That'll Be The Day
That'll Be The Day

Movie spotlight

That'll Be The Day

1973
Movie
87 min
English

Britain, 1958. Restless at school and bored with his life, Jim leaves home to take a series of low-level jobs at a seaside amusement park, where he discovers a world of cheap sex and petty crime. But when that world comes to a shockingly brutal end, Jim returns home. As the local music scene explodes, Jim must decide between a life of adult responsibility or a new phenomenon called rock & roll.

Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Director: Claude WhathamGenres: Drama, Music

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the early life and career of Jim MacLaine, a young working-class man in England during the late 1950s. It depicts his search for identity, his passion for rock and roll music, and his struggles with authority and societal expectations. Jim navigates through various experiences, including relationships and the burgeoning music scene, ultimately leading him toward a path of disillusionment.

Critical Reception

That'll Be The Day was met with mixed to positive reviews, with many critics praising its authentic portrayal of the late 1950s and early 1960s British youth culture. The performances, particularly David Essex and Adam Faith, were generally well-received, as was the soundtrack. However, some found the narrative to be somewhat meandering.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its nostalgic depiction of 1950s Britain and youth culture.

  • David Essex and Adam Faith deliver commendable performances.

  • The soundtrack effectively captures the era's musical spirit.

Google audience: Audience reception information is not readily available through Google user reviews.

Fun Fact

The film features a notable acting role by The Who's drummer, Keith Moon, who plays a character named J.P.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

'Jim MacLaine" (David Essex) is a restless teenager in 1950s Britain. He leaves home and best friend "Terry" (Robert Lindsay) and gets a cheap room at a seaside resort when he makes a living renting out deck chairs - not the most fulfilling...

John Chard

John Chard

The road to stardom(dust) begins here. That'll Be the Day is directed by Claude Whatham and written by Ray Connolly. It stars David Essex, Ringo Starr, Rosemary Leach, Rosalind Ayres and Robert Lindsay. Cinematography is by Peter Suschit...