Seven Up! (1964)

A group of seven-year-old British children from widely ranging backgrounds are interviewed about a range of subjects. Director Michael Apted plans to reinterview them at seven-year ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Almond

Stars:

Douglas Keay, Bruce Balden, Jacqueline Bassett

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Douglas Keay	...	Himself - Narrator (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bruce Balden	...	Himself (as Bruce)
Jacqueline Bassett	...	Herself (as Jackie)
Symon Basterfield	...	Himself (as Simon)
Andrew Brackfield	...	Himself (as Andrew)
John Brisby	...	Himself (as John)
Suzanne Dewey	...	Herself (as Suzy)
Charles Furneaux	...	Himself (as Charles)
Nicholas Hitchon	...	Himself (as Nicholas)
Neil Hughes	...	Himself (as Neil)
Lynn Johnson	...	Herself (as Lindsay)
Paul Kligerman	...	Himself (as Paul)
Michelle Murphy	...	Herself (as Michelle)
Susan Sullivan	...	Herself (as Susan)
Tony Walker	...	Himself (as Tony)

Storyline

A group of seven-year-old British children from widely ranging backgrounds are interviewed about a range of subjects. Director Michael Apted plans to reinterview them at seven-year intervals to determine how their lives and attitudes have changed.

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Plot Keywords:

children | seven year old | east end london | boys' school | playground | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

5 May 1964 (UK)

Also Known As:

7 Up

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

40 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As this was originally conceived as a one-off, no long term contracts were drawn up with the documentary participants. The interviews since Seven Up! have been voluntary, but Michael Apted says the participants are paid for their appearance in each film, as well as equal parts of any prize the film may win.

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Quotes

Neil Hughes: When I get married I don't want to have any children because they're always doing naughty things and making the house untidy.

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Crazy Credits

Voice-over during final credits: "If you want to see what happens to these children, look in at Granada Television on Tuesday, May the second ... in the year 2000."

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Connections

Followed by 7 Plus Seven (1970)

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Soundtracks

What Would I Do
Written by Stanley Alexander
Performed by The Monotones

User Reviews

The first in a ground-breaking series that is one of a kind.

Michael Apted must be congratulated for having (or perhaps stumbling upon) the vision for this study. Take 14 seven year olds in England, film them in a few interesting situations, and follow those same kids as they grow up. Every seven years. Because all of our lives transpire at roughly the same rates, we cannot actually observe children growing up. But this filmed approach is the next best thing.

This first film is rather short, and in black and white plays about like an amateur home movie. We still get to see and hear these children, their opinions, their likes and dislikes, their ambitions. And, while it is interesting, you can get the same thing at any elementary school playground. What is really interesting, and groundbreaking, is the following these children as they grow up.

For that, one must see the next installments. The best way, for the uninitiated, is the 5-disk DVD set just out, which has all 6 films up through "42 UP" in 1998. ("49 UP" has been made but is not yet available on DVD.) However, simply seeing the most recent film is pretty good, because each film contains snippets of each of the former ones, allowing us to see how each child developed in 7-year increments.

Just a marvelous study of growing up.