I saw this film on television ( in black and white ) around 1969/70 and thought it was incredible. Marty Wildes title song is up there with Gunfight At The OK Corral and Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.
Then the film vanished ( this was long before we could record films off TV and watch them over and over ) and many film reference books ignore it.
Fans of the film know it's practically unobtainable in any format.
But here's what's interesting...
I recently bought a back-issue of ' Whats On In London' magazine, dated the week the film opened in London and it has the poster on the front. Which looks great.
But inside, the films reviewer, F. Maurice Speed, states he doesn't know if the film was supposed to be a comedy, because it was so bad, and mentions some poor performances by one or two lead actors.
I couldn't understand these comments, as in my memory ( 45 years on ) the film was a classic.
Then I managed to get a VHS copy taped by a friend off American TV and the film, watched now, is awful, with the Hellions themselves all way over the top, especially James Booth who chews the scenery unmercifully.
But the worst performance by miles is by South African actor Jamie Uys, who mumbles and whispers and looks down at his feet most of the time. It's hilarious because he is absolutely atrocious. He looks like he wandered onto the set to give someone a message and the camera kept rolling.
It just goes to show that what you think is a great film when you're a kid can be a major disappointment when you catch up with is half-a-century later.
Then the film vanished ( this was long before we could record films off TV and watch them over and over ) and many film reference books ignore it.
Fans of the film know it's practically unobtainable in any format.
But here's what's interesting...
I recently bought a back-issue of ' Whats On In London' magazine, dated the week the film opened in London and it has the poster on the front. Which looks great.
But inside, the films reviewer, F. Maurice Speed, states he doesn't know if the film was supposed to be a comedy, because it was so bad, and mentions some poor performances by one or two lead actors.
I couldn't understand these comments, as in my memory ( 45 years on ) the film was a classic.
Then I managed to get a VHS copy taped by a friend off American TV and the film, watched now, is awful, with the Hellions themselves all way over the top, especially James Booth who chews the scenery unmercifully.
But the worst performance by miles is by South African actor Jamie Uys, who mumbles and whispers and looks down at his feet most of the time. It's hilarious because he is absolutely atrocious. He looks like he wandered onto the set to give someone a message and the camera kept rolling.
It just goes to show that what you think is a great film when you're a kid can be a major disappointment when you catch up with is half-a-century later.