Melody (1971 film)

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Melody

Directed by	Waris Hussein
Produced by	Ronald S. Kass David Puttnam
Written by	Andrew Birkin Alan Parker
Starring	Jack Wild Mark Lester Tracy Hyde
Music by	The Bee Gees
Cinematography	Peter Suschitzky
Editing by	John Victor Smith
Distributed by	British Lion Films
Release date(s)	1971
Running time	103 min.
Country	UK
Language	English
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Melody (aka S.W.A.L.K. or Sealed With A Loving Kiss) is a British film released in 1971. It's about "puppy love." Although initially a box office dissapointment in both the United States and Britain it has over the years become a cult classic. The film turned out to be an enormous hit in Japan, and in some Latin American countries like Argentina^[1].

1 Plot
2 Production
3 Cast
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Plot

Two British first year secondary school youngsters, (Daniel Lattimer) Mark Lester and (Melody Perkins) Tracy Hyde fall head over heels in love and announce to their parents that they want to get married. Not sometime in the future, but now. However, the adults, parents and teachers alike try to dissuade them. Along with the help of their friend (Ornshaw) Jack Wild and their classmates the young couple are determined to go ahead with their plans. This romantic fantasy was unique in that it told the story through the viewpoint of the children in the story, the adults playing only supporting roles.

[edit] Production

Mark Lester (Daniel Latimer) and Jack Wild (Ornshaw) had previously appeared together in the Academy Award winning(Best Picture-1968) musical version of Oliver!. They were joined by the child model, Tracy Hyde in the title role. Other cast members included Kate Williams (Love thy Neighbour) as Melody's Mother, Roy Kinnear as her father, Sheila Steafel as Daniel's mother, with Ken Jones (Cuckoo Waltz and Porridge), and James Cossins.

This comedy featured a pre-disco musical soundtrack by the Bee Gees ("In the Morning", "Melody Fair", "Give Your Best",and the hit single "To Love Somebody", "First of May") and the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young hit ("Teach Your Children").

Interestingly, this was the first screenplay by now-famous film director, Alan Parker. Because of its enormous success in Japan, the movie has been mastered in Region 2 format on DVD by Kadokawa Herald Pictures in Japan. The DVD of the movie is not available in the USA.

Then screenwriter Alan Parker actually did some second unit direction for the film, shooting the montage sequences of the school children at recess and at the track meet.

This was the feature film debut of then child model and commercial actress Tracy Hyde at the age of 11.

Writer/Director Andrew Birkin recommended Tracy Hyde for the title role of (Melody Perkins) to director Waris Hussein, after screening and auditioning over 100 girls the role was awarded to Tracy Hyde.

The memorable graveyard scenes of the film were shot on location at Nunhead Cemetery, opened in 1840 it is one of the oldest Victorian era cemeteries in London. Nunhead is the final resting place for some famous residents including; Frederick Augustus Abel, George John Bennett, and Alfred Vance.

Actor Jack Wild who played the 12 year old (Ornshaw) was actually 17 at the time of the production.