Dateline Diamonds
| Dateline Diamonds | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| 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: William Lucas, Kenneth Cope, Conrad Phillips, Patsy Rowlands, Kenny Everett |
| Cinematography | Stephen Dade |
| Distributed by | Rank Organisation |
Release date | 3 April 1966 |
Running time | 73 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Dateline Diamonds is a 1965 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 a low-budget B movie and released to support the main feature film Doctor in Clover starring Leslie Phillips.[1][2]
The plot involves an international criminal gang who use the MV Galaxy (the ship which was the home of 1960s pirate radio station Radio London) to smuggle stolen diamonds from the UK to Amsterdam. The 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]
Dateline Diamonds features the original lineup of British band Small Faces (Jimmy Winston 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". However, the film's release was delayed and the band received no other publicity for their single, which failed to chart. The film also features a young Kiki Dee.
Dateline Diamonds was released on VHS and is currently available on DVD format.
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