Expresso Bongo

1959, U.K., 111m, DCP

Showtimes & Tickets

Screened January 5, 2022

Fifties British rock and roll classic, a fast-paced story about a cheap, opportunistic Soho talent agent (Laurence Harvey) who always looks for the quick buck. He’s glib and he’s flashy, a bluffer with a ready talent for the quick double-cross. When he picks up amateur singer and bongo player (Cliff Richard) in a Soho espresso bar, he uses a little bit of luck and tons of chutzpah to transform the kid into a highly-regarded international singing sensation.

This is the full and original 1959 theatrical version, which includes a number of songs that were cut out of the later and more commonly available 1962 version that was released at the time to capitalize on the popularity of Cliff Richard.

 

New 2K restoration from the original negative, in collaboration with the British Film Institute and its Unlocking Film Heritage program

A film by Val Guest

Britain’s most abrasive and entertaining film musical.”

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