All Night Long (1962)

The film, based on Othello, is neatly positioned as a vehicle to showcase some of the best jazz musicians of the period - including Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus.

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

Nel King (original screenplay), Paul Jarrico (original screenplay) (as Peter Achilles)

Stars:

Patrick McGoohan, Keith Michell, Betsy Blair

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick McGoohan	...	Johnny Cousin
Keith Michell	...	Cass Michaels
Betsy Blair	...	Emily
Paul Harris	...	Aurelius Rex
Marti Stevens	...	Delia Lane
Richard Attenborough	...	Rod Hamilton
Bernard Braden	...	Lou Berger
Harry Towb	...	Phales
María Velasco	...	Benny
Dave Brubeck	...	Himself - Piano
John Dankworth	...	Himself - Alto Sax (as Johnny Dankworth)
Charles Mingus	...	Himself - Bass
Bert Courtley	...	Himself - Trumpet
Keith Christie	...	Himself - Trombone
Ray Dempsey	...	Himself - Guitar

Storyline

The film, based on Othello, is neatly positioned as a vehicle to showcase some of the best jazz musicians of the period - including Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus.

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Plot Keywords:

musician | jazz | east end london | jazz score | british new wave | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ao longo da noite

Filming Locations:

Shad Thames, Southwark, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Rank Organisation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Unusual for a film of its time, this features two highly contentious subjects. One is that characters are clearly seen smoking marijuana. The other is that there are two mixed-race relationships featured--and neither of them warrants a mention.

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Goofs

After Patrick McGoohan's character talks of the band doing a 'big fat Mendelssohn' for the anniversary party, he sings the melody not of Mendelssohn's Wedding March but of the Bridal Chorus from Wagner's Lohengrin ('Here comes the bride'). A few minutes later, the band plays a jazz version of the Mendelssohn.

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Quotes

Johnnie Cousin: Be seeing you - As immortalised in The Prisoner

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Connections

Version of Rossini: Otello (2012)

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Soundtracks

Fall Guy
(uncredited)
Written by John Dankworth as Johnny Dankworth

User Reviews

Jazz Othello

I had never heard of this film, so I didn't know what to expect. I figured that anything featuring Attenborough and McGoohan had to be good...and I was right.

The film begins with preparations for a big jazz party honoring Rex and Delia's first anniversary. When they walk through the door, we get a big surprise: Rex is black and Delia is white. (Mixed-race couples were rare on screen in 1962, although they're now "de rigeur" in British TV and film.) When McGoohan's character started his scheming, it finally dawned on me that I was watching OTHELLO in a warehouse!

The screenwriters did a decent job of condensing Shakespeare's play into 90 minutes and bringing it up to date, but they chose to change the ending, which may disappoint die-hard fans of the Bard.

What makes this movie stand out is the cast of supporting characters: great jazz players of the early 1960s. The three headliners are Dave Brubeck (playing "Unsquare Dance"), bassist Charles Mingus, and sax player/bandleader Johnny Dankworth. But there are many second- tier players who contribute to the swinging atmosphere.

This film would be of interest to students of Shakespeare, or lovers of jazz. And if you like the idea of a "jazz summit" in a film, also check out A SONG IS BORN, a Danny Kaye comedy from 1948. The jazzers outshine the actors in that one; in ALL NIGHT LONG, it's a dead heat.