Basil Dearden (director)
Network on Air (studio)
Cert 15 (certificate)
90min (length)
04 July 2016 (released)
21 July 2016
In this brilliant re-working of Shakespeare’s Othello the action is transferred to London’s snazzy jazz scene in the early 60’s, where Patrick McGoohan drums up mighty trouble which leaves Paul Harris suspicious and points the finger at Keith Michell.
The entire story takes place in a luxuriously converted warehouse in what appears to be Bermondsey’s Thames-side area where wealthy music promoter Rod Hamilton (Richard Attenborough) throws an anniversary party to celebrate the first year of marriage between jazz pianist Aurelius Rex (Paul Harris) and former jazz singer Delia Lane (Marti Stevens). But this is gonna be a party that nobody will forget in a hurry. Among the guest are a whole wealth of top jazz musicians playing themselves: Dave Brubeck, Charlie Mingus, Tubby Hayes, Keith Christie and Johnny Dankworth to name but a few. Also among the guests is drummer Johnny Cousin (Patrick McGoohan) who has serious ambitions to start his own band…something that might happen if he could get himself a class lead vocalist. Cue for him to get Delia out of her retirement – right time right place what with the presence of very important agent Berger (Bernard Braden) and his sidekick Phales (Harry Towb). The scheming Johnny had already called Berger beforehand to assure him that he can secure Delia’s services, and this ain’t gonna be easy. However, Johnny is a man prepared to go to any length to get what he wants!
Enter Cass (Keith Michell), who is the sax player and also the road manager of Rex’s band. His girlfriend Benny (Maria Velasco) loves Cass deeply and hopes that one day they’ll get around to tying the knot while Cass isn’t exactly prepared to make the leap. Meanwhile, Cass has been working with close and long-standing friend Delia on some harmony duets – this in itself is enough for Johnny to start his evil machinations. All he has to do is pour the poison in Rex’s ear! Firstly, he steals Delia’s cigarette case which happens to contain a few spliffs (yes, the dreaded herb!) and after a few puffs – yes, just a few – he’s ‘turned on’. After some of the lies that Johnny tells him, particularly concerning agent Berger, it doesn’t take the now hopelessly stoned Cass long to start negatively mouthing off. As a result of this, Cass not only gets into deep trouble with Berger but also with his kindly boss Rex. Only a few more nails left now for Johnny to bang into the coffin!
After a brief conversation on the terrace, the concerned Rex suggests to Cass to take a ‘long holiday’ after which Cass retreats into one of the upper rooms. Whaddya know, our Johnny is waiting in the wings, ready to move the next chess piece! During an intimate conversation which includes certain private revelations, Johnny tapes the conversation unbeknownst to Cass. Shortly after, Delia enters the room and although Johnny leaves the pair to it he leaves the tapes running, knowing full well that after editing the conversation, he can deliver his coup d’etat…
This film has long been regarded very highly by British jazz lovers and it’s easy to see why. Although most of the readers will have worked out the only too obvious parallel with the famous play, ALL NIGHT LONG might be a little more accessible than Shakespearean iambic pentameters. McGoohan’s ‘Iago’ is suitably slimy in his deviousness, Paul Harris ‘Othello the moor’ is suitably grand and noble, Keith Michell’s ‘Cassio’ hits the right note, Marti Steven’s ‘Desdemona’ is believable though perhaps appears too old for the part (in part due to her mumsy hairstyle), while Maria Velasco’s ‘Bianca’ delivers a sympathetic performance. Richard Attenborough’s ‘Rod Hamilton’ is not immediately identifiable as a character from the play though the ‘Doge of Venice’ might come closest. Last but not least it should be mentioned that Betsy Blair’s ‘Emilia’ character (playing ‘Emily’ in the film) is the long-suffering yet hopelessly subservient wife of bad Johnny Cousin – the kind of woman which makes any real woman of substance wanna puke!
As for Basil Dearden’s direction, the man’s versatility cannot be underappreciated. After all, this is the guy who gave us such gems us The League Of Gentlemen (1959), Sapphire (1959), Victim (1961), The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) any many more.
This Blu-ray release of ALL NIGHT LONG offers the following Special Features:
• Original theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Booklet by Professor Neil Sinyard