''What a Crazy World'' is a 1963 film directed by

Michael Carreras Michael Henry Carreras (21 December 1927 – 19 April 1994) was a British film producer and director. He was known for his association with Hammer Films, being the son of founder James Carreras, and taking an executive role in the compan ...

from a script by Carreras and

Alan Klein Alan Charles Klein (born 29 June 1940) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He wrote the soundtrack for the stage play and film, ''What a Crazy World'' (1963). In 1964, he released his only solo album, ''Well at Least It's British'', t ...

, from the latter's stage play. It is a pop

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

featuring a number of late 1950s and early 1960s musical performers, including an appearance by

Freddie and the Dreamers Freddie and the Dreamers were an English beat band that had a number of hit records between 1963 and 1965. The band's stage act was enlivened by the comic antics of Freddie Garrity, who would bounce around the stage with arms and legs flying. ...

Premise

An unemployed working class lad, Alf Hitchens, has an on-off relationship with his girlfriend Marilyn, whilst trying to sell a song he has written. Michael Ripper appears in several cameo roles bemoaning the "bleeding kids" he encounters.

Cast

* Joe Brown – Alf Hitchens *

Susan Maughan Susan Maughan (born Marian Maughan, 1 July 1938) is an English singer who released successful singles in the 1960s. Her most famous and successful song, " Bobby's Girl" (a cover of the Marcie Blane single), reached number three in the UK Singl ...

– Marilyn *

Marty Wilde Marty Wilde, (born Reginald Leonard Smith; 15 April 1939) is an English singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, scoring several 1950s hit singles including "Endless Sle ...

– Herbie Shadbolt *

Harry H. Corbett Harry H. Corbett OBE (28 February 1925 – 21 March 1982) was an English actor and comedian, best remembered for playing rag-and-bone man Harold Steptoe alongside Wilfrid Brambell in the long-running BBC television sitcom ''Steptoe and Son'' ( ...

– Sam Hitchens *

Avis Bunnage Avis Bunnage (22 April 1923, Ardwick, Manchester – 4 October 1990, Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-Sea) was an English actress of film, stage and television. She attended Manley Park Municipal School and Chorlton Central School in Manchester. She ...

– Mary Hitchens *

Michael Ripper Michael George Ripper (27 January 1913 – 28 June 2000) was an English character actor. He began his film career in quota quickies in the 1930s and until the late 1950s was virtually unknown; he was seldom credited. Along with Michael Gough ...

– The Common Man *

Grazina Frame Grazina Frame (born Lydia Anna Grazina Obrycha; 6 November 1941, Borough of Fylde, Fylde, Lancashire, England) is an English stage and screen actress, singer and voice double Early life Grazina Frame was born as Lydia Anna Grazina Obrycha to Pol ...

- Doris *

Monte Landis Max Landstein (born 20 April 1933) is a Scottish-American film and television actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the comic foil in multiple episodes of ''The Monkees'', most notably as "Mr. Zero" in "The Devil and Peter Tork". He began ...

– Solly Gold *Michael Goodman – Joey Hitchens *

Jessie Robins Jessie Robins (5 June 1905 – 10 August 1991) was an United States, English actress whose career lasted from 1958 to 1974. She was best recognised as Ringo Starr's "Auntie Jessie" in The Beatles' made-for-television movie ''Magical Mystery Tour ...

– Fat Woman *

– Frantic Freddie and The Dreamers On Network Video July 2014 with the original theatrical trailer.

Reception

''Kinematograph Weekly'' called the film a "money maker" at the British box office for 1964.

References

External links

* 1963 films 1963 musical films British musical films Films directed by Michael Carreras Films shot at Associated British Studios 1960s English-language films 1960s British films {{UK-musical-film-stub