It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

The first must-see film of the year.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

IT'S TRAD, DAD! is a curio and a musical from 1962 which looks at the phenomenon of 'traditional jazz' as opposed to the more popular rock and roll that was doing the rounds back in the day. It's a first for both director Richard Lester, who of course would later make IT'S A HARD DAY'S NIGHT with The Beatles, no less, and also for British film studio Amicus Productions, who would later become famous for their classic selection of horror anthologies. It was written by Milton Subotsky, too. The film itself is a plotless affair of some lame, dated jokes and endless cameos from various comedy and musical stars of the day. The biggest attraction is a number of songs played in a brightly-lit white studio from luminaries including Acker Bilk, Del Shannon, Chubby Checker, and many others.

This film has a lot of similarities to the flimsy American films of Sam Katzman. It shares in those films' virtues but also prominently in its vices: although it features some of the greatest talent in rock and roll, such as Gene Vincent and Del Shannon, these stars appear only very briefly and in total isolation from the actors. They could be, and probably are, just shot in a studio and mixed into the film. Instead of seeing more of these great stars, we're "treated" to interminable, unending stale dixieland music performed by mostly amateurish U.K. groups (the exception being the interesting "Temperance Seven" which for some reason includes nine men).As in the Katzman epics, the plot almost does not exist. In this case, it's about two kids (Helen Shapiro and Craig Douglas), who are trying to put on a "jazz festival" in a town where the mayor has gone on an anti-jazz kick. Apparently these jazz records, with no lyrics, are offensive to his sensibility because he can't get a "nice quiet cup o' tea" in the café while kids are dancing wildly to dixieland beats. Unfortunately we are eventually treated to performances by Douglas (sweet voice but uninspired) and Shapiro (weird boyish voice and stilted mannerisms) as well. The plot, as they're visiting various DJs and trying to get them interested in the festival, has all the threadbare qualities of a burlesque film.The only real saving grace here, other than a few performances by people like Shannon and Vincent performing lesser hits in their catalogues, is an early directorial turn by Richard Lester, who lends the film his anarchic style. There are many odd touches, such as the constant intrusions of the narrator, who manages to teleport Shapiro and Douglas, and at one point makes a pie fly in the face of a policeman ("will you take care of this character?" asks a frustrated Douglas). These turns are not as witty or fresh as they are in "Hard Day's Night" or "Head", but they do lift it a bit above the level of drek it would otherwise have occupied.

I never heard of this movie until seeing it tonight on Turner Classic Movies. Who would have thought that Trad meant Dixieland Jazz in Britain? This movie is full of excellent jazz performances but the American rock and roll artists seem out of place. Most of their careers, like Gene Vincent, were on the decline in the US. Chubby Checkers' was on the rise due to the twist craze.This was the first time I've seen Helen Shapiro though I've heard of her in conjunction with the Beatles. Lovely girl, I never would have guessed that she was only 15 when this was filmed. Luckily I was able to find out more on her web site.Too bad this movie isn't out on tape or DVD. If it's broadcast again, I'll record it.

I did actually visit the cinema in my home town of Coventry and viewed. its trad dad as a new movie. i did enjoy it at the time and would really like to see it again . i hope my memories will not be dashed but if any person could supply me with a copy and cost ,i would appreciate it very much. if i do manage to have a current viewing i will then update my report. regards mick