HEAR MY SONG
The Greatest Movie You Never Saw.
Hear My Song is a 1991 Irish-British comedy-drama film directed by Peter Chelsom, who co-wrote the screenplay with Adrian Dunbar, based on the story of Irish tenor Josef Locke. It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 46th British Academy Film Awards in 1993.
The film stars Ned Beatty (song voice Vernon Midgley, as Locke), Adrian Dunbar, Shirley Anne Field, Tara Fitzgerald, William Hootkins and David McCallum (as police officer).
I saw it when it came out. I rented the VHS from blockbuster. I rented it over and over. I couldn’t believe how great it was. This was when comedies were funny. The best romantic comedy I’ve ever seen. You laugh in the first five minutes. And like all great comedies, it’s real. It takes itself seriously and delivers a boatload of heart.
Adrian Dunbar stars as Mickey O’Neill, proprietor of a third rate music hall in Liverpool. He’s in love with the radiant Tara Fitzgerald who becomes disgusted with Mickey’s inability to deliver a simple, “I love you.”
Nancy: “Mickey, I love you, I love you Mickey.”
Mickey: “Vice Versa, Love.”
Mickey books bait and switch acts like Frank Cinatra. In order to win back Nancy, he promises to book the mysterious Mr. X, a famous Irish tenor who left England to avoid onerous taxes.
He books a fake Mr. X at which point Nancy walks out. Mickey’s future depends on him tracking down the real Mr. X in Ireland and convincing him to play the club. Ned Beatty plays Joseph Locke.Locke doesn’t want to be bothered but when Mickey persists, Locke uncovers the real reason and teaches Mickey a life lesson he’ll never forget.
Every bit of this comedy sparkles, from the hilarious descent into ignominy, to the triumphant return of Locke to the music hall, where a sinister cop played by David McCallum lies in wait to arrest him for tax evasion. Every line is quotable.
“If the phone doesn’t ring, it’s me.”
“We were born in peacetime. We haven’t seen what you’ve seen, we haven’t done what you’ve done…”
Try getting this on DVD. There are no versions that will play in the US. Why would they make DVDs that won’t play in the US? Fortunately, it’s on Youtube and you can watch the whole thing there. I think I’ll watch it again.
What film, Architect?
Love finding hidden gems like this. The way classic comedies balanced humor with genuine emotion is somethng modern films often miss. I had a similar experince with a British film from the 90s that I kept rewatching bc of how authentic it felt. That struggle with the DVD availability is frustrating tho, glad its on YouTube at least!