funkyfry This film has a lot of similarities to the flimsy American films of Sam Katzman. It shares in those films' virtues but also prominently in its vices: although it features some of the greatest talent in rock and roll, such as Gene Vincent and Del Shannon, these stars appear only very briefly and in total isolation from the actors. They could be, and probably are, just shot in a studio and mixed into the film. Instead of seeing more of these great stars, we're "treated" to interminable, unending stale dixieland music performed by mostly amateurish U.K. groups (the exception being the interesting "Temperance Seven" which for some reason includes nine men).As in the Katzman epics, the plot almost does not exist. In this case, it's about two kids (Helen Shapiro and Craig Douglas), who are trying to put on a "jazz festival" in a town where the mayor has gone on an anti-jazz kick. Apparently these jazz records, with no lyrics, are offensive to his sensibility because he can't get a "nice quiet cup o' tea" in the café while kids are dancing wildly to dixieland beats. Unfortunately we are eventually treated to performances by Douglas (sweet voice but uninspired) and Shapiro (weird boyish voice and stilted mannerisms) as well. The plot, as they're visiting various DJs and trying to get them interested in the festival, has all the threadbare qualities of a burlesque film.The only real saving grace here, other than a few performances by people like Shannon and Vincent performing lesser hits in their catalogues, is an early directorial turn by Richard Lester, who lends the film his anarchic style. There are many odd touches, such as the constant intrusions of the narrator, who manages to teleport Shapiro and Douglas, and at one point makes a pie fly in the face of a policeman ("will you take care of this character?" asks a frustrated Douglas). These turns are not as witty or fresh as they are in "Hard Day's Night" or "Head", but they do lift it a bit above the level of drek it would otherwise have occupied.

kidboots Before Richard Lester became flavour of the month by directing the very innovative "A Hard Day's Night", he was experimenting with some innovative ideas on "It's Trad, Dad". It was a low key youth movie, designed to showcase up and coming talent and featured an invisible narrator who talked to the two teens who were busy organising a show. The plot had to do with a pair of teens who want to introduce some trad jazz into their town but have opposition from a bunch of "oldies". The featured star was Helen Shapiro who may not have cracked the big time in America but certainly did in Australia. "Walking Back to Happiness" was played so often on the radio I can still sing it now, 50 years later. She was a 14 year old discovery from Clapton whose distinctive low, throaty voice was her trademark.It's amazing, this movie bought the early 60s flooding back when trad jazz was really in vogue - Acker Bilk was number one (it seemed like forever) with "Stranger On the Shore", he was a highlight of this movie with a spirited rendition of "In a Persian Market". Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen often guested on TV shows at that time, "Sounds Incorporated" were a big band and had a huge hit in Australia with "William Tell Overture" and the hilarious Temperance 7, who specialised in 1920s jazz - remember them???A disgruntled Mayor wants to stamp out trad jazz so "the girl and the boy" (Helen Shapiro and Craig Douglas) decide to bring a jazz show to their town. Interspersed between the jazz acts are the rock and rollers - Gene Vincent ("Space Ship to Mars"), The Brook Brothers ("Double Trouble"), Del Shannon, Gene MacDaniells - what a fantastic voice he had and Chubby Checker who did the "Lose Your Inhibition" twist.The kids finally get their jazz show organised but the Mayor goes all out to sabotage it so while waiting for the acts to arrive the local talent get a chance to shine. Craig Douglas who had a hit in 1959 with "Only Sixteen" and of course Helen Shapiro who sings "Let's Talk", "Just Wondering" and "Ring a Ding Rhythmn".Unfortunately the movie flopped in America with the new title "Ring A Ding Rhythmn" - as if that made more sense than "It's Trad, Dad"!! Among the other cast members was Derek Nimmo as the comical waiter and Ronnie Stevens who actually hosted a variety show series in Australia. I just loved the end credits when it said Helen Shapiro's wardrobe was made with Butterick Patterns - you gotta love it!!!

Charles Herold (cherold) I watched this because it's the first feature from director Richard Lester, and while often first films are forgettably generic, Lester's film is imaginative and funny. Unfortunately, most of the movie is given to endless musical rock and jazz performances, which range from pretty good to quite dull, with more of the latter. These numbers are imaginatively filmed, but by the halfway point I was fast forwarding through most of them.The acting is pretty awful; both leads are apparently pop stars of the time (Shapiro's voice, when she sings, is shockingly deep compared to her singing voice; she kind of sounds like a guy) and Lester hadn't yet learned how to pull good performances out of unskilled actors.For fans of Lester it's at least worth watching the intro. And if you like the music then this would be a swell film.Once read a comment from John Lennon that when he was starting out in music everything in England was jazz, now I see what he means. Jazz was apparently a big thing in the early sixties, and according to this movie put off the older generation just as much as rock & roll!

joeknapp I just watched this movie for the first time. I wonder why movies like this are so rarely seen. We've got all these cable channels now -- you'd think every movie ever made would end up getting played somewhere. This is a very interesting movie. I love the "teener" songs the most. It's amazing to think that Trad (Dixieland) had a burst of popularity just before the Beatles hit it big in the USA. Had it not been for the Beatles, would the 60's have been mostly about jazz? Anyway, after watching this movie, I thought it would be simple to search the Internet and find a complete listing of all the songs somewhere. Guess what -- it can't be done! I tried all kinds of Google entries and nothing returns a complete listing of the entire soundtrack. There is a CD available, but it only contains the Dixieland stuff. Does anyone know where I can find a complete list?