That'll Be the Day

Overview

Long before Grease was even thought of, the British came out with That'll Be The Day, the story of a young man (David Essex) growing up in the dreary working-class world of Britain who comes of age and finds his proper outlet in the first outgrowths of the rock-and-roll world in Britain. This film and its accompanying album were extremely successful in Britain. Along with an excellent (and nostalgic) soundtrack, it features acting performances by rockers David Essex, Billy Fury, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/07/2020
UPC:	0738329248024
Original Release:	1973
Rating:	PG
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:31:00
Sales rank:	37,797

Special Features

Audio Commentary by Entertainment Journalist and Author Bryan Reesman; Trailers

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

David Essex	Jim MacLaine
Ringo Starr	Mike,Composer
Rosemary Leach	Mrs. MacLaine
James Booth	Mr. MacLaine
Billy Fury	Stormy Tempest
Keith Moon	J.D. Clover,Composer
Rosalind Ayres	Jeanette
Robert Lindsay	Terry
Beth Morris	Jean
James Ottaway	Granddad
Verna Harvey	Wendy
Erin Geraghty	Joan
Deborah Watling	Sandra
Patti Love	Sandra's Friend
Daphne Oxenford	Mrs. Sutcliffe
Bernard Severn	Sutcliffe
Kim Braden	Charlotte
Johnny Shannon	Jack
Susan Holderness	Girls in Coffee Shop
Sally Watts	Girls in Coffee Shop
Karl Howman	Johnny
Brenda Bruce	Doreen
Allan Foss	Teacher
Patsy Blower	Young Girl at Fair
Sara Clee	Girl with Baby
Sacha Puttnam	Young Jim

Technical Credits

Ray Connolly

Roy Baird	Executive Producer,Producer
Sanford Lieberson	Producer
David Puttnam	Producer
Claude Whatham	Director
Ray Connolly	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Nostalgic films such as Grease present a sugar-coated, candy-colored vision of life in the 1950s; That'll Be the Day offers a more realistic take on the era, and the picture it paints of a British youth from that time is both depressing and exhilarating. Much of this territory has been trod before in the years since the film was released, and so it has lost some of the freshness that initially made it appealing; but it maintains a certain honesty and simplicity that many viewers will appreciate. That said, others will be put off by a lead character who is at times selfish and inconsiderate of others. Fortunately, David Essex is so engaging that he manages to overcome these important and necessary flaws; he provides the solid anchor that the film needs, yet does so in a natural manner that is relatively free of self-conscious "leading player" dramatics. Rosemary Leach is equally fine as his mother, and Ringo Starr is surprisingly good as his Teddy Boy friend. Claude Whatham directs sensitively but unobtrusively, letting viewers draw their own conclusions about the characters rather than forcing a point-of-view on them -- which will admittedly bother some viewers. Day is not a picture for everyone, but those who like it will probably like it a lot.