SYNOPSICS
That Day We Sang (2014) is a English movie. Victoria Wood has directed this movie. Michael Ball,Imelda Staunton,Christopher Jordan,Conleth Hill are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2014. That Day We Sang (2014) is considered one of the best Musical movie in India and around the world.
In 1969 insurance salesman Jimmy 'Tubby' Baker and secretary Enid are among those meeting for a televised reunion at the Manchester Free Trade hall, where, thirty years earlier as school children they were part of the choir who made a record of 'Nymphs and Shepherds, Come Away.' Tubby and Enid are drawn together in reaction against the snobbish organizer Frank and his wife who try to impress them by taking them to the Berni inn and Tubby wants to date Enid but she is having an affair with her married boss in the belief that he will leave his wife for her. Tubby recalls how, as young Jimmy, his widowed mother was disapproving of his singing in the choir and it was down to the Bible-quoting Great War veteran, crippled Mr Kirkby, assistant to choir mistress Gertrude Riall, that he was able to take part. Now he believes he should take a leaf out of his determined younger self's book and be bold, convincing Enid that her lover will never leave his wife and that they are made for each other...
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That Day We Sang (2014) Reviews
Best thing on TV this year
I could not disagree more with the previous two reviews of this film. I thought 'That day we sang' was perfect viewing for the festive season. Granted the story was not as detailed as it could have been but considering the time constraints placed on it, I felt the plot moved along very smoothly. I thought that the musical numbers were both catchy and touching.Victoria Woods eye for detail and her wit are what sets her writing apart from anyone else.I have been humming 'If life were movies' ever since boxing day. The wonderful cast made the most of the gift they had been given. Especially Imelda Staunton(from whom you wouldn't expect anything less)Harvey Chaisty and Michael Ball who's wonderful performances together, made Tubby the endearing,lovely, believable character he was. It was also great to see a film where the cast are singing live and not being dubbed over, as it made the whole thing all the more real. Bravo to all involved
Warmly charming and witty
A week on from watching this I find myself absentmindedly humming a couple of the tunes from the show - "If Life were movies" is one , I cant identify the other but this goes to show how memorable it was. I loved the witty use of rhyme and ideas - who'd have thought of using "Swarfega" in a song about being a bit of a mouse called Enid? and as for "cake in drag" . . . just such fun! The romance plot is utterly charming and as intended very much hopeful. I quite like the idea of being a bit stuck in the 50s - so cozy. The character development through the plot was joyful to watch. Loved the music; tunes I can hum now and really effective orchestrations of some of the background music underpinned mood and plot superbly. As the other reviewer said this was just delightful festive viewing;the whole embedded in beautiful nostalgia wrought of true empathy for the period and subject. I was transported to the Berni Inn I had my 18th Birthday (coming of age) dinner at. Hilarious ! I hope it comes out on DVD as , like "Housewife 49" I will enjoy watching this again. Probably try and get hold of the book written about the 1929 story by a choir member as an additional aspect - really didn't need the '29 story examining or analyzing in this musical. Its focus in perfect.
That Day We Sang
I saw this TV made film that would be on at Christmas talked about on The Graham Norton Show, I had not seen much of the written or directed work of Victoria Wood before, so I was interested to try this film based on her stage musical. Basically set in 1969, a televised reunion for the choir who made a record of 'Nymphs and Shepherds, Come Away' as children thirty years ago is taking place at the Manchester Free Trade hall, and insurance salesman Jimmy 'Tubby' Baker (Michael Ball) and secretary Enid (Imelda Staunton) are among those meeting. Snobbish organiser Frank (Conleth Hill) and his wife try to impress Tubby and Enid by taking them to the Berni Inn, they react against them and are drawn together, he wants to date her, but she is having an affair with her married boss believing he will leave his wife for her. Tubby recalls his childhood, as Young Jimmy (Harvey Chaisty) his singing in the choir was disapproved by his widowed mother, he was only able to take part because of Bible-quoting Great War veteran, crippled Mr Kirkby (Big School's Daniel Rigby) and assistant to choir mistress Gertrude Riall (Dorothy Atkinson). Tubby has recently read the words of his younger self's book, where he was more bold, he now believes he should take a leaf out of this and be more determined, to convince Enid that her lover will never leave his wife for her and that they are made for each other, years after that day when they sang, and in the end they do finally embrace, in song and with a loving kiss. Also starring Sophie Thompson as Dorothy, Jessica Gunning as Pauline, Lyndsey Marshal as Sal, Malcolm Sinclair as Sir Hamilton Harty, Dad's Army's Ian Lavender as Commissionaire and Jessica Casby as Young Enid. Ball being a stage actor manages is a natural for the leading role singing his way and being a nice man, Staunton who I know has been in musicals like Sweeney Todd also does well singing her way through and being likable, I admit the story is a little slow in places, especially the build up to the romance, but the songs help it flow, and it is charming enough to enjoy, not a bad musical comedy. Worth watching!
Better than expected
I am watching this now - I recorded it and have put off watching it. I am a big Victoria Wood fan and did not want to be disappointed. The only other VW thing I was disappointed with was her Christmas offering which parodied Larks Rise to Candleford a couple of years ago. Most of her output verges on genius. While not her very best,That Day We Sang is very entertaining and works very well. Michael Ball is great as Tubby and Imelda Staunton plays very well against him. The smaller parts are, as usual in VW vehicles, good studies in "types". The musical numbers work well, too and her lyrics are sharp as ever. It is a period piece set in the Thirties and Sixties and is well observed and set. The young actor who plays Tubby as a child is engaging and quite a find.
2 very enjoyable programmes
I really enjoyed 'that day we sang' and 'that musical we made' the choir and orchestra were dressed so authentically that I think the whole nymphs and shepherds song should have been sung right through as it would have been a real show stopper. I loved the choir mistress in the documentary. Victoria Wood is a great poet, writer and musician and loves nostalgia and I think both programmes were excellent but I think she missed out on an important piece of Manchester music history. After all the record sold a million - unheard in those days. loved the Berni Inn, French scene and west side story style dance. was the man with the gramophone the boys dad, and did his mum get to like music. lots of loose ends. so much packed into 2 and half hours. made my boxing day evening, easy watching and relaxing programme.