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DVD Description
Set against a backdrop of early 60's London, Telstar is the story of the world's first independent record producer, Joe Meek. A maverick genius who enjoyed phenomenal early success with Telstar - the biggest selling record of its time - before bad luck, depression, heartbreak and paranoia forced him into murder and suicide. A gay, amphetamine addicted, talented but deeply troubled soul, Meek dabbled in the occult. He is already an iconic figure in the world of British pop. Far from being a maudlin tale, this stranger than fiction true story is a satirical comic drama revealing the many sides of Joe Meek, a man who is now revered as a pioneer in the field of popular music.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Alternative Footage, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Blackly comic, music-infused biopic about the life - and tragic death - of maverick British songwriter and record producer Joe Meek. Flamboyantly gay in a time when homosexuality remained outlawed, tone deaf, drug addicted, famously paranoid and obsessed with black magic, Meek (Con O'Neill) was responsible for a string of 1960s chart-toppers including 'Have I the Right', 'Just Like Eddie', 'Johnny, Remember Me' and the groundbreaking 'Telstar'. Kevin Spacey co-stars as 'Major' Wilfred Banks, the businessman who bankrolls Meeks's home studio at 304 Holloway Road in North London. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: British Independent Film Awards, ...Telstar
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The slickness of the music industry nowadays makes this film all the more fascinating, revealing as it does that Britain's most successful instrumental single (the Telstar of the title), one of the first British number one records in America, was recorded in a seedy little flat above a leather goods shop by the somewhat unbalanced Joe Meek.
Meek was a pioneer, a maverick and clearly rather unhinged. Con O'Neal's superb performance with its quirky Gloucester accent provokes fear and pity in equal amounts, but you can't help admiring Meek's energy and ideas. It all ends rather horribly but I won't reveal too much if you don't know the story.
It is the little details that fascinate. Without Meek, we wouldn't have heard Johnny Remember Me, Have I the Right?, Just Like Eddie or that Screaming Lord Sutch shocker Jack the Ripper (Sutch's life, like Meek's, ended tragically). However, this didn't stop him turning down The Beatles and Tom Jones! While his lover Heinz crashed and burned, many of his session musicians went on to greater things. Clem Cattini (played here by the ever-amusing James Corden) went on to drum on countless chart-toppers, Ritchie Blackmore went on to form Deep Purple and, perhaps most endearingly, Chas Hodges, portrayed by Ralf Little, is seen complaining about having to do 'novelty records' which is so much funnier when you realise that he went on to be half of Chas 'n' Dave!
An excellent recreation of a bygone time and bygone tunes. All this and Kevin Spacey too!
Meek was a pioneer, a maverick and clearly rather unhinged. Con O'Neal's superb performance with its quirky Gloucester accent provokes fear and pity in equal amounts, but you can't help admiring Meek's energy and ideas. It all ends rather horribly but I won't reveal too much if you don't know the story.
It is the little details that fascinate. Without Meek, we wouldn't have heard Johnny Remember Me, Have I the Right?, Just Like Eddie or that Screaming Lord Sutch shocker Jack the Ripper (Sutch's life, like Meek's, ended tragically). However, this didn't stop him turning down The Beatles and Tom Jones! While his lover Heinz crashed and burned, many of his session musicians went on to greater things. Clem Cattini (played here by the ever-amusing James Corden) went on to drum on countless chart-toppers, Ritchie Blackmore went on to form Deep Purple and, perhaps most endearingly, Chas Hodges, portrayed by Ralf Little, is seen complaining about having to do 'novelty records' which is so much funnier when you realise that he went on to be half of Chas 'n' Dave!
An excellent recreation of a bygone time and bygone tunes. All this and Kevin Spacey too!
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this film at the cinema yesterday and i was blown away. I had been anticipating its release for a while as i wanted to see how they would convert Joe Meeks life story to the big screen, plus the fact i'm a fan of the majority of music orientated films.
Con O'Neill plays independant record producer Joe Meek. The film documents his rise to fame through 60s Tornados Hit 'Telstar', then his fall into depression, paranoia, heartbreak, poverty and ultimatley murder and suicide. As dark as all that sounds, Nick Moran has created a beautiful mix of satirical comedy and drama, keeping you hooked for the duration.
Many familiar faces new and old appear in the cast, including Kevin Spacey (Major Banks), Pam Ferris (Meek's landlady) and JJ Field (Meek's love interest Heinz Burt). With notable British comedy actors James Corden (Clem Cattini) and Ralf Little (Chaz Hodges), and an added cameo appearance from Jimmy Carr. Music fans will have noticed Caral Barat (The Libertines) and Justin Hawkins (The Darkness) also taking minor roles as other notable musicians of the 60s, Gene Vincent and Screaming Lord Sutch. Jess Conrad, John Layton, Chas Hodges and Clem Cattini appear in cameo roles as well.
