Expresso Bongo

1959

1h 51m

Musical

Comedy

List

40%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

42%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

A talent agent named Johnny Jackson (Laurence Harvey) tries to resurrect his flagging career when he stumbles upon a talented young rock 'n' roll musician, Bert Rudge (Cliff Richard). Although Rudge protests and says he doesn't want to be a star, Jackson transforms the youth into a teen idol, renaming him Bongo Herbert. Pretty soon, Bongo Herbert is making it big, with a single hitting the charts and Jackson pulling the strings. But, as the two find out, success is fleeting.

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Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

Expresso Bongo has much to recommend it. Firstly, the film has a clever script (by Wolf Mankowitz, based on Julian More's play) with hilarious, yet keen, moments (the Rudge family scenes are priceless).

Rated: B

Feb 7, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

More successful as a satire about show biz sleaze than as a bouncy musical.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 22, 2022

Full Review

MFB Critics

Monthly Film Bulletin

In broadening the humour of his original play and watering down some of its more savage satire, presumably in the hope of appealing to a mass audience, Wolf Mankowitz has fallen between two stools.

Jan 24, 2018

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Has a charm all its own, but that's not enough to take the ringing of the bongo drums out of my ears.

Rated: C+

Dec 20, 2007

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 28, 2005

Full Review

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Audience Member

A funny, fast paced, breezy look at a scene few are aware even existed. The 1950s Soho coffee house scene in London was a brief flickering candle of hip and beat, well sent up in this black & white masterpiece. I've watched it several times and it never grows old.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Looked a bit like this was the start of Cliff Richard's career-movie , it could be but it wasn't ! Simple movie ...highlights 3 Cliff-songs ...SOMDVD

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

another early rock n roll pics

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A bit dated, but that almost adds to the interest of the film. Well acted by Laurence Harvey. Some great music, good score.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

cliff...he's not at wimbledon or church!)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Top stuff - make sure you see it. Or I'll batter you.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

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Val Guest

Director

Laurence Harvey

Johnny Jackson

Sylvia Syms

Maisie King

Cliff Richard

Bert Rudge

Yolande Donlan

Dixie Collins

Meier Tzelniker

Mayer

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Synopsis

A talent agent named Johnny Jackson (Laurence Harvey) tries to resurrect his flagging career when he stumbles upon a talented young rock 'n' roll musician, Bert Rudge (Cliff Richard). Although Rudge protests and says he doesn't want to be a star, Jackson transforms the youth into a teen idol, renaming him Bongo Herbert. Pretty soon, Bongo Herbert is making it big, with a single hitting the charts and Jackson pulling the strings. But, as the two find out, success is fleeting.

Director: Val Guest
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jun 11, 2007
Runtime: 1h 51m

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