Telstar: The Joe Meek Story (2008)

A music-infused drama about Joe Meek, the flamboyantly gay, tone deaf, songwriter-producer behind the '60s hits "Have I the Right," "Just Like Eddie," "Johnny, Remember Me" and "Telstar."

Director:

Nick Moran

Writers:

Nick Moran, James Hicks

Stars:

Con O'Neill, Kevin Spacey, Pam Ferris

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Con O'Neill	...	Joe Meek
Kevin Spacey	...	Major Wilfred Banks
Pam Ferris	...	Mrs. Violet Shenton
JJ Feild	...	Heinz Burt
James Corden	...	Clem Cattini
Tom Burke	...	Geoff Goddard
Ralf Little	...	Chas Hodges
Sid Mitchell	...	Patrick Pink
Mathew Baynton	...	Ritchie Blackmore
Shaun Evans	...	Billy Kuy
Callum Dixon	...	John Leyton
Tom Harper	...	Alan Caddy
Jon Lee	...	Billy Fury
Nigel Harman	...	Jess Conrad
Carl Barât	...	Gene Vincent (as Carl Barat)

Storyline

In the early 1960s self-taught electronics whizz Joe Meek amazingly produces a string of home made hit singles from his studio in his flat above a leather shop in London. His biggest success is the instrumental 'Telstar' but accusations of plagiarism delay royalties. Joe's mercurial temper causes his artists to forsake him for other labels, in particular his young lover Heinz Burt. Now in debt and after unwisely parting from his chief financier Major Banks, Joe finds himself unable to control his life. Increasingly paranoid, believing he is being bugged by rival record companies and that everybody is out to get him, the last straw comes when landlady Violet tells him she is selling the building in which he lives. Joe had once confiscated a shotgun from Heinz. Now it is dangerously close at hand and about to end the Joe Meek story.

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Plot Keywords:

landlady | gay | 1960s | paranoia | music producer | 

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Taglines:

Hit after hit... someone's going to get hurt

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexual content and brief violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is an adaptation of James Hicks' and Nick Moran's original stage play Telstar, which opened at the New Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End in June 2005.

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Goofs

The film shows Heinz Burt featuring in the TV show Oh Boy!, which was shown on British TV some years earlier.

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Quotes

Major Wilfred Banks: Anton, isn't it?
Geoff Goddard: Sorry?
Major Wilfred Banks: Anton Hollywood, pianist?
Geoff Goddard: Yes. Well, no.
Major Wilfred Banks: Well, I'm afraid Joe's decision is final, he doesn't feel you've got what it takes. And if you've come for compensation, you can trot off back to wherever the hell...
Geoff Goddard: No, it's Geoff, not just Geoff. Geoff Goddard.
Major Wilfred Banks: Oh! The author! Tunesmith!
Geoff Goddard: Composer.
Major Wilfred Banks: Composer, yes, of course.
Geoff Goddard: The name Anton Hollywood was Joe's idea, it's not real. It's a stage name. He thought he'd do a Russ Conway with me, didn't work out.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

All tracks used by permission. All rights reserved. Soundtrack available on Universal Music Catalogue

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Connections

References Harpers West One (1961)

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Soundtracks

Three Coins in the Sewer
Composed by Alan Klein
Published by Carlin Music Corp
Performed by Alan Klein
Courtesy of Alan Klein under license from RPM Productions Ltd

User Reviews

For US viewers - well done!

I watched this last night and frankly, thought it was terrific. I was alive during this short period of musical history but was not aware of this story (and I ended up in the music business myself for the next 40 years). I see that a number of UK viewers are disappointed with the casting (apparently many are familiar TV stars) but for us in the USA this has no negative effect. Kevin Spacey is the only familiar face and frankly, I found his presence just a tad distracting, since 'anyone' could have played the part. Extremely well acted and directed. The musical segments are wonderful and I only wish they had been a bit longer. My only disappointment with the film is the thick British accent - a lot of dialog passed me by (there were no subtitles on the version I watched) but it's not a reason for US film lovers to pass this by. Fascinating story - and in my opinion, perfectly executed. See it!

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Telstar

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP1,250,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$109,339

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aspiration Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (a few scenes: television scenes and archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1