I DON'T WANT TO BE BORN [1.6. 75] revised april 2021
Also known as “Monster” ”The Devil Within Her “ “Sharon's Baby”. Why an actor like Donald Pleasence and a composer like Grainer became involved with a movie that is a regular addition to online “Worst Movie Ever Made” lists and “So Bad Its Good” screenings is one of the mysteries of the 1970s.
Did they honestly think a worthy addition to their resumes was a ludicrously plotted and badly acted tale of a vengeful dwarf who curses nightclub partner [Joan Collins] when she rejects his advances creating “bad vibes” that result in the birth of a murderous baby?
Perhaps both were seduced by the fact first time theatrical film director Peter Sasdy's previous project was a prestigious 26 episode tv series narrated by Orson Wells with a theme by John Barry
or that lead actor Ralph Bates was a great great nephew of renowned French scientist Louis Pasteur.
Grainer's unusual slide guitar and saxophone scored theme is intriguing but it is not heard until the final scene and closing credits. Unfortunately by that time most of the films audience would have already walked out of the theatre or switched channels on their TV sets.
I Don't Want To Watch It sorry Be Born closing credits theme
go to counter 1.31.38 - 1.33.26 [don't stop on the way - you'll regret it!]
KIM AND CO [22.7.1975] revised april 2021
A co-production between UK, Austria and West Germany production companies.
Considerable detail on the series is given in its Wikipedia article.
Series one and two have been released as DVDs and are available on Ebay but apparently only for Germany resident customers
Grainer's signature tune is very whistle-able [counter 0 - 34] in the tradition of his Only When I Larf and Shelly themes
NICKLEBY AND ME [8.12.1975] revised april 2021
Grainer was full of hope for the prospects of this musical comedy adaptation of Charles Dicken's 952 page social satire novel Nicholas Nickleby 1839 .
“I've promised my nine year old son [Damian] that if its a success I'll take him to Australia – he's never been there”. [1]
Lyricists Ned Sherrin and Carly Brahms had originally collaborated on the show with composer Arthur Schwartz best known for his 1953 song “That's Entertainment” but they became unsure of Schwartz's loyalty when they discovered he had written an alternate libretto to theirs [2] so they parted ways and linked up with old friend and working partner Ron Grainer who put in 20 hour shifts to get the new score finished in time for its December 1975 premiere. [3]
Unfortunately Grainer's effort was not rewarded. Initial London reviews that arrived in Australia described the musical as “abjectly wan” and Grainer's score as “clever but unmemorable pastiche ... diluting original doses of socialist ire for easy consumption” [4]
A couple of weeks later the production received a rave review from highly respected British drama critic Harold Hobson who described it as “most enjoyable with ingenious tuneful music” [5] but word of mouth damage had been done and it closed after 44 performances. [6]
“Nickleby” was revived for a Christmas season starting 15 December 1981 at the Chichester Festival Theatre [7] and was reasonably successful [8] Since then it has fallen into total obscurity and is seldom named in online theatrical data bases even ones that list the most fleeting of shows.
A copy of the original program for Nickleby was found online in Dec 2017 so the titles of the songs are now known and while many have a “Sing A Rude Song” offcut feel to them Number 6 “The Door Of Life” is intriguing and hopefully may resurface someday.
ACT ONE
01 Nickleby and Me [Brahms / Sherrin/Grainer/Herbert Chappell]
02 We Wouldn't Be Here If He Had [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer/Chappell]
03 Away From Sweet Home [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer]
04 So Far Away [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer]
05 My Loving You [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer/Chappell]
06 The Door Of Life [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer/Chappell]
07 Brimstone and Treacle [Brahms/Sherrin/Chappell]
08 Say That I'll Be Sure To Find You [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer/Chappell]
09 A Fine Old Show [Brahms/Sherrin/Chappell]
10 Too Far Away [Brahms/Sherrin/Chappell]
11 I Feel It Coming On [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer]
12 I Am A Nothing Millionaire [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer]
ACT TWO
13 The Face In the Crowd [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer]
14 Too Much Talent [Brahms/Sherrin/Chappell]
15 She'll Be Mine [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer]
16 My Summer Is Gone [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer]
17 Does Your Mother Know? [Brahms/Sherrin/Chappell]
18 Mother Christmas [Brahms/Sherrin/Chappell]
19 Here's A Delicious Go! [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer]
20 Fresh Fields [Brahms/Sherrin/Grainer]
Orchestration instruments listed in the program were: Woodwinds / Trombone / Euphonium / Bass / Tuba / Harp / Drums & Percussion
1975 references:
[1] Making Tunes We Can't Forget" The Australian 20.12.75 p20
[2] Ned Sherrin “The Autobiography” Sphere Books 2005 p272
[3]“Making Tunes We Can't Forget” The Australian 20.12.75 p20
[4] "Composer Strikes A Clever But Unremarkable Note" The Australian 19.12.75 p2
[5] column item The Australian 31.12.75 p8
[6] http://www.ovrtur.com/production/2892750 Overture com listing "Nicklby And Me"
[7] http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/work/2675 Austage opening dates
[8] Ned Sherrin “The Autobiography” Sphere Books 2005 p273
