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Reviews
Heathcliff (1997)
Cliff Richard Fills in Gaps in Bronte's Story
A life-long ambition to play the brooding master of Wuthering Heights resulted in a musical adaptation that kept pretty close to Emily Bronte's original. It also created a whole musical sequence that captured how Heathcliff spent several years making his wealth in order to win back Cathy. This sequence had some very exciting ethnic damce routines as well as great tunes. Still a very sad ending, but the whole spectacle ran the gamut of highs and lows. The music and lyrics were at times playful and then again mournful. The voices of Sir Cliff Richard and Helen Hobson blended wonderfully (Olivia Newton-John also interpreted Cathy in single releases and for a Royal Variety performance). In fact, the musicians (including guitarist Gordon Giltrap), backing vocalists (including John Perry), ensemble singers and dancers were superb (some of them had also been in Dave Clark's production of TIME, where Cliff was the rock star lead). The other actors were brilliant and believable. I think most people were surprised to see how mean (Heath)Cliff could get as a wife beater, child abuser, bar room brawler, opium smoking pirate and more. On the other hand his troubled relationship with Cathy spun some different kinds of love songs. Helen's portrayal of Cathy was strong as was her beautiful voice. Through Cliff you felt the decades of pain of this orphan's struggle to be reunited with the only love he ever knew, still a fickle teenage girl at the time of her death in childbirth. The overall video is held at a pretty good pace and there's plenty of action if you just hang in there. A bit too handsome a lead, a beautiful leading lady, Tim Rice and John Farrar doing the music...worth a viewing. And the sad ending, well you remember...the next generation gets it right.
Take Me High (1973)
Cliff is grown up in this one.
While his 60s films fit in with the juvenile delinquent and teenage beach movies of the time, this one keeps up with those fans who were now in their 20s. Another romantic comedy with a memorable music score and set in the UK's second city, Cliff now has an office job but he's still a bachelor.
It would be a dozen years before Cliff would do the Dave Clark musical TIME in the West End (no longer in the office but a rock star) followed 10 years later by his version of Wuthering Heights. The musical Heathcliff was a life-long ambition of Cliff's (and he played the married, then widowed seriously misunderstood man quite well). TIME was never released in video format but Heathcliff was. Take Me High is also available on video. His voice only got better, so you can't go wrong with any of these releases.
Love Actually (2003)
Made me homesick for England and I was born in the US.
Just having 97 other commentaries (at this point) should indicate the wide appeal this film has. While I went to see Hugh Grant dance, I was surprisingly impressed with all the soundtrack (sad to hear that some songs were not on it). Would have really enjoyed a duet with Hugh and Martine McCutcheon (or Sir Cliff Richard) but maybe there will be a sequel since there are so many storylines to finish. I'd certainly like to see more footwork by Hugh. He was just getting started! Could have done without the foul language and nudity. Its release in line with the battle for Christmas #1 is timely and the film should be a seasonal favorite. Unfortunately it's R rating will inhibit many thousands more from viewing an otherwise enjoyable movie and seeing such wonderful actors (and singers) in one ensemble. Billy Bob Thornton was perfect but any resemblance to President Bush was as lost on him as Hugh Grant is to Tony Blair.