many special effects.

YEOMAN OF THE GUARD – 1987 – role of Jack Point

Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta, filmed at the Tower of London for the City of London Festival. Filmed as a stage play presentation rather than a sound stage movie.

(AKA The Merryman And His Maid)