THAT'LL BE THE DAY

UK, 1973, 91 minutes, Colour.
David Essex, Ringo Starr, Rosemary Leach, James Booth, Keith Moon.
Directed by Claude Watham.

That'll Be The Day is one of the nostalgic films of the early 70's in the U.S. and Britain. It was released at the same time as George Lucas’s American Graffiti to which it can be compared. However, there is an optimism and fresh innocence in American Graffiti which seems to be missing in this film. Rather, here is a sense of disillusion.

The film is strong in its recreation of the late 1950's and, like American Graffiti, it employs contemporary songs to communicate atmosphere and make some kind of commentary. The hero, well played by David Essex, has the difficulty of making himself sympathetic to the audience as well as being repellent in his selfishness and ambitions. To this extent, the film is worth seeing by teenagers as a picture of a particular generation to whom they can compare themselves. Parents will also find it interesting and it could serve as a good basis for dialogue between parents and teenagers.

1. What did the title mean? How important was the nostalgic atmosphere of the film?

2. Did the pre-credit story give the theme of the film?

3. What was the film saying about Jim, Mac Laine and the influence of his family life?

4. Was the film pessimistic? Did it offer hope for people, or were they doomed by their background, their emotions and relationships? Did it indicate that people had free choice to improve themselves?

5. What were your initial impressions of Jim? His leaving home was put within the framework of the atmosphere of 1957? How well did the film create this period? Comment on the use of details.

6. What happened to Jim while he was working at the beach? Was he beginning to experience life?

7. Why did he go to work at the camp?

8. Why did Jim return home? Did the film seem td show that he had prospects of living a happy life?

9. What kind of a girl was Juliette?

10. Comment on the marriage sequence and the wedding breakfast. What did this communicate about the way of life of these people?

11. Why did Jim change after he married?

12. Were you shocked at his leaving home? Why?

13. What values were being explored in this film? About individuals, society, the influence of society and environment on persons, love, hate, relationships?

14. How successful a film would this be for the discussion between parents and adolescents?

15. Comment on the value of particular sequences for communicating theme: Jim's father's adventure, leaving home; Jim's not 'studying, throwing his books into the river and leaving; Jim with the elderly lady, the girls, his mother's visit; Mike and drifter's influence, sexual exploits; the carnival, the girl with the baby; Jim's visit to the union; his mother's reception, minding the van, haircut; Jean and Jim before the wedding; the presentation of the groups and Jim's fascination and ambition; walking the baby in the park and remembering his father.