Telstar The Movie

[@emmahasler2401]

I love this film. One of my favorites, it's a shame it didn't do well

[@john111257]

not factually correct

[@elektrikjohn1]

I am just glad they recognise Joe Meek as a great innovator.

[@amybaker4654]

+John Fielding Absolutely,you can't please everyone.I enjoyed it.

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@amybaker4654 It says things about Heinz which he could have sued for if he were alive.

[@debswatching]

Just completed watching it. It was very moving.

[@pampennyworth]

The casting in the film was simple perfect.

[@debbiehill5044]

Fantastic must buy this film ..remember Telstar as a kid always being played on juke box in cafe at Northweild Air drone

[@clivelarman]

Just watched it on telly and thought it was great. It's historically inaccurate for good reason. For instance, Wikipedia suggests that 10 people passed through The Outlaws, a further 21 passed through The Tornadoes, and yet more were in Heinz' backing line ups! Taking the most famous handful and casting them as the main members of all bands is precisely the artistic licence creators of a two hour movie should take. You can't develop characters if they change every scene!

[@thursoberwick1948]

There is no solid evidence that Heinz had an affair with Joe though

[@melseyT]

Just coming to this now, long after the movie - which I did enjoy despite its artistic licence. Very good previous update of the facts on here by RGM304, a lot of which I didn't know even though I was there at the time in that crazy studio in a house, if only briefly. Joe offered me a recording contact way back then, maybe around a year and a half before he died, following an audition there, but I didn't sign it and I never went back because of the stories I heard about him. This plus what amounted to a brief pass he made at me at the time! I had a friend years ago who was gay and explained to me how he along with some other gay men was much more attracted to heterosexual men, so perhaps this was the case with Joe. Regardless of this I came to realise many years later that he was a production genius, plus with sound equipment and effects. I have read that he was tone deaf, and if this really was the case then it is even more amazing. Many of us look back and think to ourselves, well, I wonder if I'd taken that chance....but we'll never know. I do hope that one day someone makes a big proper movie with more of the facts, as I think the story is bigger than that told.

[@silvo-sings]

Hi interesting...keenly interested in Joe Meek - what a genius and personality. I'm also interested in "Heinz" Burt. He could almost dio witha documentray on himself and his life. Mel, did you know if Heinz could ACTUALLY play the bass or was it a pure "mime"? Interestingly when one thinks about how Joe revolutionized recording...bathrooms..kitchens for acoustics etc. I have to say I record all my personal stuff in my little kitchen..although with a little more modern day gadgetry! Cheers - Mark, hear for yourself. kzbin.info/door/IS0BoBIRGEHgn19eYuoOag

[@clivelarman]

I do have some sympathy for Patrick Pink who having suffered seeing his friend and mentor blow his brains out, is probably a bit sensitive about being accused of supplying psychosis inducing drugs and leaving the resulting madman in possession of a shotgun. That said, just as was done with the band members, it makes sense to roll up characters in a two hour movie. There's no point bringing in dealers, and later lovers for a scene each. The movie flows better if they're all rolled into Patrick.

[@paulchristopher3887]

I would like to hear what Richie Blackmore from Deep Purple, thought of the film. He was there in the early days so he would have lots of stories to tell

[@thursoberwick1948]

He only gets a bit part. Could have mentioned Chas' playing appears on an Eminem record too.

[@thebadloser]

I am very familiar with the story of Joe Meek and I enjoyed the movie. It irritates me to see people squabbling over the 'facts' when I'll wager none of them were there. The only people who really know were the ones who WERE there and usually, after long passages of time, memories can become blurred and accounts can differ. Just be glad someone took the trouble to make it.

[@thursoberwick1948]

They waited til Heinz was dead to make some claims about him and his wife.

[@perroenmotoazul]

The movie's just amazing!!!!!!!

[@CycolacFan]

Thanks for pointing out all the errors, even the minor ones. Look forward to your perfect film version of the story coming out soon then?

