1991 Directed by Peter Chelsom
Singer Josef Locke fled to Ireland 25 years ago to escape the clutches of the tax man and police Chief Jim Abbott. What he also left behind was the love of his life Cathleen Doyle. Now, Micky O’Neill is desperate to save both his ailing Liverpool nightclub ‘Heartly’s’ and his failing relationship with the beautiful Nancy, Cathleen’s daughter. The solution? Book the infamous Josef Locke.
Ned Beatty Adrian Dunbar Tara Fitzgerald William Hootkins Shirley Anne Field David McCallum James Nesbitt John Dair Stephen Marcus Laurie Morton Britta Smith Gladys Sheehan Gina Moxley Rúaidhrí Conroy Norman Vaughan Harold Berens Mary MacLeod Jimmy Keogh Liam O'Callaghan Paddy Cole Maurice Blake Tony Morando Brian McGrath Anna Manahan Agnes Bernelle Joe Cuddy Pat Laffan Frank Kelly David Beggs Show All…
Az én dalom, Il mistero di Jo Locke, il sosia e miss Britannia '58, 내 노래를 들어라, 听我细唱
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Down on his luck nightclub owner Mickey (Adrian Dunbar) attempts to find famed tenor Josef Locke (Ned Beatty), living in Ireland due to tax problems, in Peter Chesolm’s comedy, co-starring Tara Fitzgerald, Shirley Anne Field and David McCallum.
This is the 500th film I’ve logged on Letterboxd, and is a great representation of how movies can create their own little worlds and transport us to different places and times. The humour reminded me of Bill Forsyth’s films, with a quirkiness and warmth that fit together well, and there are some really inspired moments.
There’s a wonderfully whimsical style to the story, blending fact and fiction to create something unique and entertaining. Although the plot is fictional, Locke was a real…
It's funny what can capture a child's imagination.
When this came out, I was about eleven or twelve years old. The big film of 1991 for me was Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. I watched it at the cinema a total of five times and that summer was spent with my mates making our own bows and arrows and taking to the hills.
Yet one other film captured my attention from the same year and it was this 15 certificated directorial debut from Blackpool born Peter Chelsom concerning Irish tenor Josef Locke who was a big success in the 1940s and '50s with sell-out seasons at Blackpool, five Royal Variety Performances and a reputation as a lady-killer to his name…
Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey it's Adrian Dunbar 30 years before he was nicking bent coppers. Here he co-wrote this whimsical tale with director Peter Chelsom. Dunbar is Micky O'Neill, a concert promoter trying to keep both a Liverpool nightclub and his romance with beautiful dentist Nancy afloat. After booking a creaky tribute act Franc Cinatra, Micky's bouncers/associates suggest he book the legendary Irish tenor Josef Locke. Locke had fled England to Ireland in the 1950s in tax avoidance, so to hide his identity he is billed as Mr X to avoid the probable legal ramifications.
It all goes horribly wrong for Micky when Nancy's mum, Kathleen Doyle, a former beauty queen who had a dalliance with…
Maggie's in the Mud: 80s and 90s British Cinema Project
Hear My Song is one of a clutch of British films from under the Film Four banner made in the 80s and 90s which runs the risk of being ignored and completely forgotten due to their strange policy towards their own older releases.
But this charming comedy, about a theatrical impressario (Adrian Dunbar, who co-wrote with director Peter Chelsom) trying to persuade an Irish tax exile (Ned Beatty, nailing the Irish accent too) back to the UK for one last show, really should be better remembered.
It's got that lovely balance of comedy, drama and performance that British cinema has historically always been good at. While the narrative doesn't really…
This is a marvellous piece of Irish whimsy, in which Adrian Dunbar's club promoter struggles to find a decent singer, rushing through Sinatra and Crosby clones until he decides to search for the elusive tax exile tenor Josef Locke (Ned Beatty, surprisingly good although his singing is dubbed by Vernon Midgely).
Tara Fitzgerald, who was one of the "in-girls" at this time, plays Dunbar's on-off girlfriend, with Shirley Anne Field as her glamorous and icy mother. They make a perfect contrast to the muttering and dowdy wives and spinsters who clutter up the run-down club.
Peter Chisholm's script and direction make this a light comic confection that ends up rather moving, and some fine character pieces from the likes of Phil Kelly, Joe Cuddy, William Hootkins and Stephen Marcus, and, just for the link to Locke (his father was a musician in his band), David McCallum as the policeman on the chase.
Fabulous music throughout, too.
Peter Chelsom’s unashamedly romantic comedy stars Ned Beatty as Josef Locke, a 1950s singer with a voice that made women weep. Co-starring Adrian Dunbar and William Hootkins.
The story concerns nightclub owner Mickey O’Neill (Adrian Dunbar), a quick-talking fascinator, who has worked out a way to rescue his economic sinkhole of a company: book a well-known Irish tenor (William Hootkins) for a performance.
There are a number of significant problems, however – Josef has been in émigré for a really, really long time and the man Mickey has been in communication with is a fraud artist. Mickey’s status is damaged, but, when the actual Locke (Ned Beatty) arrives to perform, his luck might be about to change.
Adrian Dunbar gives…
i’ve been born in peace time. i haven’t been where you’ve been. i haven’t seen what you’ve seen.
what a lovely, lovely surprise! right from the start i was already very invested in hear my song, completely dazzled by that charmingly decadent club, with its neon lights, acts like “franc cinatra” and of course the slightly swindling club manager played by dunbar, with a prepared speech that’s used more often than it works. however, when it seemed the film couldn’t get better it actually did, with the dark tone from the beginning shifting dramatically, turning the story into the most whimsical adventure, seeping love and hope from each and every second. an underrated little gem that deserves many more people to uncover.
8/10 — it’s under the tag “biopics?” because of the fact josef locke actually existed and the film was a homage to him, though nothing of this ever happened.
When "The Full Monty" came out in 1996, there was an overwhelming feeling from Hollywood that there had never been a British comedy ever made before that moment. These sorts of films simply don't catch fire with the masses, any successful charmer from across the pond would be routinely referred to as "this year's 'The Full Monty.'" But "The Fully Monty" was 1996's HEAR MY SONG. I don't know if this film broke through critically or commercially in America, but I do believe it was beloved in Ireland and England alike, and it also played like gangbusters in my house and was a frequent rental by my parents. It was a rather formative film for me as well, because this…
From Miramax & Film 4 comes a drama that's partly true (the Irish tenor) & part made up (the night club owner) starring Ned Beatty co-written & directed by Peter Chelsom.
The cute dancing of the two bodyguards was lovely.
This man acts like booking the event is the reason for his trouble in life. No. He is. He's the reason 😅
It was a simple story, and a pleasant watch. I felt quite nostalgic for when I was younger and used to watch films on TV. The film felt like it did exactly what it set out to do.
I absolutely loved the ending!! It was amazing.
I actually hadn't heard of Josef Locke before this film. I read that it led to a little revival in his career. How sweet for him!
2.5
I really loved this. It's really heartfelt and sincere, and I don't normally ask much more of a film. Add the beautiful music and the Irish scenery, and I was in love. Adrian Dunbar is a national treasure.
