Hold On
Director: Arthur Lubin
Year:
1966
Rating: 4.0
I can't believe that I watched both of the Herman's
Hermits films and I'm Henry the VIII wasn't in either of them. It is about
the only song of theirs's that I know and can sing along with. I am a fan
of the British Invasion but even back then HH was at the bottom of my list.
Their music was bland and inoffensive. Parents probably approved of them.
The Beatles, DC5, the Hollies, the Kinks, the Animals, Manfred Mann and Gerry
and the Pacemakers were so much better. HH didn't even write their own songs.
Their two movies are just as bland. Mrs.
Brown, You've Got a Lovely daughter from 1968 is a snooze and this one no
better. But nearly all the movies with the Brit Invasion bands are awful.
This one tries to do a Hard Day's Night with screaming girls chasing them
and maybe if any of the songs were memorable or any of the band members had
any personality, it might have worked. Both films focus on the lead singer,
Peter Noone, and ignore the others. Noone is a cheery enough bloke who would
be selling fish and chips if he wasn't discovered.
HH are touring America and their agent keeps
them on a tight leash. No women. No leaving the hotel. No getting laid. No
breaking furniture. What's the point of being in a band then? NASA has decided
to name a rocket after the group and they send a man to check up on them.
Mr. Mitchell. Father of Dennis the Menace, real name Herbert Anderson. Herman
meets a girl and falls for her, the adorable Shelley Fabares from the Donna
Reed Show. She had a singing career going of light pop and I admit to buying
her CD.
