Wonderful Life (1964 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 1964 |
Key people | Sidney J. Furie (director), Peter Myers (writer), Ronald Cass (writer), Gillian Lynne (choreographer) |
| Products | Musical motion picture |
Wonderful Life (known as Swingers' Paradise in the United States) is a British musical motion picture from 1964, directed by Sidney J. Furie and featuring performances by Cliff Richard, Walter Slezak, Susan Hampshire, and The Shadows. This marks the third musical film starring Richard, following his roles in The Young Ones (1961) and Summer Holiday (1963). The script was crafted by Peter Myers and Ronald Cass, with choreography designed by Gillian Lynne.
Plot
Jonnie and his fellow band members, employed as waiters aboard a travelling ferry, are dismissed after a pyrotechnics mishap causes a blackout. Stranded with only their instruments on a small boat, they drift across the Atlantic Ocean until reaching the Canary Islands.
While wandering through sand dunes, they stumble upon a movie set where Jonnie unintentionally interrupts filming. The director, Lloyd Davis, offers Jonnie a role as a stunt double and employment for the band as runners. Jonnie encounters Jenny, an anxious actress grappling with her lead role. Despite early difficulties, Jonnie motivates her to ease up and act more naturally.
To lift spirits, Jonnie’s band covertly converts the film into a musical, shooting scenes secretly with hidden cameras. Although Lloyd threatens termination, Jonnie convinces him to permit their participation without using official equipment. When Lloyd and Jenny discover their scheme, Lloyd forbids Jenny from continuing to film.
Jonnie persuades Jenny to join forces on the musical finale despite her irritation. After watching both Lloyd’s unsatisfactory final cut and Jonnie’s musical version, they combine elements into a new narrative about two brothers and a princess. The resulting film debuts to enthusiastic audience acclaim, with Lloyd thanking Jonnie and revealing Jenny’s plan to marry him.
Cast
- Cliff Richard as Johnnie
- Walter Slezak as Lloyd Davis
- Susan Hampshire as Jenny Taylor
- Hank Marvin as Hank (The Shadows)
- Bruce Welch as Bruce (The Shadows)
- Brian Bennett as Brian (The Shadows)
- John Rostill as John (The Shadows)
- Melvyn Hayes as Jerry
- Richard O'Sullivan as Edward
- Una Stubbs as Barbara Tate, the screenwriter
- Derek Bond as Douglas Leslie
- Gerald Harper as Sheik / Scotsman / Harold
- Joseph Cuby as Miguel (credited as Joe Cuby)
Production
Filmed using the Techniscope process, production took place on location in Gran Canaria, including scenes shot in Las Palmas and the Maspalomas Dunes representing desert landscapes.
Music
The 1964 soundtrack album Wonderful Life, performed by Cliff Richard alongside The Shadows, accompanied the film’s release.
Release
Although Wonderful Life secured a position among the top ten British box office successes of 1964, it did not achieve the commercial heights of Cliff Richard's previous musicals The Young Ones (1961) and Summer Holiday (1963). The movie required seven years before it became profitable.
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin characterized the movie as "pleasantly lively," although it suffered from a feeble plot and humor that failed to amuse. The musical segments were deemed ineffective, largely because the principal actors did not perform dance routines, yet the portrayals by Walter Slezak and Cliff Richard received commendation. The critique highlighted the film's "friendly, straightforward momentum" despite its modest achievements.