[@trevk9619]

he must have been joes stalker

[@dalepontiac8263]

@@trevk9619 a bit anal...?? it's a bloody good film ,it's drama, most of it has the gist of the times and who cares what bloody reg the car has??...only someone obsessed... and so what of some were gay ?? who cares??.

[@charliedontsurf70]

When you have other brit's who never heard of Joe....Theirs something wrong...

[@RGM304]

There will be one day soon........ A Life In The Death Of Joe Meek -- the definitive Joe Meek documentary........

[@brettreece5165]

lol. You guys KNOW that it isn't a doco, right?

[@thursoberwick1948]

It makes some major changes which affect living people. It says Heinz's wife was just a beard, when they were happily married.

[@davewattskeyboards]

Details about what side Clem had his parting and a sign being back to front are quite irrelevant to the overall film. Perhaps the shotgun episode supposedly with Clem in the studio could have been more accurate. It was actually Mitch Mitchell that had the gun in his face not Clem. I was playing on that particular session. I also new Heinz very well and at no time on any of the weeks I spent on tour did I ever see signs of him being gay. In fact he pulled more girls than most men would have in a life time. The part of Joe meek was played brilliantly but strangely enough he was a lot more volatile and unpredictable than the film portrayed. The Tornados were also made to look like idiots which they certainly were not. Its a pity that the producers didn't get more genuine facts from people that were actually there, but there you go, perhaps it was the very limited budget they were working with. Next time perhaps Spielberg could do one. He would have really captured the essence of the time.Dave Watts

[@ClaydenLee]

Great to see a comment from someone who was actually there! I'm incredibly envious of your experiences

[@McPrfctday]

Heinz Burt was my dad's cousin.

[@thursoberwick1948]

Sind sie Deutsch?

[@buskingkarma2503]

Great film!

[@barrabasi]

Actually, if I'm right, in the last piece of footage, Chas isn't talking to Joe Meek: he's talking to no one less than the great, former Deep Purple guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, played herein by Matthew Baynton. Cheers!

[@thursoberwick1948]

Chas played on "I got the" by Labi Siffre, which Eminem sampled for a hit record.

[@midlandssongwriters2101]

Telstar was a great film - but it didn't include Joe's best act - Mike Berry. And while clem Catini is featured as the drummer with the Outlaws - there's no mention of The Outlaws drummer Bobby Graham.

[@anthonymitchell8893]

Mary berry s brother ?

[@iainmeteorscan1555]

Why do presenters of programmes like this speak to us as if we are five-year-olds?

[@andrewdemetrius8090]

They're preaching to white middle class conservatives..........

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@andrewdemetrius8090 Way to bring in the colour card which is irrelevant here. They're actually aiming at working class/lower middle class people who are just as likely to vote Labour or Lib Dem.

[@anthonymitchell8893]

cause they are a bunch of Kuntz each and every one of them

[@briangoguen6798]

All bio pic filmakers take liberties.They weren`t there to see what happened exactly or hear what was said.It`s apparently a lot like the stage play.Buddy Holly wasn`t the overly aggressive guy that Busey played.Still an interesting film.I thought Telstar was the best film of 2008.

[@john111257]

Enjoyed the film despite the flaws

[@r4h4al]

Yeah agree the best film hands down.

[@clivelarman]

The movie had to come up with some credible reason for someone as mediocre as Heinz to be pushed into the limelight with the likes of Bowie, the Beatles and Sir Tom knocking on the door. I'd say that shagging the boss seems by far the most plausible explanation! If his family think he wasn't gay, so what? (and what would they know anyway) The film doesn't suggest he was gay, it actually suggests that he bedded the boss for pure career development purposes!

[@john111257]

but he didnt

[@clivelarman]

He did in the movie, which was the point I was making.

