BEAT FILM POP

As youth culture exploded as the dominant force in society in the early 1960s, movie studios began to release projects that hoped to capitalize on new attitudes and music trends. The early Rock and Roll movies from the US inspired similar projects in late-50s Britain, which often focussed on Trad Jazz, skiffle, and popular American acts like Gene Vincent. The "Beat Films" of the new decade continued to spotlight music, youth, fun, as well as occasional dashes of rebellion (look for the biker films). The Beatles first cinematic outing, A Hard Days Night (1964), set a high bar in terms of artistry and profits, and a number of British Invasion acts jumped on the band wagon with their own attempts- none of which were especially memorable. One movie of note was the Dave Clark Five film, Having a Wild Weekend (1965), which somehow captured quite a bit of counter-culture vibe years before it was mainstream to do so. Art & Hue has celebrated the era of Beat Films in a new series of Pop Art prints. The collection includes Beat Girl (Wild For Kicks/1960), which launched the soundtrack career of James Bond composer, John Barry! See samples below. More info at Art & Hue. Enjoy! By the way, have folks heard Spy Vibe's new radio segments on Cocktail Nation? More info HERE. Related posts: Jet Set Prints, Interview: Avengers Pop Art, Paul McCartney At 71, Folk Boom: Pete Seeger, John Barry: The Knack, Beat Girl, The Curious Camera, Fabulous 1960s, Lee King Perry: Pussy Galore, Pussy Galore Calypso. 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art