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."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."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."
- Awards
- 1 nomination
- Gene Vincent
- (as Carl Barat)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaActors Nigel Harman, James Corden, Ralf Little and Callum Dixon play Jess Conrad, Clem Cattini, Chas Hodges and John Leyton respectively. The real Conrad, Cattini, Hodges and Leyton all appear in the movie themselves albeit in small cameo roles.
- GoofsThe film is quite clearly set in 1963 but the registration plate of the black van in which the group are touring shows the suffix "D" which was issued in the year 1966.
- 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.
Major Wilfred Banks: So you're Goddard, are you? Read Goddard, didn't think Hollywood.
Geoff Goddard: No, well, you wouldn't.
Major Wilfred Banks: Don't slouch, young man! Upright! Shoulders back! Splendid song!
Geoff Goddard: [in a whisper] Thank you.
- Crazy creditsStageplay first performed by the New Vic Workshop
- ConnectionsReferenced in The Wright Stuff: Episode #17.110 (2012)
- SoundtracksThe Traitors
Written by Johnny Douglas
Performed by The Packabeats
Courtesy of The Packabeats, under licence from BulloMouse
For those that don't know the Joe Meek at the centre of this film - control freak, gay in the wrong decade, tone deaf drug addicted musical pioneer - get ready for a roller-coaster of a ride. Without wishing to spoil the arc of the story, this is a classic tale of a man with a vision breaking new ground...with disastrous consequences.
Con O'Neil dominates this film with a superb manic performance which captures the claustrophobic and chaotic feel of the centre of Joe's universe, his recording studio above a handbag shop in central London in the early 60's. Ably supported by a host of good actors - in particular Kevin Spacey, Pam Ferris, and (even) James Cordon are all spot on. What looks like a cod-60's Curtis-esquire disaster for the first 20 minutes heads somewhere altogether darker once the action cranks up as Joe starts to get some no.1 hits in the charts.
A must watch cautionary tale about fame, love, jealously, paranoia and music, this is a fine carachter piece with some excellent nuanced comedy amidst the darker elements, it's a really well executed debut from Mr Moran...enjoy.
- technojazzbrother
- Nov 30, 2009
- Permalink
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- £1,250,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $109,339
- Runtime1 hour 59 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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![Kevin Spacey, James Corden, JJ Feild, and Con O'Neill in Telstar: The Joe Meek Story (2008)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BY2RjOTQwNTctMmQ2Zi00OWZkLTgxMmEtY2M2YmY2ODFjZGRkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTY5Nzc4MDY@._V1_QL75_UY133_CR2,0,90,133_.jpg)