Dateline Diamonds
Encyclopedia
Dateline Diamonds is a 1966 British
music-film. The film was shot in black and white
. The "pop and cop" genre of film was a popular concept in the UK during the early 1960s to highlight young music talent and was geared to appeal directly to the young teenage market. The film was a low-budget B movie
and released to support the main feature film Doctor in Clover
starring Leslie Phillips
.
The film's plot involves an international criminal gang who use the MV Galaxy (the ship which was the home of 1960's pirate radio station Radio London
) to smuggle stolen diamonds from the UK to Amsterdam
. The film's final sequence showing Ray Anton and Pro Forma, Mark Richardson and The Small Faces performing on stage was filmed during a genuine Radio London night at the Rank Ballroom in Watford
.
In recent years Dateline Diamonds has enjoyed renewed interest mainly because it features the original lineup of British band Small Faces (Jimmy Langwith was replaced in 1966 by Ian McLagan). Band manager Don Arden
arranged for Small Faces to appear in the film as a promotional vehicle for "I've Got Mine
" the follow-up to their debut single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It
". Unfortunately the film's release was delayed and the band received no publicity for their single, which consequently failed to chart.
Dateline Diamonds was released on VHS
and is currently available on DVD
format.
with brief appearances by Phillip Birch, Earl Richmond
and Ben Toney
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music-film. The film was shot in black and white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
. The "pop and cop" genre of film was a popular concept in the UK during the early 1960s to highlight young music talent and was geared to appeal directly to the young teenage market. The film was a low-budget B movie
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
and released to support the main feature film Doctor in Clover
Doctor in Clover
Doctor in Clover is a British comedy film released in 1966, starring Leslie Phillips. The film is based on the novel by Richard Gordon.The film was shot in Carnaby Street, Wormwood Scrubs and Pinewood Studios.-Synopsis:...
starring Leslie Phillips
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...
.
The film's plot involves an international criminal gang who use the MV Galaxy (the ship which was the home of 1960's pirate radio station Radio London
Radio London
Radio London may refer to one of the following radio stations:*A popular name for the BBC World Service in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II*The station now known as BBC London 94.9...
) to smuggle stolen diamonds from the UK to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. The film's final sequence showing Ray Anton and Pro Forma, Mark Richardson and The Small Faces performing on stage was filmed during a genuine Radio London night at the Rank Ballroom in Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
.
In recent years Dateline Diamonds has enjoyed renewed interest mainly because it features the original lineup of British band Small Faces (Jimmy Langwith was replaced in 1966 by Ian McLagan). Band manager Don Arden
Don Arden
Don Arden , born Harry Levy, was an English music manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath....
arranged for Small Faces to appear in the film as a promotional vehicle for "I've Got Mine
I've Got Mine
"I've Got Mine" was the second official song released by English R&B mod band Small Faces in 1965. The song failed to chart despite receiving favourable reviews in the British music press....
" the follow-up to their debut single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It
Whatcha Gonna Do About It
"Whatcha Gonna Do About It" is the debut single released by the English R&B, mod group Small Faces, released in the UK on 6 August 1965. The song peaked at number 14 in the UK Singles Chart, and stayed on chart for a total of 14 weeks.-Song profile:...
". Unfortunately the film's release was delayed and the band received no publicity for their single, which consequently failed to chart.
Dateline Diamonds was released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and is currently available on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
format.
Cast list
- William LucasWilliam Lucas (British actor)William Lucas is a British film and television actor. His first acting role was in the film Portrait of Alison , and later appeared in many Hammer Film Productions such as Shadow of the Cat. He is probably best known for his role in The Adventures of Black Beauty as Dr...
– Maj. Fairclough - Kenneth CopeKenneth CopeKenneth Cope is an English actor. He is most famous for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk , Jed Stone in Coronation Street and Ray Hilton in Brookside.- Career :...
– Lester Benson - George MikellGeorge MikellGeorge Mikell is an actor and writer most well known for his performances in The Guns of Navarone and The Great Escape...
– Paul Verlekt - Conrad PhillipsConrad PhillipsConrad Phillips is a British film and television actor, born in London. His real name is Conrad Philip Havord.He is best known for portraying William Tell in the popular ITV television series The Adventures of William Tell which ran for 39 episodes from 1958 to 1959. Philips also played Stefan,...
– Tom Jenkins - Patsy RowlandsPatsy RowlandsPatsy Rowlands was an English actress who is best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, as Betty in the popular ITV Thames sitcom Bless This House, and as Alice Meredith in the Yorkshire Television sitcom Hallelujah!.-Early years:She was born in Palmers Green, London and attended a...
– Mrs. Edgecumbe - Burnell Tucker – Dale Meredith (a fictitious DJ)
- Kenny EverettKenny EverettKenny Everett was an English comedian, radio DJ and television entertainer. Born Maurice James Christopher Cole, Everett is best known for his career as a radio DJ and for the Kenny Everett television shows.-Early life:...
– himself - Anna CarteretAnna CarteretAnna Carteret is a British stage and screen actress, born in Bangalore, India the daughter of Peter John Wilkinson and his wife Patricia Carteret . She is married to the television and film director Christopher Morahan and has often worked with him...
– Gay Jenkins - Vanda GodsellVanda GodsellVanda Godsell was an English actress.-Early life:She was born near Bristol into the well known Godsell family, best known for its brewery based in Stroud. Her father was an officer in the Navy and served in the Battle of Jutland whilst her mother, Muriel, was the sister of novelist and actress...
– Mrs. Jenkins - Gertan KlauberGertan KlauberGeorge Gertan Klauber was a British character actor.He played small roles in many of the Carry On films, and appeared as mad king George III in Blackadder the Third....
– Meyerhof - Doel Luscombe – Assistant Commissioner
- Peter ZanderPeter Zander-Selected filmography:* Mystery Submarine * Dateline Diamonds * The Return of Mr. Moto -External links:...
– Spankaren - Geoffrey LumsdenGeoffrey LumsdenGeoffrey Lumsden was a British character actor who had a lengthy career on television.By some way his best known role was Captain Square in Dad's Army, the pompous commander of the Eastgate platoon of the Home Guard who was a rival of Captain Mainwaring.He appeared in a few episodes, though...
– Army Officer - Ronald Bridges – Garage Attendant
- David KirkDavid KirkDavid Edward Kirk, MBE, , is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987....
– Dock Policeman
with brief appearances by Phillip Birch, Earl Richmond
Earl Richmond
Earl Richmond , was a broadcaster born in Highgate, London in 1928, he died in May 2001.Earl first worked in radio on British Forces Radio in Trieste. He was also heard in Cyprus before moving to America to study Television....
and Ben Toney