Wonderwall (1968)

Director:

Joe Massot

Writers:

Gérard Brach (story)
Guillermo Cabrera Infante (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 January 1969 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

...LET YOUR MIND WONDER...

Plot:

The eccentric professor Collins lives completely secluded in his chaotic apartment. When the model Penny moves in next to him...

Plot Keywords:

Surrealism | Voyeurism | Independent Film

Cast

Jack MacGowran	...	Prof. Oscar Collins
Jane Birkin	...	Penny Lane
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Peurofoy
Richard Wattis	...	Perkins
Iain Quarrier	...	Young Man
Beatrix Lehmann	...	Mother
Brian Walsh	...	Photographer
Sean Lynch	...	Riley
Bee Duffell	...	Mrs. Charmer
Noel Trevarthen	...	Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Suki Potier	...	Girl at party

Also Known As:

Wonderwall: The Movie (UK) (promotional title)

Runtime:

92 min | Germany:85 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Certification:

UK:15 (1998) | UK:AA (1970)

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

Alan Clore Films

Trivia:

When first approached to compose the movie's soundtrack, George Harrison replied "I don't know how to do music for films." When director Joe Massot promised to include whatever Harrison chose to write, Harrison accepted, composing songs as he was inspired by watching rushes of the unfinished movie, with the help of a stopwatch, to properly time the music to the scenes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Out (1982)

Soundtrack:

Fantasy Sequins

Psychedelic Oddyssey

Wonderwall is certainly a period piece from 1968. The plot concerns a lonely old college professor,played by Jack McGowan, who periodically spies on his attractive,young fashion model,played by Jane Berkin (star of many a French film),thru a hole in the wall. The professor starts to drill more holes in his wall,so he can view her from various perspectives. The film earns it's kudos from it's production values,it's use of colour (the professor's flat is a dreary,colourless one,while the model's flat is a burst of psychedelic colours). This little seen film fared poorly in the U.K. & even worse in the U.S.,before it was promptly forgotten in the dustbin of ignored films. Pity....it would have made for a most fitting addition to the rank of midnight movies in the early to mid 1970's. One didn't have to partake of various mind expanding drugs to enjoy this odd little film, but it sure didn't hurt. The film's director was Joe Massot,who would be more recognized nearly a decade later as the co-director of 'Led Zepplin:The Song Remains The Same' (he directed the "fantasy" sequences featuring the members of Led Zepplin,as well as their then manager,Peter Grant, that for some managed to pad the film out way beyond it's two hour,plus running time). The most notable aspect of this film is the musical score,which was composed by George Harrison,who wanted it to sound as much anti Beatle as possible (and succeeded). A brand new print of this forgotten film was re-discovered a few years back,restored with a punchy sounding soundtrack & re-released. Worth seeking out. No MPAA rating here,but contains a bit of peek-a-boo nudity & adult situations which could have earned it an 'R' rating back in 1968