[@john111257]

@@clivelarman INCORRECT THOUGH, LOTS OF FLAWS IN THE MOVIE

[@raymondgill9796]

An interesting film about a tallented, complex and dare I say flawed man. If I remember the actor who played Heinz was also in the film of Alexander The Great, which went to great lengths to be historically accurate and suffered from a complex narrative. Purists are never going to be happy with the filmakers choices and the audience is not there to justify a worthy uber accurate story. I sat through the play this was based on and felt annoyed that the referances to Johnny Kidd and Billy Fury were not nuanced enough but I am glad I saw it and I enjoyed this film too. By the way Joe dressed to the left.

[@BrianGoguen-k7k]

This got no release in the U.S or Canada.Very sad.Such a great film.

[@ric6383]

Not surprised to find a film publicised as being very good and truthful falls far short of the those attributes.

[@thursoberwick1948]

It's an alright fiĺm, just not very truthful. Joe was gay, but it's debatable if Heinz was.

[@elektrikjohn1]

I think Clem Cattini was also the drummer in the Pirates as well.

[@RGM501]

Yes he was.......

[@ronwalker6943]

He was with Johnnie Kidd and the pirates

[@davidgrigg3505]

I have the movie and am a huge fan of Joe Meek and The Tornados. However I agree that a lot is not true. One fact is the “throwing tape recorder at Clem” Clem Cattini has stated this in another You Tube interview himself as “Joe being upset as Clem really despised “Globe Trotter” as it did sound so much like “Venus In Blue Jeans”. Joe did not like the criticism but the recorder was thrown on the stairs bumping downwards well after Clem got near to the bottom. As far as the other incidents, I am certainly not one to judge, however I don’t believe Heinz to be a homosexual. His widow and son are quite adamant and were upset over that he is portrayed as one in the movie. I do like the movie but I believe a lot is not factual.

[@richardbowes6897]

Is the film still available? (silly question)

[@thelearner873]

Yeah, it's there on KZbin.

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@thelearner873 Here kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKS2iqSYq56grpo

[@MrBizzarobrian]

Great film!!

[@rowanc88]

With regards to this complaint of yours - At the start of the film where Geoff Goddard first enters the Shenton's shop, the film is reversed. The shop name on the glass and the "Open/Closed" sign are back to front -, if you actually look closely, you'll see that it's actually a mirror reflection.

[@1meerkatmanor]

dont think brian epstein ever sent joe a tape of the beatles brian had a disc made that he was carting round london of the band that is a fact but i bet joe never heard it joe did wine and dine brian round london but nothing came of it paul said he never went to joes studio and he should know

[@anthonymitchell8893]

he might have gone to Joe's to eat sausage how would paul know where he was 24/7 he dident hsve a tracking divice on him ?

[@1meerkatmanor]

joe never smashed the flat up he did have a fire in a dustbin he never broke the gold discs these are still around today with a lot of other stuff of his dont think clem was ever in the outlaws he may have been session drummer and put his part on later but not in the band clem was also never in the columbia recordings of the later tornados band and they were known as the new tornados some say heinz killed joe and even admited it before he died its a mystery why did joe have a group booked on feb 3rd when he knew he was going to blow his brains out sorry that dont make no sense

[@anthonymitchell8893]

because suicide can be spur of the moment it can just happen. in the moment your comment is making you look silly better retract it or blow your brain .good day sir

[@r4h4al]

He didn't know he was going to blow his brains out. It was spontaneous after he accidentally killed the landlady.

[@elektrikjohn1]

It's good to know there are still people around who know the facts. You should have been the director.You can tell when a young person has produced a mid 1960's film-----they show the girls wearing white boots with HIGH !!!! heels.

[@RGM304]

i did read in the record collector magazine,they also said there was no excuse for all the mistakes..any person watching the film would think this is what really happened just lesson to the presenters on the morning show...

[@elektrikjohn1]

***** It is strange that if you are gay or left handed nature is likely to give you some unusual talent !

[@elektrikjohn1]

RGM304 You certainly know your stuff.

[@elektrikjohn1]

***** Well, I suppose sometimes they have to twist the storyline a bit to make it compulsive watching for the less interested public. Look what they did to the latest Titanic film.

