Farewell Performance

1963 British film by Robert Tronson

December 1963 (1963-12)

Running time

73 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglish

Farewell Performance is a 1963 British crime film directed by Robert Tronson and starring David Kernan, Frederick Jaeger and Delphi Lawrence.^[1]^[2]

It features musical interludes from Joe Meek acts including The Tornados and Heinz.

It is considered a lost film and is on the BFI National Archive's 75 Most Wanted List of missing films.^[3]

Plot

After a pop singer is murdered, the police have to figure out which of his many enemies is responsible.

Cast

David Kernan as Ray Baron
Delphi Lawrence as Janice Marlon
Frederick Jaeger as Paul Warner
Derek Francis as Superintendent Raven
Alfred Burke as Marlon
John Kelland as Mitch
Toni Gilpin as Carol
James Copeland as Andrews
Ron Perry as Dennis
Denise Coffey as Dickie
Artro Morris as George
Sean Lynch as Harry
Hugh Futcher as Max
Donald Tandy as Woods
Middleton Woods as Pop
Fred Hugh as manager
The Tornados as themselves
Heinz as himself
Tommy Devel and Partner as themselves

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Although the routine plot is supported by a number of pop music interludes, presumably inserted with the object of appealing to teenagers, the backstage murder theme, and even much of the dialogue, harks back to the early Thirties. The number of suspects is more limited than usual, and the identity of the murderer is not very skilfully concealed."^[4]

References

^ "Farewell Performance". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
^ "Farewell Performance". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009.
^ "Farewell Performance / BFI Most Wanted". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
^ "Farewell Performance". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 30 (348): 130. 1 January 1963 – via ProQuest.