What a Crazy World *** (1963, Joe Brown, Susan Maughan, Marty Wilde) – Classic Movie Review 12,707

Producer/ director Michael Carreras’s cheery, lively, good-natured 1963 British pop musical What a Crazy World stars Joe Brown, Susan Maughan and Marty Wilde, with Freddie and the Dreamers. This bright but daft musical has its limitations but it tries ever so hard to please.

Cheery cockney singer Joe Brown, hits the big time as cockney rebel Alf Hitchens who wants to become a pop star – not get a proper job like his parents (Harry H Corbett, Avis Bunnage) demand. Alf has an on-off relationship with Marilyn (Susan Maughan) and tries to sell a song he has written.

Sixties pop person Marty Wilde (father of Kim) co-stars as Herbie Shadbolt, along with Susan Maughan, Harry H Corbett, Avis Bunnage and Michael Ripper (who pops up in eight small roles as The Common Man, complaining about the ‘bleeding kids’ he sees). Freddie and the Dreamers back Brown, as do Brown’s own group, The Bruvvers.

What a Crazy World is more than pleasing as a high-spirited nostalgic time capsule now. It is a pleasure to be in the sweet company of Joe Brown, Susan Maughan, Marty Wilde, Harry H Corbett, Avis Bunnage, Michael Ripper and Freddie Garrity.

Also notable in the cast are Monty Landis, Fanny Carby, and Bill Fraser.

The screenplay is written by Michael Carreras and by Alan Klein, based on his stage play so it does have some kind of limited plot, and the film is shot in black an white by Otto Heller. with the London location shooting an asset. It is also shot in the studio at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England.

The stage musical was originally performed at Stratford East Theatre, London, Barry Bethel, who plays one of the lads, Dave, in the film, played the lead in the stage version, in which Avis Bunnage played Alf’s mother, as in the film. Alan Klein also writes the songs, including What A Crazy World (We’re Living In) performed by Joe Brown.

Michael Ripper’s roles are: street hawker selling from suitcase, employment exchange clerk, bus passenger, amusement arcade attendant, road sweeper, park keeper, café owner, and cinema patron.

The cast are Joe Brown as Alf Hitchens, Susan Maughan as Marilyn, Marty Wilde as Herbie Shadbolt, Harry H Corbett as Sam Hitchens, Avis Bunnage as Mary Hitchens, Freddie and the Dreamers, Michael Ripper as The Common Man, Grazina Frame as Doris, Monte Landis as Solly Gold, Michael Goodman as Joey Hitchens, Jessie Robins as Fat Woman, Larry Dann as Chas, Fanny Carby as Dolly, Denise Coffey as Horror, Brian Cronin as Harry, Barry Bethel as Dave (The Boys), David Nott as Lenny (The Boys), Alan Klein as Jervis (The Boys), and Bill Fraser as Milligan.

Stanley Black is the composer of the background score and the musical director. The background score is played by The Bruvvers. Alan Klein writes all the music and lyrics.

Joe Brown MBE (born 13 May 1941).

Susan Maughan (born 1 July 1938).

Marty Wilde MBE (born 15 April 1939).

Freddie Garrity (14 November 1936 – 19 May 2006).

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,707

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