[@elektrikjohn1]

***** I agree, although I still love to watch anything with a 60's "flavour" even if it's a bit far fetched !

[@fabro5613]

What a great movie!

[@thefilmandmusic]

Brilliant movie and a crazy story

[@john111257]

i loved his musical creations and deserved a better tribute

[@leonconnelly5303]

The films not interested in him as an artist just his personal life.

[@The170460]

i've buy it on DVD it's a nightmare.

[@voyeurcoma638]

Not a great movie but not as bad as Sid and Nancy that film got it wrong more than any other biopic that ever existed Joe meek story is not as bad as many other bio pics

[@leonconnelly5303]

I think sid and Nancy’s a good film and I’ve never had that much of a problem with it cause I’ve never liked Johnny rotten. I know it’s pretty bs and I think they got sids character wrong. The joe Meek is awful cause it’s a nasty melodrama. Sid and Nancy doesn’t show Nancy or sids death but this film thinks it ok to just blow up joes head

[@markeddeckmusic7202]

Uh , consul capris are the best looking ford ever ffs

[@papalaz4444244]

I just watched this last night. Horrible, seedy film which concentrated on making him look insane and that the music was chaotic and random. They even ended with him blowing his head off, which didnt even happen, just for the horror. Nothing about his successful career beforehand where he must have been really good and made a reputation.

[@r4h4al]

What do you mean he didn't blow his head off? How did he die then?

[@RGM304]

more than a few....

[@johnhodge68]

Have to say the film has gone straight to the top of my worse ever films. A utter waste of time, unfunny, unmoving. Had to switch off after 15 tedious minutes. A shame because the story of Meek deserved better.

[@RGM304]

very right,being a big Joe Meek fan i was expecting so much more....and swearing ever 2 minutes...put many people off

[@leonconnelly5303]

There’s no way Joe was like how they portrayed him

[@ClaydenLee]

@@leonconnelly5303 someone who was there, knew and worked with JM, posted a comment up there ^ saying he was portrayed more or less accurately, but the real Joe was actually even more volatile

[@phylliselizahb1041]

GOTTA FIND THIS !!!

[@thursoberwick1948]

It's on KZbin. Legally too kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKS2iqSYq56grpo

[@missqueenieful]

I agree that its wrong that the film portrays Joe Meek and Heinz having a gay relationship and i dislike the way they waited Joe Meek and Heinz were dead to put this across.Heinz can,t have his say because he died in 2000 as you know.If something is not true and it is about something deeply personal and it is portrayed in a film to be true thats wrong .And its wrong to exploit people who are not alive to tell their side of the story

[@thursoberwick1948]

Heinz was married. Happily from what I can tell, but this film makes out it was just a sham.

[@r4h4al]

@@thursoberwick1948 I think it was just a sham.

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@r4h4al Meek was more interested than Heinz. Not sure it was a two way attraction.

[@r4h4al]

@@thursoberwick1948 Okay.

[@lezbriddon]

if its so bad, and you know so much, recut the thing to just leave factual items in. anyone can use windows movie maker!

[@leonconnelly5303]

Your probably not gonna read this lol but the problem with the film is the tone more than anything

[@lezbriddon]

@@leonconnelly5303 I usually read all my replies lol, but yeah after 8 years that's really a long time!

[@RGM304]

Your right there....ok some say what does it all matter..well some people who watch the film now and in the future think this is how it really happen ..just listen to them talking on the morning program..he said its like going on a leaning curve..yeah right but the film was as you said all bullshit....

[@The170460]

more mistake. When Heinz rearshals his new stage act we see Eddie Cochran from The Californian Town Hall Party from 1959 who was never transmitted in europe. The outlaws never played Gretsh Pinguin. etc etc etc it's a real bullshit.

[@elvisonwax]

Anyone with half a brain realizes that seeing all that Rock’n’Roll on British TV was an impossibility. Does it matter? We all got the idea.. it’s movie.

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@elvisonwax It claims Heinz had a fake marriage too.