Popdown (partially found sci-fi/musical documentary film; 1969)
A still of Popdown's title sequence.
Status: Partially Found
Popdown is a 1969 sci-fi musical film directed by Fred Marshall, starring Jane Bates and G.B. Zoot Money as aliens who land in Landon circa 1969 and explore the music scene. The film's last public screening was in 1984 at the Scala Cinema, where an attendee, Peter Prentice, recorded the film's soundtrack.[1] There was also an attempted screening of Popdown in July 2000 at the American Cinematheque but the source print was so heavily degraded that the screening was cancelled.[2] Since then, Prentice has gone on to search for the film's current missing elements and acquired roughly 15 minutes (500ft) of footage. In 2011, a 25 minute version was discovered in the vaults of Contemporary Films Archive in London. Prentice has attempted to piece together the various cuts of the film to help restore it, as well as Marshall's other filmography, to a definitive cut, but he has struggled to raise money. The film is notable for its incredible rock soundtrack and serving as a document of the London music scene during the 1960s.
Synopsis
Two aliens (Jane Bates, GB Zoot Money) land in London to check out the emerging music scene. Featuring special appearances by Julie Driscoll and Diane Keen, with performances by Blossom Toes, Dantalion's Chariot, Brian Auger & The Trinity and many others.
Search History
An online inquiry into the status of Popdown was made on The Missing Episodes forum on June 3rd, 2008. Prentice, who recorded the screening on cassette tape, attended the Scala Theatre and was present at the film's last known public showing on September 29th, 1984. The print screened was a 46 minute edit of the film, as the film was originally 98 minutes long but was often shortened to fit as a second feature for double bills. Prentice's audio of the screening unfortunately was of poor quality, but he was able to provide a track list of the film's soundtrack.
Prentice set about tracking down the film's distributor, New Realm, as well as anyone who was associated with the production of the film. From his research, he discovered that Fred Marshall, an American director, made his last UK based film Chelsea Bird in 1970 and then departed London for Asia, where he would go on to work on his next project, The Free Life, before working on documentaries for the remainder of his life. Lead actor and musician Zoot Money would then inform Prentice that Fred had passed away in Asia. His continued communications with former cast and crew would result in Prentice acquiring 18 rolls of 35mm negatives from the film's photographer, Jak Kilby. Over time, Prentice would also track down Marshall's last activities in Hong Kong, which lead to the discovery of his personal film archive, which contained 12 35mm reels of Popdown as well.
As of now, in addition to the 15 minutes of footage he obtained from the film's photographer, a 25mm edit of the film was also discovered through London's Contemporary Films Archive.[3] Prentice is seeking public assistance in acquiring funding for a professional film restoration of Fred's archive.
Still Images from 25mm Film Print
In addition to Prentice documenting his progress and shared his progress with various online forums,[4] he also set up a myspace where he posted images from the documentary.[5]
Soundtrack
| Soundtrack for 25 Minute Cut | Soundtrack for 46 Minute Cut |
|---|---|
| 00.01 – Unknown. Herb Alpert/’It’s a Knockout’-type library music (0.36) | 00.01 – Classical prelude/Spoken Introduction by Fred Marshall (0.19) |
| 00.37 – Classical prelude/Spoken Introduction by Fred Marshall | 00.20 – Unknown. Classical piece (1.04) |
| 00.54 – Unknown. Classical piece (1.01) | 01.24 – The Idle Race: ‘On With The Show’ (1.50) |
| 01.55 – Kevin Westlake & Gary Farr: ‘Everyday’ (0.30) | 03.14 – Kevin Westlake & Gary Farr: ‘Everyday’ (0.31) |
| 02.25 – Brian Auger & The Trinity: ‘Tiger’ (0.09) | 03.45 – Brian Auger & The Trinity: ‘Tiger’ (0.08) |
