Having A Wild Weekend

More Like "Dave Clark 1"
This film, which is a cross between A Hard Days Night and the Marx Brothers, focuses almost completely on Dave Clark as stuntman (and alleged kidnapper) Steve and his relationship with meat poster girl Dinah. The other four members of the band are in the background, partying at their pad, attending a fancy dress ball, and keeping the authorities on a wild goose chase while Steve and Dinah experience one adventure after another on their way to Dinah's dream island. In fact, I don't think Lenny Davidson says one word throughout the picture. On their way they meet a group of half-stoned beatniks, an eccentric older couple, and other interesting folks. The film tries to bring depth to most of the characters, except the Dave Clark 4 who remain rather vacuous fun boys. At the time, the Dave Clark Five were promoted as a cleaner cut, non-smoking, drug-free and athletic alternative to the Beatles (probably only the latter was true, as the band members were former gymnists). Clark's...

British Invasion Gains Another Lasting Milestone
The American title of the Dave Clark Five's movie, "Having a Wild Weekend" seems to utilize a bit of the advertising menace which makes a great amount of the plot of their film, known in Great Britain and previously available under that title, "Catch Us If You Can." "Having a Wild Weekend" kind of draws attention to the Beatles' first movie, "A Hard Day's Night." So, as the adage goes, what's good for the gander. The Warner Archive has now brought us an American DVD of the film which is the first movie for director, John Boorman who would very soon later helm the fabulous "Point Blank" starring Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson, and also later "Deliverance," "Excalibur" and "The Emerald Forest," all very fine motion pictures. I would not say "Having a Wild Weekend" is superior to the Beatles' movie(s) directed by Richard Lester, but they were certainly given due accolades at the time they were released. The Dave Clark Five movie, thanks to Warner Archive, is getting some new insight...

A good romp but not enough Mike, Lenny, Denis, or Rick.
I have seen the movie several times and have enjoyed it but it falls short of the mark. There is too much Dave (character Steve) and not enough Mike, Lenny (who plays a mute), Denis, or Rick. The soundtrack has some good songs but only two from the LP of the movie. The rest of the supposedly original soundtrack is not there. Instead there is music from older albums. To me this is a great disappointment. I happen to think that the album is the best the group ever recorded and would have made the movie so much better. In fact at times the music in the movie adds nothing to the production of the film. In fact it takes away from the overall quality. For example, at the masquerade ball the song "I Can't Stand It" from the Epic LP "Coast To Coast" keeps repeating the same verse again and again. It became annoying. Why didn't the group put another song into the scene? It was a dance scene and they wanted the action to continue. They could have played the...

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