The acting is superb as is the soundtrack. I urge you to buy this DVD, if you are interested in Joe Meek or the uncredited geniuses who work behind the scenes of those hit tracks or infact just music, it is a must buy!
Con O'Neill plays independant record producer Joe Meek. The film documents his rise to fame through 60s Tornados Hit 'Telstar', then his fall into depression, paranoia, heartbreak, poverty and ultimatley murder and suicide. As dark as all that sounds, Nick Moran has created a beautiful mix of satirical comedy and drama, keeping you hooked for the duration.
Many familiar faces new and old appear in the cast, including Kevin Spacey (Major Banks), Pam Ferris (Meek's landlady) and JJ Field (Meek's love interest Heinz Burt). With notable British comedy actors James Corden (Clem Cattini) and Ralf Little (Chaz Hodges), and an added cameo appearance from Jimmy Carr. Music fans will have noticed Caral Barat (The Libertines) and Justin Hawkins (The Darkness) also taking minor roles as other notable musicians of the 60s, Gene Vincent and Screaming Lord Sutch. Jess Conrad, John Layton, Chas Hodges and Clem Cattini appear in cameo roles as well.
The acting is superb as is the soundtrack. I urge you to buy this DVD, if you are interested in Joe Meek or the uncredited geniuses who work behind the scenes of those hit tracks or infact just music, it is a must buy!
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I came to this film with high expectations knowing of the history of Joe Meek and the history of the film and the play that led to it. I'd been alerted to the potential of Nick Moran by his post 'Lock-Stock..' film 'Christie Malry's Own Double Entry' and that seemed a good omen, and although I'd never seen him live, Con O'Neill's reputation as a stage actor preceded him.
The high expectations were surpassed - it would have been easy to make a gentle comedy from the tales of Joe and to have lost the spirit of an extraordinary man, a troubled genius with a unique touch. This film is pretty much an accurate retelling of key moments of his life and Con is outstanding in the role of Joe, alongside a cast who performed exceptionally well.
This is one of the best British films I've seen for many years - it's a fascinating tale of a unique man, the kind of character we don't celebrate enough in this country and hearty congratulations to all involved.
See this. Buy this. Get the soundtrack.
The high expectations were surpassed - it would have been easy to make a gentle comedy from the tales of Joe and to have lost the spirit of an extraordinary man, a troubled genius with a unique touch. This film is pretty much an accurate retelling of key moments of his life and Con is outstanding in the role of Joe, alongside a cast who performed exceptionally well.
This is one of the best British films I've seen for many years - it's a fascinating tale of a unique man, the kind of character we don't celebrate enough in this country and hearty congratulations to all involved.
See this. Buy this. Get the soundtrack.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Flying high
Having played Telstar on stage for years and being a composer/musician of Joe Meek/Tornado style instrumentals, I just had to buy the DVD. Read more
Published 1 month ago by BYRON
Telstar dvd
What a fantastic story - Telstar is music I had been familier with all my life - but didn't know the tragic story behind it, contains more swearing than is necessary but a great... Read more
Published 4 months ago by sharron.lawrence
Fantastic biopic
This is one of my favourite films of recent times. There are cringe-worthy moments of crude humour, but overall this is tastefully and carefully filmed, following the life of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kate Bradley
No Star for Telstar
If he's up there, looking down on the world at forty five revolutions per minute, Joe Meek will undoubtedly have seen this horrible film. Knowing Joe, he probably burst into tears. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Carnaby
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Telstar [DVD]Now this film may appeal to a wide audience.Sadly,I didn't realise that the lump of excrement,masquerading as James Corden,is in it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by wobberoo
excellent production !
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS FOR MY SON WHO TELLS ME IT WAS A BRILLIANT STORY ABOUT THE LIFE OF JOE MEEK AND THE MUSIC HE LOVED AND FOLLOWED. Read more
Published 4 months ago by bossbar
Just OK!
Starts off as a really great film building and with some great acting.
Then with about an hour or so done, it's almost as if they ran out of budget and crammed years... Read more
Then with about an hour or so done, it's almost as if they ran out of budget and crammed years... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Matt67
Telstar
Great film took me back to the sixties very authentic.
captures the era perfectly
And great service from Amazon they can't be beat.
captures the era perfectly
And great service from Amazon they can't be beat.
Published 6 months ago by Larry
Telstar
Con O'neil is just great! First saw him in Blood Brothers.
Story reminds me of my youth in the late fiftes to early seventies.
Story reminds me of my youth in the late fiftes to early seventies.
Published 6 months ago by Ralph
MASTERPIECE
An absoloute masterpiece,joe meek was an amazing character tinged with sadness,but what he did for the evolution of music was indescribable. Read more
Published 7 months ago by lucky S.
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