That'll Be the Day (film)

Infobox Film
name = That'll Be The Day


caption= DVD cover
director = Claude Whatham
producer = Sanford Lieberson
David Puttnam
writer = Ray Connolly
starring = David Essex
Ringo Starr
Keith Moon
Billy Fury
Deborah Watling
distributor = Anglo-EMI Film Distribution
released = flagicon|UK 12 April1973
flagicon|USA 29 October 1973
runtime = 91 minutes
language = English
budget =
music =
awards =
imdb_id = 0070788

"That'll Be the Day" is a 1973 British film starring David Essex and Ringo Starr, written by Ray Connolly and directed by Claude Whatham. It is set in the late 50's/early '60s and partially filmed on the Isle of Wight.

Plot summary

Abandoned by his father as a child, suburban school dropout Jim MacLaine (David Essex) leaves home and drifts through a succession of dead-end jobs until he finds an outlet for his frustration in rock 'n' roll. Tossing away the chance of a college education much to the consternation of his mother, alienated MacLaine becomes a lowly deckchair attendant before streetwise friend Mike (Ringo Starr) gets him a job with the fun fair. The initially shy Maclaine quickly becomes a heartless fairground romeo leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. Eventually the prodigal son returns home to run the family store and marry his girlfriend, but despite the birth of a son, restless Jim feels the lure of rock’n’roll again.

Characters

The film was praised at the time for its gritty realism. Many of the characters were played by musicians who had lived through the era portrayed in the film including Ringo Starr, The Who's Keith Moon, John Hawken of The Nashville Teens and Billy Fury. Also, former Doctor Who girl, Deborah Watling, has a nude scene in the film.

The film was produced by David Puttnam and is loosely based on the Harry Nilsson song "1941". A sequel, "Stardust", was released in 1974.

Cast

*David Essex . . . Jim Maclaine
*Rosemary Leach . . . Mary Maclaine
*James Booth . . . Mr. Maclaine
*Ringo Starr . . . Mike
*Robert Lindsay . . . Terry Sutcliffe
*Rosalind Ayres . . . Jeanette Sutcliffe
*Billy Fury . . . Stormy Tempest
*Keith Moon . . . J.D. Clover
*Deborah Watling . . . Sandra
*Karl Howman . . . Johnny Swinburne
*Beth Morris . . . Jean

Award Nominations

BAFTA Best Supporting Actress: Rosemary Leach.

BAFTA Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles: David Essex.