The Ghost Goes Gear

Rating:
Summary: GOOD, MINDLESS, NOSTALGIC FUN!!
Review: This movie, starring The Spencer Davis Group and some lesser known Brit bands, gets dumped on a lot but it's NOT THAT BAD!! It is no worse than the AIP 'beach party' movies of the 60s, which also had corny humor and dreadful songs. This movie is beautifully photographed in color and contains a few...tho' not many... decent numbers. It's an 80 minute time-killer of cozy 60s nostalgia. Imagine a kind of cross between "A Hard Days Night" and "Benny Hill"...then take it down a couple of pegs...and you'll get the idea. (The guy who plays the group's manager, Nicholas Parson, was a regular on the Benny Hill Show) The 'ghost' is just some guy who comes out, sings a forgettable pop ballad, and walks back into the wall. The Spencer Davis Group do a few numbers but none of their 'classics'. (Dick Dale didn't do any of his 'hits' in "Beach Party" either). The last half of the movie is an outdoor rock'n'roll show (kind of like 'Shindig' al fresco) and everybody seems to be enjoying themselves. The DVD has an entertaining commentary by 'humorist' Martin Lewis and Spencer Davis, who talks about the band, the good time they had making the movie and the swingin' 60s scene. It's fun to listen to. Check it out if you're into the 60s Brit Beat Scene.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of nostalgic fun from the Sixties
Review: You don't have to be a fan of 1960s "British Invasion" bands to enjoy "The Ghost Goes Gear," but it surely helps. In the wake of The Beatles' successful first film, "Hard Day's Night," there were a host of films that featured British rock/pop bands of the era including, among others, Herman's Hermits (in "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter"), The Dave Clark Five (in "Having a Wild Weekend," directed by John Boorman!) and this rarely seen 1966 film featuring The Spencer Davis Group that never even made it to the U.S. until 1999 as part of a film revival. While "The Ghost Goes Gear" is a minor effort, it's certainly a lot of fun to watch, sort of a British version of "The Monkees," especially during the first half of the film. The second half of the film features musical numbers by obscure British musical acts of the era, the lone exception being Acker Bilk's jazz band.

Fortunately, the film is played broadly by the cast, and Spencer Davis and his bandmates, brothers Muff (bass guitar) and Steve Winwood (guitar and keyboards), and Peter York (drums) acquit themselves nicely. Steve Winwood first made his musical mark with The Spencer Davis Group ("Gimme Some Lovin'," "I'm a Man") and went on to greater success as a member of Traffic and, later, as a solo act. Here, he's a very young looking 18 year old and is the quiet one of the group. While the band doesn't play any of its hits here (at least those with which U.S. audiences would be familiar), musically, they are the best thing going in the film. They perform a terrific, slightly country version of "The Midnight Special" that I found myself humming for several days after viewing the film. The other acts perform pleasant, but instantly forgettable tunes.

Anchor Bay has done their usual great job in bringing this rarity to DVD. The film is presented in the widescreen format from, reportedly, the only uncut print of the film known to exist. There's also a very entertaining commentary track featuring Spencer Davis and humorist Martin Lewis.

The "bottom line" on "The Ghost Goes Gear" is that it is an enjoyable, lighthearted romp that harkens back to the days when rock and roll was much happier and less angst ridden. View it in that context and you'll have a "fab" time.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of nostalgic fun from the Sixties
Review: You don't have to be a fan of 1960s "British Invasion" bands to enjoy "The Ghost Goes Gear," but it surely helps. In the wake of The Beatles' successful first film, "Hard Day's Night," there were a host of films that featured British rock/pop bands of the era including, among others, Herman's Hermits (in "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter"), The Dave Clark Five (in "Having a Wild Weekend," directed by John Boorman!) and this rarely seen 1966 film featuring The Spencer Davis Group that never even made it to the U.S. until 1999 as part of a film revival. While "The Ghost Goes Gear" is a minor effort, it's certainly a lot of fun to watch, sort of a British version of "The Monkees," especially during the first half of the film. The second half of the film features musical numbers by obscure British musical acts of the era, the lone exception being Acker Bilk's jazz band.

Fortunately, the film is played broadly by the cast, and Spencer Davis and his bandmates, brothers Muff (bass guitar) and Steve Winwood (guitar and keyboards), and Peter York (drums) acquit themselves nicely. Steve Winwood first made his musical mark with The Spencer Davis Group ("Gimme Some Lovin'," "I'm a Man") and went on to greater success as a member of Traffic and, later, as a solo act. Here, he's a very young looking 18 year old and is the quiet one of the group. While the band doesn't play any of its hits here (at least those with which U.S. audiences would be familiar), musically, they are the best thing going in the film. They perform a terrific, slightly country version of "The Midnight Special" that I found myself humming for several days after viewing the film. The other acts perform pleasant, but instantly forgettable tunes.

Anchor Bay has done their usual great job in bringing this rarity to DVD. The film is presented in the widescreen format from, reportedly, the only uncut print of the film known to exist. There's also a very entertaining commentary track featuring Spencer Davis and humorist Martin Lewis.

The "bottom line" on "The Ghost Goes Gear" is that it is an enjoyable, lighthearted romp that harkens back to the days when rock and roll was much happier and less angst ridden. View it in that context and you'll have a "fab" time.