Dateline Diamonds
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| Dateline Diamonds | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Directed by | Jeremy Summers |
| Produced by | Harry Benn |
| Written by | Tudor Gates (based on an original idea by Harold Shampan) |
| Starring | Musical guests: The Small Faces The Chantelles, Kiki Dee Mark Richardson Acting roles: |
| Distributed by | Rank Organisation |
| Release date(s) | April 3, 1966 United Kingdom |
| Running time | 73 minutes |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Dateline Diamonds is a 1966 British music-film. The film was shot in black and white. The "pop and cop" genre of film was a popular concept in the UK during the early 1960s to highlight young music talent and was geared to appeal directly to the young teenage market. The film was low-budget B movie and released to support the main feature film Doctor in Clover starring Leslie Phillips.[1][2]
The film's weak plot involves an international criminal gang who use the m.v. Galaxy (the 60's pirate radio station Radio London ship) to smuggle stolen diamonds from the UK to Amsterdam. The film's final sequence showing Ray Anton and Pro Forma, Mark Richardson and The Small Faces performing on stage was filmed during a genuine Radio London night at the Rank Ballroom in Watford.[3]
In recent years Dateline Diamonds has enjoyed renewed interest mainly due to the fact that it features the original lineup of British band Small Faces (Jimmy Langwith was replaced in 1966 by Ian McLagan). Band manager Don Arden arranged for Small Faces to appear in the film as a promotional vehicle for "I've Got Mine" the follow up to their debut single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It". Unfortunately the film's release was delayed and the band received no publicity for their single, which consequently failed to chart.
Dateline Diamonds was released on VHS and is currently available on DVD format.
[edit] Cast list
- William Lucas – Maj. Fairclough
- Kenneth Cope – Lester Benson
- George Mikell – Paul Verlekt
- Conrad Phillips – Tom Jenkins
- Patsy Rowlands – Mrs. Edgecumbe
- Burnell Tucker – Dale Meredith (a fictitious DJ)
- Kenny Everett – himself
- Anna Carteret – Gay Jenkins
- Vanda Godsell – Mrs. Jenkins
- Gertan Klauber – Meyerhof
- Doel Luscombe – Assistant Commissioner
- Peter Zander – Spankaren
- Geoffrey Lumsden – Army Officer
- Ronald Bridges – Garage Attendant
- David Kirk – Dock Policeman
with brief appearances by Phillip Birch, Earl Richmond and Ben Toney
