Cinema Revisited: Melody (1971)

Melody

Directed by Waris Hussein. Cast: Mark Lester, Tracy Hyde, Jack Wild, Colin Barrie, Billy Franks, Ashley Knight, Roy Kinnear. Released in the UK on April 21, 1971. Running time: 103 minutes.

Jack Wild and Mark Lester made an impact in Carol Reed’s 1968 musical “Oliver” based on the story of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. A few years later they were re-teamed in this coming-of-age, first-crush romance that was titled SWALK in England (the letters stand for “Sealed With a Loving Kiss,”).

“Melody” has no pretensions beyond being a pleasant mainstream film about two adolescents who connect with each other, believe they are in love, and want to permission from their parents to marry, despite only being 12 years old. It is all very clean and above board, and its utter simplicity is what makes it much better than standard.

Mark Lester exudes a warmth beyond his years as young Daniel Latimer who befriends troublemaker Ornshaw (Jack Wild) and enjoys the carefree escapades without adult supervision that his own, more conservative existence, never allows. While the two of them stand outside the school gym, looking through the door windows and laughing at girls clumsily practicing ballet, Daniel notices Melody Perkins (Tracy Hyde in her film debut). Director Waris Hussein (who helmed the early episodes of “Doctor Who”), offers a close-up of Mark Lester’s face, as it changes from derisive laughter to an attraction that an adolescent boy dare not reveal to his friend, or, especially, to the girl he’s noticing. It is a beautifully filmed moment and sets the tone for the film’s central narrative.

Daniel and Melody become friends, much to the jealous Ornshaw’s chagrin. He never had a genuine friend before, and the relationship he has developed with Daniel is now being challenged. However, when the two want to get married, Ornshaw notices the negative reaction of parents and teachers, and decides to join them with his support.

The music is by The Bee Gees, including the hit “To Love Somebody” as well as “Melody Fair,” “Just Give Your Best,” and “First of May,” the latter three from their underrated 1969 album “Odessa.” The only non-Bee Gees song used is Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Teach Your Children.” All of these songs were new at the time.

There is an emotional soulfulness in the earlier, pre-disco Bee Gees songs that very effectively enhances the scenes of this film in which they’re used. It is all very genuine, very emotionally satisfying.

There is a scene at a school track meet where Daniel is running in one of the races. The Bee Gees song “To Love Somebody” plays as he runs hard, the director providing edits of different times Daniel has seen Melody and cross-cuts with Daniel running. This conveys that Daniel is running for Melody, hoping his feat impresses her. When he wins the race and collapses with exhaustion as it concludes, Ornshaw runs to him to see if he is ok. The director cuts to a shot of Melody, talking to her friends, having paid little attention to the race at all. The visuals, and the music, blend perfectly to make a point about friendships and schoolboy crushes.

“Melody” was not a hit in England, and got scant release in the US. It was quite a hit in Japan, so much so that Tracy Hyde and Mark Lester still reunite today and make appearances at screenings of the film in that country (Jack Wild died in 2006).

Everything seems to connect here, all of the performances, the screenplay, the direction, and the music. Melody” is a consistently pleasing experience, embracing the innocence of youth as well as its penchant for rebellion.