Review of Wonderful to Be Young! (1961) by Greg W — 30 Jan 2009

Back in the days when Cliff was a fun act with catchy tunes he starred in this colourful musical which may be contrived and squeaky clean but has immense simple charm. When Cliff's father Robert Morley buys his youth club in order to build an office block on the site our signing hero and his pals (including Melvyn Hayes and Richard O'Sullivan) decide to out on a fundraising show - just like that! ("Who'll direct?" "You've been to drama school haven't you?" "Yeah - no problem!") Amazing that they can cobble together a polished production for next to nothing in less than a week but this is a film where reality is best left at the door.

Just enjoy the carefree vibrant optimism and wonder at the excellent cinemascope camerawork of Douglas Slocombe while director Sidney J Furie shows some inventive signs of the talent that was to blossom in The Ipcress File 4 years later.

Good too to see appearances from Rita Webb and Robertson Hare - both always raise a smile.