AND NO ONE COULD SAVE HER [21.2.73] revised review 12.3.21
Staring Lee Remick from 1963's “Ballad of the Running Man”, for which Ron wrote the opening credits theme, this filmed in Dublin television movie seems to have disappeared without trace from movie archives with the only fragment of it still existing being the somewhat hysterical excerpts shown in a YouTube Trailer Trash compilation. Trailer Trash video See Counter 1.50 - 2.18
Going on the music snippet quoted Grainer's soundtrack seems to have been a reversion to his “Night Must Fall” homage to Alfred Hitchcock film composer Bernard Hermann. It's still not a good idea.
Included in the cast is Irish actor Milo O'Shea who appeared in a 1960 TV version of Harold Pinter's play "The Birthday Party" which Grainer scored early in his career.
A Los Angeles Times critic was not impressed with the film “Dreary, uninspired melodrama ... not all of Remick's charm could make us care one way or another" [Los Angeles Times 22 Feb 1973: p22]
According to the Ted Turner Classic Movies site this movie was apparently the first venture into film production by
the Robert Stigwood Organisation later to produce such world wide
hits as “Jesus Christ Superstar” [1973] “Tommy” [1975]
“Saturday Night Fever” [1977] and “Grease” [1978]
STEPTOE AND SON RIDE AGAIN [6.7.73] revised review 12.3.21
The second big screen spin off from the TV series has a well written [apart for a totally unnecessary and demeaning cameo scene with faded 1950's sex symbol Diana Dors] script by regulars Galton and Simpson and a recycling by Roy Budd and Jack Fishman of Grainer's TV signature tune to stretch it's interest value over the film's one and a half hour running time.
The opening credits has a return of the honky tonk piano arrangement from the first S and S movie Steptoe and Son Ride Again Movie trailer followed by multiple “alternative instrument” orchestrations before ending with a closing credits performance on harpsichord which, although totally inappropriate for the setting and characters of the film, possibly makes the theme sound a lot closer to Grainer's original demo as he stated on several occasions that he often wrote his draft melodies on that instrument.
Irish actor Milo OShea makes a second 1973 Grainer project appearance in this film as an alcoholic doctor.
YELLOW DOG [November 1973]
According to adverts and write ups in The British Newspaper Archive this film was released in early November 1973 and not 1976 as previously stated elsewhere. It is yet another Grainer scored movie that seems to have been lost without trace. Some detail of the plot is available online link to Yellow Dog review and a 7 inch single of the theme tune was apparently released in Japan in 1976 link to Yellow Dog theme YouTube
A STORY OF TUTANKHAMUN [1973 exact release date not known] revised review 12.3.21
YouTube has an excellent video interview with the Director [?] of this movie which gives plot details and possibly some Grainer music [after an introduction in the Egyptian language]
Tutankhamun film interview go to counter position 2.03 - 3.21
This movie may have been a factor in Grainer securing the commission for a 1976 documentary on the Saudi Arabian King Faisal.
The tomb of Tutankhamun was found in Ron's birth year 1922 Wikipedia article on Tutankhamun
