The film also features a test flight of the Bristol 188 – a British supersonic research aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in the late 50s. Then one night, while messing around in a church they’ve all but broken into, they are taken under the wing of Mr Smith, a local youth group organiser played by veteran British actor Kenneth More, who encourages them to form a pop group.

Some People" stands up well. It has an authentic feel to it as it documents a moment on the cusp. No one could have been aware of what was to come and so it aims at what was happening rather than trying to give hints about its place in future history. "That'll Be the Day" did a very good job of documenting pre-63 UK youth but, because it was made in retrospect, it doesn't quite have the same effect. The cast is pretty strong, headed up by Ray Brooks and David Hemmings, your typical denim-clad teenage tearaways, working during the day, riding fast bikes and generally causing a bit of trouble in the evenings if time permitted. Some People (1962) Johnnie and his friends Bill (David Andrews) and Bert – a baby-faced David Hemmings – get into trouble racing their motorbikes along the Portway on the banks of the Avon and are banned from riding them which leaves them frustrated and deepens their boredom. David Hemmings and Ray Brooks play two of the bikers, while Anneka Wills, later to find fame as Doctor Who companion Polly, pops up alongside Douglas as two girls who hang out at the local church hall.The 3rd unit were filming it disappearing into the distance – it was a BIG moment in aviation history! More also fell in love with one of his younger co-stars during filming; Angela Douglas was 26 years his junior. He eventually left his second wife for her. They married in 1968 and were still a couple on his death in 1982. We arrived in Bristol three weeks before we started shooting to rehearse and soak up the ambience; the boys to learn the accent and ride the bikes and all of us went to youth clubs, dance halls and factories to see what was happening. Band of Thieves (1962) Seven of the prisoners at Gaunstone Gaol have been encouraged to take up Trad jazz by a music-mad governor and… In the church, the organ playing is overheard by the local volunteer choirmaster, Mr Smith (Kenneth More), who offers the trio some rehearsal space, not to mention a bit of encouragement. In the end, they find a place for the band to flourish, some added band members (after losing Bill) and the choirmaster’s daughter Anne (Anneke Wills), who catches the eye of Johnnie (Ray Brooks) and vice versa. Some People (1962)

Kenneth More (I played his daughter, Anne, in the film) gave up his fee for the cause and we also had many actors on the verge of making it big such as David Hemmings, Ray Brooks and Angela Douglas. Harry H. Corbett gives such a poignant performance as Johnnie’s father. There was a lot of goodwill for the making of the film – which was how we were able to film the breaking of the sound barrier for the first time. While Some People is clearly the work of a director finding his feet it is nonetheless an enjoyable drama about a teenager, Johnnie, played with charm and intensity by Ray Brooks, and his struggle to choose between straightening up or continuing a descent into delinquency. Monthly Film Bulletin wrote "Not without charm and showing, for the most part, a nice attention to detail, this teenage film (the profits of which go to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme) is transparently well-meaning and made with obvious affection. Unfortunately, it has nothing to add to that now painfully familiar delinquency formula which combines a liking for coffee bars, motor bikes and guitars with an inability to talk reasonably to Father. The script fails not because it is heavily weighted in favour of the Kenneth More character but because of the needlessly naive way in which this is done. Relying mainly on superficialities for its effects, the film finally outcasts the one thoroughly rootless delinquent who should have been its main concern." [11]Billings, Josh (13 December 1962). "Three British Films Head the General Releases". Kinematograph Weekly. p.7 . Retrieved 7 March 2023. The theme tune is particularly catchy. A strange little wind-instrument plays an introduction, and this features in the movie as having been constructed by one of the kids (a cut by ex-Shadows Jet Harris & Tony Meehan is still available from i-tunes, though they didn't cover it in the movie). Apart from a shared title, the two projects have nothing in common. Where Cliff’s hit is something most people would probably rather forget, the film is a rather charming diversion. The story surrounding its production is intriguing too. Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7thed.). London: Paladin. p.938. ISBN 0586088946. Director Clive Donner, who had been working in advertising, was approached to make a documentary to promote the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. Donner felt the documentary would only reach people who already knew about the scheme, and suggested they make a dramatic feature instead. [5]

Filmed entirely on location, it captures the reality of Bristol in the heat of post-Blitz reconstruction, half tumbledown harbour city, half planners’ dream. Having the film set in Bristol rather than London is a masterstroke, giving it an extra layer of authenticity, not least when the main participants wander around the department stores, cross the river, drop into a fish shop or have a drink in a pub. Angela Douglas was gorgeous, of course, and Kenneth More was, as always, his excellent avuncular self. Brilliant, totally brilliant. (With the additional frisson of their off-screen relationship bubbling underneath).Leslie Halliwell said: "Bland propaganda for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme for young people, quite acceptably presented, with pop music ad lib." [13] Painted Smile, The (1962) Small-time con artists Jo Lake (the gorgeous Liz Fraser in an uncharacteristic straight acting role) and Mark Davies (Peter Reynolds)… We had a script but to give the performances an authentic feel the entire story was ad-libbed. A fantastic local group called The Eagles – with Valerie Mountain singing the haunting lyrics (which Angela Douglas mimed to in the film). How beautiful we all were. How young…and how innocent!