I was channel surfing earlier this evening when I stumbled across "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter", a feature film starring Herman's Hermits! Now I appreciate that after the success of the Fab Four's "A Hard Days Night" and "Help", several popular bands tried to follow in their wake. The Dave Clark Five made "Catch Us If You can" (directed by John Boorman) and there were numerous vehicles for Cliff Richard. Apparently, Herman's Hermits were signed to MGM records in the US and it was standard marketing practise to make at least one feature film vehicle for their best selling artists. This included Hank williams, Connie Francis and Roy Orbison. Hence this film.

So to the plot. When Herman Tulley inherits his Grandfather's most prized possession, a greyhound named Mrs. Brown, he and his friends (Barry, Keith, Karl, and Derek) decide to make their fortune racing the dog. After the animal has won the Manchester heat of the National Greyhound Derby, Herman meets wealthy Londoners Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their daughter Judy, a model. Hoping to see Judy again, Herman and his friends decide to take the dog to London for the derby finals and to see if they can find fame with their band.

Sounds harmless enough, doesn't it? Well so you would think. But the plot doesn't follow the usual path you'd expect from such films. The hero doesn't get the girl of his dreams at the end. The dog doesn't win the race it's been entered for. The guys do not find fame with their band. The songs are very eclectic, with one, "The World Is for the Young" verging on suicidal melancholy. There are also some seriously outdated social attitudes displayed, particularly towards women. A young lady is told that if she doesn't stop following them (the band) she'll get "sloshed". When Herman's girlfriend expresses and interest in accompanying them to London, she is told that it's fine as long as she doesn't mind "Cooking and cleaning for five guys". There is also a lot of violent pub brawls and market fights that seem out of step with the rest of the film.

Frankly, this film really threw me. It's just so bizarre and incongruous. The concept of using a film to promote a band seems to have died out these days. I'm sure this comes down to simple financial costs and the fragmentation of the music industry. The last movie of this ilk being "Spice World" and that was an event for the time. File under "Right turn, Clyde".

XoD.