Privilege (1967)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1966
Running Times: 103m
Length: 9270 ft
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: Technicolor
Aspect Ratio:
Sound: mono

DIRECTION

Director: Peter Watkins

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: World Film Services Ltd/Memorial Enterprises
Producer: John Heyman
Associate Producer: Timothy Burrill

SCRIPT
Script: Norman Bogner
Additional Scenes and Dialogue: Peter Watkins
Novel: John Speight

DIRECTION
Assistant Director: Scott Wodehouse
3rd Assistant Director: Tony Kovacs (uncredited)

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Peter Suschitzky
Camera Operator: Jimmy Turrell
Follow Focus: Colin Corby
Stills: Patrick Ward & Duffy

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editor: John Trumper

MUSIC
Music: Mike Leander
Songs: Mike Leander, Mark London

SOUND
Sound: Iain Bruce
Boom Operator: Kevin Gurry
Dubbing Mixer: Ken Scrivener
Dubbing Editor: Roy Taylor

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Jill Carpenter
Hair: Daphne Vollmer
Costume Designer: Vanessa Clarke
Wardrobe Supervisor: Barbara Gillett

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: Bill Brodie

MISCELLANEOUS
Continuity: Valerie Booth

LOCATIONS
Location Manager: David Griffith

DIGITAL RESTORATION
Digital Restoration: Cinesite (uncredited)
Digital Restoration Producer: Scott Dougherty (uncredited)
Digital Restoration Supervisor: Jerry Pooler (uncredited)
Digital Restoration Coordinator: Tiffany Smith (uncredited)

STUNTS
Action Sequences: Derek Ware

CASTING
Casting Director: Miriam Brickman

CAST

Paul Jones (Steven Shorter)
Jean Shrimpton (Vanessa Ritchie)
Mark London (Alvin Kirsch)
William Job (Andrew Butler)
Max Bacon (Julie Jordan)
Jeremy Child (Martin Crossley)
James Cossins (Professor Tatham)
Frederick Danner (Marcus Hooper)
Victor Henry (Freddie K)
Arthur Pentelow (Leo Stanley)
Steve Kirby (Squit)
Malcolm Rogers (Reverend Tate)
Doreen Mantle (Miss Crawford)
Michael Graham (Timothy Arbutt)
Michael Barrington (Bishop of Essey)
Edwin Finn (Bishop of Cornwall)
John Gill (Bishop of Surrey)
Norman Pitt (Bishop of Hersham)
Alba (Bishop of Rutland)
George Bean Group (The Runner Beans)

UNCREDITED CAST

Michael Medwin (TV sponsor)

In a near future Britain, pop star Steve Shorter is so phenomenally successful that he is manipulated by advertisers, governments and managers into becoming the ultimate advertising gimmick, used to sell just about commodity imaginable. The church wants Shorter to convince the youth of the nation to turn to God, but he's met a rebellious young artist who is starting to convince Shorter that he has a will of his own...

AVAILABILITY

UK
Theatrical Distributor: Rank

USA
Theatrical Distributor: United International Pictures/Universal Pictures

Finland
Rating: K-16

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: A

1966
August
Day Unknown - production begins

1967
April
18: UK - press screening at the Warner Theatre, London
20: UK - trade show in London

September
4: Sweden - theatrical release

1968
March
8: Finland - theatrical release

1975
May
11: UK - television broadcast

2003
August
25: UK - shown at the National Film Theatre as part of the Cool World season

Behind the screams and headlines are the manipulators... the puppet masters who pull the strings and make the pop scene work. This is the story of Steve - pop singer extraordinary who dared to say "I won't conform."

Privilegio - Spanish title
Tänään huipulla... - Finnish title

REFERENCES

PERIODICALS

Daily Cinema, The no.9358 (21 April 1967) p.6 (UK)
review (by Margaret Hinxman)

Film Daily, The vol.131 no.21 (2 August 1967) p.7 (USA)
review (by Mandel Herbstman)

Film Francais, Le no.1203 (14 July 1967) p.10 (France)
article

Films and Filming vol.13 mo.9 (June 1967) p.27 (UK)
review (by Robin Bean)

Kine Weekly no.3107 (29 April 1967) p.10 (UK)
review (by Graham Clarke)

Listener, The vol.115 no.2945 (30 January 1986) p.29
review

Literature/Film Quarterly vol.11 no.4 (October 1983) pp.237-248 (USA)
article (The Fear of Commitment by Peter Watkins)

London Life 3 September 1966 p.20 (UK)
review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.34 no.401 (June 1967) p.90 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review (by P.J.S.)

Sight and Sound vol.3 no.5 (May 1993) p.18 (UK)
illustrated article (Paul Jones on Privilege by Paul Jones)

Variety 10 May 1967 (USA)
credits, review (by Rich)

OTHER SOURCES

British National Film Catalogue vol.5 (June 1968)
credits

National Film Theatre programme August 2003 p.27 (UK)
note

book into film, pop stars, musicians, music, rock music, advertising, media manipulation, religion, artists

Last Updated: 24 April, 2010