That'll Be the Day (1973)

Abandoned by his father at an early age, Jim MacLaine (David Essex) seems to have inherited the old man's restlessness. Despite his apparent intelligence, Jim decides not to take the exams ... See full summary »

Director:

Claude Whatham

Writer:

Ray Connolly

Stars:

David Essex, Ringo Starr, Rosemary Leach

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Essex	...	Jim MacLaine
Ringo Starr	...	Mike
Rosemary Leach	...	Mrs. MacLaine
James Booth	...	Mr. MacLaine
Billy Fury	...	Stormy Tempest
Keith Moon	...	J.D. Clover
Rosalind Ayres	...	Jeanette
Brenda Bruce	...	Doreen
Robert Lindsay	...	Terry
Verna Harvey	...	Wendy
James Ottaway	...	Granddad
Deborah Watling	...	Sandra
Beth Morris	...	Jean
Daphne Oxenford	...	Mrs. Sutcliffe
Kim Braden	...	Charlotte

Storyline

Abandoned by his father at an early age, Jim MacLaine (David Essex) seems to have inherited the old man's restlessness. Despite his apparent intelligence, Jim decides not to take the exams that would pave his way to university. He lives, for a time, a life consisting of dead-end jobs and meaningless sex, before returning home to work in his mother's shop. But still he can't settle down. He begins to think that the life of a pop musician might be the thing for him.

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Plot Keywords:

1950s | waiter | teenager | singer | amusement park | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Essex, whose pop career was just taking off at the time, was still appearing in the stage play "Godspell", the show that first brought him to public attention. This would explain his slightly anachronistic haircut throughout this movie as he was still appearing in the stage show.

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Goofs

Jim MacLaine produces an LP he has been waiting "months to play", and we see it is Buddy Hollyy's first album. However, when he puts it on the record player, the music we hear is "Donna" by Ritchie Valens.

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Quotes

Jim MacLaine: Ever thought of writing your own songs ?
J.D. Clover: What ?
Jim MacLaine: Well instead of playing those crummy Cliff Richard songs ?
J.D. Clover: No not really... . you've got to be American write those them rock and roll songs properly.

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Connections

References The Duke Wore Jeans (1958)

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Soundtracks

Runaround Sue
(uncredited)
Written by Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca
Performed by Dion DiMucci (as Dion) & The Belmonts

User Reviews

26 year old Essex plays a 16 year of teenager,badly

David Essexs acting skills are very limited and do not extend to convincing me that he is 16,or that a teenager would run away from school or home.The story meanders around getting nowhere fast.It includes a totally gratuitous and unnecessary underage rape scene.Any sympathy one might have for the main character is totally lst..

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 May 1973 (UK)

Also Known As:

That'll Be the Day

Filming Locations:

Southsea, Hampshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goodtimes Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1