| 02.34 – Brian Auger & The Trinity: ‘Black Cat’ (0.19) | 03.53 – Brian Auger & The Trinity: Introduction of ‘Black Cat’ (0.19) |
| 02.53 – Unknown. Hammond organ instrumental with female backing vocals [“yeah-yeah”] (1.50) | 04.12 – Unknown. Hammond organ instrumental with female backing vocals [“yeah-yeah”] (1.50) |
| 04.43 – Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity: ‘Why (Am I Treated So Bad)’ (0.48) | 06.02 – Luiz Bonfa: ‘Amor de Solidao’ (1.16) |
| 05.31 – Unknown. Reprise of classical piece? (1.02) | 07.18 (i) Unknown. Uptempo pop song [more 1964/5 than 1967/8] (1.08) |
| 06.33 – The Grapevine: Opening 90 seconds of ‘Things Ain’t What They Used To Be Anymore’ (1.31) | 08.26 – The Grapevine: Opening 90 seconds of ‘Things Ain’t What They Used To Be Anymore’ (1.29) |
| 08.04 – Brenton Wood: ‘Catch You On The Rebound’ (2.05 complete) | 09.55 – Unknown UK-based American school [The Young Folks?]: ‘Who Is The Leader Of Your Gang’
[1968 Demo recording of a Tony Colton/Ray Smith composition] (2.49 complete) |
| 10.09 – Andy Ellison: ‘Another Lucky Lie’ (1.37) | 12.44 – Luiz Bonfa: Unknown Latin instrumental (1.46) |
| 11.46 – Unknown. Calypso-type instrumental [use of vibraphone suggests the involvement of Michel Hausser] (1.09) | 14.30 – Unknown. Lengthy instrumental (2.43) |
| 12.55 – Unknown. Biographical busker song with references to Jumping Jack Norris and Meg Aikman [Don Partridge?] (2.12) | 17.13 – Chris Barber’s Band: ‘Catcall’ (1.37) |
| 15.07 – Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity: ‘Break It Up’ (2.46) | 18.50 – Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity: ‘Why (Am I Treated So Bad)’ (0.50) |
| 17.53 – Unknown. Hammond organ instrumental [not included on 46m edit] preceded by three female screams (0.52) | 19.40 – Blossom Toes: Closing 90 seconds of ‘The Remarkable Saga Of The Frozen Dog’ (1.30) |
| 18.45 – Unknown: Male screams and guitar effects [Dantalian’s Chariot?] (0.38) | 21.10- Brenton Wood: ‘Catch You On The Rebound’ (2.05 complete) |
| 19.23 – Dantalian’s Chariot: ‘The Madman Running Through The Fields’ (3.43 complete, but with edit) | 23.15 – Brenton Wood: ‘Baby You Got It’ (1.23) |
| 23.06 – Unknown. Jazz/Bossa instrumental [use of vibraphone suggests the involvement of Michel Hausser] (1.03) | 24.38 – Fred Bongusto: ‘Gi’ (0.26) |
| 24.09 – Luiz Bonfa & Maria Toledo: Unknown instrumental with wordless ethereal female backing vocal and truncated closing narration by Fred Marshall (0.31) | 25.04 – Brenton Wood: A very brief snatch of ‘Two-Time Loser’ (0.16) |
| 25.40 – Unknown. Closing library instrumental (0.08) | 25.20 – Unknown. Uptempo [language unknown] all-girl pop song (1.54 complete) |
| ----- | 27.14- Brian Auger & The Trinity: ‘Isola Natale’ (3.09 complete) |
| ----- | 30.23 – Lord Sitar: ‘In A Dream’ (1.37) |
| ----- | 32.00 – Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity: ‘Break It Up’ (2.41 complete) |
| ----- | 34.41 – Female/male screams and guitar effects (0.15) |
| ----- | 34.56 – Dantalian’s Chariot: ‘The Madman Running Through The Fields’ (3.43 complete, but with edit) |
| ----- | 38.39 – Unknown. Jazz/Bossa instrumental [use of vibraphone suggests the involvement of Michel Hausser] (1.02) |
| ----- | 39.41 – Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity: ‘Kind Of Love-In’ (1.09) |
| ----- | 40.50 – Nanette [Workman]: ‘I’m Going Out (The Same Way I Came In)’ (2.20 complete) |
| ----- | 43.10 – Blossom Toes: ‘Love Is’ (1.58) |
| ----- | 45.08 – Luiz Bonfa & Maria Toledo: Unknown instrumental with wordless ethereal female backing vocal and closing narration by Fred Marshall (1.34) |
References
- ↑ Wiped article about Peter Prentice's search for Popdown. Retrieved 22 Sep '21
- ↑ Cancelled screening of Popdown at the American Cinematheque. From July 2, 2000. Retrieved 22 Sep '21
- ↑ Popdown search progress as of 2010. Retrieved 22 Sep '21
- ↑ Missing Episodes Post on Popdown with Peter Prentice. Retrieved 22 Sep '21
- ↑ Peter Prentice's Myspace for 25mm stills of Popdown. Retrieved 22 Sep '21