by JimN » 22 Aug 2022, 15:37
I recorded a short programme on TPTV this morning: a piece to camera by Jess Conrad in the series "Glimpses".
I'm sure his memory must be failing him. He said that he was inspired to become a film extra (this allegedly before the making of "Serious Charge") one afternoon after he had seen the film "Cleopatra".
The problem: "Serious Charge" (in which Conrad was an extra) was released in 1959 and "Cleopatra" didn't make it to the screen until 1963 (it took several years to make).
Anyway, after "Glimpses", TPTV showed "Serious Charge" and I watched the first few minutes recorded by the Sky box before the timer terminated its setting.
Having always thought of, and treated "Serious Charge" as a throwaway movie, I hadn't ever realised that the opening credits featured a version of the instrumental Chinchilla, also recorded by The Drifters and included on the Cliff Richard "Serious Charge" EP. Played by a bunch of session-men, the structure of the tune is presented starkly, with some well-telegraphed augmented and diminished chords. I wonder why Bruce was so self-deprecating about his knowledge of such chords over the years? He'd nailed it in 1959!
Incidentally, Chinchilla is credited to composers Starr and Wolf, though the "score" for the movie (though not Lionel Bart's songs) is attributed to "Leighton Lucas". I am assuming that Norrie brought all three songs, plus Chinchilla, to the film.