''Finders Keepers'' is a 1966 British

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...

directed by Sidney Hayers, written by

Michael Pertwee Michael Henry Pertwee (24 April 1916, Kensington, London – 17 April 1991, Camden, London) was an English playwright and screenwriter. Among his credits were episodes of ''The Saint'', '' Danger Man'', ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'', '' B-A ...

and starring Cliff Richard and The Shadows. It was released in the U.S. the following year. A search was made to find an actress to play the Spanish girl who falls for Cliff, and the 21-year-old Viviane Ventura won the role: born in London, but fluent in Spanish, she sang a spirited duet with Cliff on "Paella".

Plot

Cliff and The Shadows travel to a Spanish town for a gig. When they arrive they are puzzled to find the area empty. They find out that a small bomb has accidentally been dropped on the town and the villagers have fled in panic that it will go off. The boys decide to find the bomb and restore peace in the village, with some musical numbers along the way.

Influence

The story is loosely based on a real accident on 17 January 1966, when a US B-52 strategic bomber, carrying four thermonuclear bombs, collided in mid-air with KC-135 tanker plane near Palomares, Spain. Three of the four hydrogen bombs were soon found on land near Palomares, and the fourth bomb was recovered from the Mediterranean Sea on 7 April.

Cast

* Cliff Richard as Cliff * Hank Marvin as Himself (as The Shadows) * Bruce Welch as Himself (as The Shadows) *

Brian Bennett Brian Laurence Bennett, (born 9 February 1940) is an English drummer, pianist, composer and producer of popular music. He is best known as the drummer of the UK rock and roll group the Shadows. He is the father of musician and Shadows band me ...

as Himself (as The Shadows) * John Rostill as Himself (as The Shadows) * Robert Morley as Colonel Roberts * Viviane Ventura as Emilia * Peggy Mount as Mrs. Bragg * Graham Stark as Burke * John Le Mesurier as Mr. X * Ellen Pollock as Grandma * Ernest Clark as Air Marshal *

Burnell Tucker Burnell is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alf Burnell (born 1924), English rugby player * Arthur Coke Burnell (1840–1882), British translator * Barker Burnell (1798–1843), U.S. Representative from Massachusetts * Cassandr ...

as Pilot *

George Roderick George H. Roderick (February 22, 1900 – February 19, 1982) was an official in the United States Department of the Army during the Eisenhower Administration. Biography Roderick was educated at the University of Michigan, where he wrote the music ...

as Priest * Bill Mitchell as G.I. Guard * Robert Hutton as Commander

Critical reception

The Radio Times described the film as a "dismal romp" which "marked the end of Cliff's screen collaboration with the Shadows". Variety wrote that "Michael Pertwee’s screenplay does not build up much urgency or suspense but provides opportunity for colorful fiesta, a gentle romance between Richard and Ventura, some verbal dueling between Robert Morley and Graham Stark".

Sky Movies Sky Cinema is a British subscription film service owned by Sky Group (a division of Comcast). In the United Kingdom, Sky Cinema channels currently broadcast on the Sky satellite and Virgin Media cable platforms, and in addition Sky Cinema ...

noted that "Peggy Mount and Robert Morley ('For £10,000, I'd walk naked down Horse Guards Parade') provide formidable comedy support for the stars."

Music

Music and lyrics by The Shadows. Songs include: "Finders Keepers," "Washerwoman," "My Way," "Paella," "La, La, La," "Fiesta," and "Time Drags By."

Soundtrack

The soundtrack album ''Finders Keepers'' by Cliff Richard and The Shadows was released on Columbia Records (Columbia SCX 6079). It was their fourth film soundtrack album and Richard's eighteenth album overall. The album reached number 6 in the UK Album Charts in an 18-week run in the top 40.

Track listing

#"Finders Keepers" (Cliff Richard and The Shadows) #"

Time Drags By "Time Drags By" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in October 1966. It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. Recording and release "Time Drags By" was written by all four members of the Shadows for the soun ...

" (Cliff Richard and The Shadows) #"Washerwoman" (Cliff Richard and The Shadows) #"La La La song" (Cliff Richard and The Shadows) #"My Way" (The Shadows) #"Oh Senorita" (Cliff Richard and The Shadows) #"Spanish Music" (The Shadows) #"Fiesta" (Cliff Richard and The Shadows) #"This Day" (Cliff Richard and The Shadows) #"Paella" (Cliff Richard and The Shadows) #"Finders Keepers"/"My Way"/"Paella"/"Fiesta" (Medley) ( The Shadows) #"Run to the Door" (not from the film) #"Where Did the Summer Go" (not from the film) #" Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" (Cliff Richard and The Shadows) (not from the film)

Tagline

The film's tagline is 'The beat is the wildest! The blast is the craziest!... and the fun is where you find it!'

References

External links

* {{Sidney Hayers 1966 films British musical comedy films Films shot at Pinewood Studios Films directed by Sidney Hayers 1960s English-language films 1960s British films