Drewtg Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 The Kung Fu thing comes from Keb Yeah, I heard Fran mention it too in Mason's documentary. But that doesn't explain why we were doing kicks years before we had even heard of kung-fu. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
kimbo Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I know you'll look after him well Dave ,what a name for Happys half brother sadly now passed on El Kapitan! that's what you call a real mega name,love it. nice one 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Johnmcc Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Enter The Dragon and other Martial Arts films were prolific about the time Wigan started. There was also a growth of Martial Arts classes. A lot of us tried but only the truly dedicated few made it past the first grading! 3 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Paul U Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Yeah, I heard Fran mention it too in Mason's documentary. But that doesn't explain why we were doing kicks years before we had even heard of kung-fu. Bruce Lee was on TV as Kato in the Green Hornet in the '60s - also, 3 episodes of Ironside. His first major film relaese (Big Boss) was 1971 - just saying :-) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
KevH Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Enter The Dragon and other Martial Arts films were prolific about the time Wigan started. There was also a growth of Martial Arts classes. A lot of us tried but only the truly dedicated few made it past the first grading! Wagged it from school to watch Enter the Dragon and Shaft. 3 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Drewtg Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 (edited) Bruce Lee was on TV as Kato in the Green Hornet in the '60s - also, 3 episodes of Ironside. His first major film relaese (Big Boss) was 1971 - just saying :-) Exactly mate. Green Hornet was not on Granada TV (if you had one) and we were dancing like this before the seventies. Probably best on another thread eh? Edited October 24, 2014 by Drewtg Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Remember lads coming to school with rice flails? A lot of people were pretty obsessive about Bruce Lee and martial arts in general at this time 71-74. It would coincide. I think it's more likely that acrobats at the Twisted Wheel and Torch were more familiar with Bruce Lee than with the 40s Jump scene, black dance duos like the Nicholas Brothers, or even the gymnastics of Jackie Wilson. I'm not sure that it's a myth. I'd prefer it to be Jackie Wilson or The Vibrations but the truth is probably far less 'right on'... 3 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
manus Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 (edited) Remember lads coming to school with rice flails? A lot of people were pretty obsessive about Bruce Lee and martial arts in general at this time 71-74. It would coincide. I think it's more likely that acrobats at the Twisted Wheel and Torch were more familiar with Bruce Lee than with the 40s Jump scene, black dance duos like the Nicholas Brothers, or even the gymnastics of Jackie Wilson. I'm not sure that it's a myth. I'd prefer it to be Jackie Wilson or The Vibrations but the truth is probably far less 'right on'... I've always seen it as coming from the stage dancing of touring Soul artists Macca and then picked up by the audience at clubs like the Wheel. Edited October 24, 2014 by manus 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Oscar Tony Jr, Inez and Charlie Foxx, Jimmy Ruffin, Jr Walker, Edwin Starr... they all backdropped and did the splits, right? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Who were the other backdropping american soul artists to appear at the wheel? C'mon admit guys, it came from the teds. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Billywhizz Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Yeah, I heard Fran mention it too in Mason's documentary. But that doesn't explain why we were doing kicks years before we had even heard of kung-fu. sandy 75 76 myself 72 73 billy go on take the piss lol Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ian Dewhirst Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Oscar Tony Jr, Inez and Charlie Foxx, Jimmy Ruffin, Jr Walker, Edwin Starr... they all backdropped and did the splits, right? Yep. Bruce Lee was their choreographer prior to his later emergence as a martial arts film star wasn't he? Ian D Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 You might be onto something there Ian. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Daz Watson Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 DVD arrived here ( New York ) Wednesday. Watched on Wednesday night and again yesterday morning. Had to watch it twice to really appreciate it. Ticks all the boxes although have to to say I was expecting to see more of the action centered around the Casino rather than the youth club. Thought all the characterizations were spot on. Particularly the Sean character - he was excellent and a great composite of people we have all known on the scene at one time or another. Thought they also captured the menacing atmosphere of Wigan very well. A lot of people say that the Casino was friendly and welcoming - which is true to a point but when I was there (79-81) I remember that there were some right nasty bastards around and you had to watch yourself. I thought that came across very well in the Wigan scenes. Some people say too much drugs but it was a big part of the whole thing. Whilst I never personally saw needles and people jacking up I saw enough pills to sink a battleship! Seemed to me everyone was on something - including me! ( hope you're not reading Ma! ) So all in all an excellent piece of work which recreates the time and the feeling of belonging to "something special" very well. The ending set up everything very nice for a sequel - maybe the lads going to USA??? I think a lot of material must have ended up on the cutting room floor. For instance I read somewhere that Searling had a cameo but Ive not spotted him yet??? Also Im curious and wondered if anyone can answer - was there any real story behind the Salvadores track? i.e: who discovered it, was it covered, who uncovered it? Off to watch it again now…. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest manusf3a Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 (edited) Troop; I saw the film at the Castle in Wellingborough last night with 80 or so like minded folks, had me laughing, cringeing and swallowing hard in places as it mirrored my life at times far to realistically, captured those moments in time that keep us all going perfectly. Havnt a clue where the Bruce Lee connection comes from, surely that is simply a myth, made me smile though, who pissed hasnt tried to kick the head off a flower, I always ended up on my arse! Superb film about something Iv enjoyed all of my life, might send a copy to my ex as she cited the music as one of the reasons the marriage failed Thankyou Elaine. Gouch It is a great film surely mate, like you I think the kung fu thing is a myth,I think its all connectd to early film put up on you tube etc of Keb Darge and the lass who sadly died recently talking about such and how moves of martial arts learning that came in with bruce lee films ended up mixed in with the dancing,this I presume is the acrobatic bits that"Some used to do",werent no kung fu movies ",early teddy boy,Rock and roll and early Black American dance genres of all sorts eras yet all these had elements of drops,back ,front,swallow dives,spins,kicks,the splits and the whole bag of tricks those who did dance with an acrobatic content would use.Must admit I felt it a bit strange when I first saw that bit of film on you tube with him and her saying it was kung fu martial arts that brought all that in to the northern scenes dancing styles ,the film clip of them talking about it is on you tube somewhere,under one of the I went to Wigan or whatever titles I think?Strongly suspect that clip ,one like it was reponsible for starting off the myth,always prefered a phooking good,lost in the music first class footwork shuffler with lots of step variety moving in from one to another seamlessly in time to the music with a few classy spins thrown to any of the olympic gymnasts Ive seen over the years ,there are still more than a few of the former about up and down the uk, though they tend not to gravitate towards cameras or dance competitions, Edited October 24, 2014 by manusf3a Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest manusf3a Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 (edited) Who were the other backdropping american soul artists to appear at the wheel? C'mon admit guys, it came from the teds. That would be be my view, there were plenty of places where youngsters who were later to become part of the scene could have witnessed Teddy Boys and girls going through their dancing paces that would include acrobatic drops ,splits etc.this has always been my view.Later on soul artists would of course be seen to include acrobatic moves in their dance routines but most of this in my opinion was already known from the dynamic rock and roll dancing of the Teds whose moves the next generation modeled into their own style of dancing.. However when thinking of where it originated from I have problems when thinking of the spin as was done by Danny Daniels r.i.p bless him lovely lad and missed ,also by Billy Bingham.Where could that sort of spinning have possibly been seen by them so they could model it themseleves! I believe it was because they were abducted by aliens and they witnessed it on another planet for nothing on this earth ever spun like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!before they did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This is no myth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Edited October 24, 2014 by manusf3a Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Andy Reynard Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I have just watched film my wife surprised me with the video We both started our soul journey around 1976 Youth club Wigan Would like to say was very close to the truth In our experience musically spot on Story wise maybe not mainstream but Our scene almost to the letter Drugs wise record wise and fasion wise at that time were very close to Bob on Wouldent like to criticise as am sure a lot of folk may have that agenda Factually I personally never cued up to get into the casino as was to young and 8stone got carried in with the crowd push I would wholehearteley give this rendition of a soul film the thumbs up & hasten to add both my wife and myself enjoyed it (This said it is in my opinion only) reminiscing If some fantastic memories never to be forgotten But a nice reminder anyways Nice one! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Benji Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Watched the DVD earlier tonight. Really enjoyed the movie. Well done. Subtitles saved me and my mates from not understanding a single fu**ing word. 3 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Mal C Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 (edited) Just watched the film tonight, really really enjoyed it, well done stubborn Heart productions! :thumbsup: The salvadors and the ivories on wand in one job lot thats some job lot...!! Malcolm Edited October 24, 2014 by Mal C 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
pow wow mik Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Finally saw it at sheffield showroom and really enjoyed it. story-wise, just a solid growing-up / rights of passage arc that didn't need anything adding, worked even just as a snapshot of a period in time and culture. most importantly, it captured perfectly the feeling of dancing to meaningful and soulful music whilst being off your head on stimulants - probably the best experience a human can expect to have - and if it only made that point it would have been enough. the biggest surprise for me was the casting - I thought that every actor looked authentic in their part, the two leads brilliant and managed to do the drug thing realistically, whuch must be hard to do. I thought the sets and detail were world class, nothing looked like a film set. Great lighting, great filming, congratulations to all involved. dialogue could have been snappier, but I suppose in real life most dialogue isnt that snappy and it did well to steer clear of guy ritchie style comic book life. It would have been nice to have explored the characters more, which is a complement cos they were interesting. I understand there must be time constraints, but the odd random conversation about something other than soul or that girl could have added a bit of depth . all in all though, a great piece of work. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
hullsoul Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I was out last night with a few of my mates who I went to Wigan with & we'd all seen the film,to a man all thought it was more or less spot on for what we'd experienced in our Wigan days.There was plenty of old names thrown up from the past to fit the various characters in the film & surprise,surprise there was more nutters names then any others Don't know about you lot but a week on from seeing the film I've been feeling really nostalgic for the old days & it's certainly had me think about some of my old mates I never see since those days,also about some of the antics we used to get up to.......thanks Elaine & Co for bringing back all these memories even if some of em are a bit scary Cheers Martyn 3 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Popular Post Sean Hampsey Posted October 25, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 25, 2014 Northern Soul dancing inspired by Kung Fu, total nonsense. People were doing the acrobatic stuff years before KF was even heard of in the UK. Certainly Teddy Boys and Rock & Rollers were doing backdrops many years before. On the soul side I saw Arthur Conley perform in '71 and his back dropping, footwork and spinning was absolutely awesome and from the early 70's Matchie and many others would dance in that style in my neck of the woods. Fancy footwork and a bit of athleticism always seemed to go hand in hand. Sean 5 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Louise Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) Enter The Dragon and other Martial Arts films were prolific about the time Wigan started. There was also a growth of Martial Arts classes. A lot of us tried but only the truly dedicated few made it past the first grading!More snake belt than black belt then aye John ?Dave Edited October 25, 2014 by Louise 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jenko Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Just watched the film, saw flashes of my own past .....even down to the long leather .thought the casino toilets looked a bit clean and empty of obligatory nutters. Would love the film to have put across more of the friendships you make with people from other towns , all with the same love of the music , mundane jobs,etc. Saw plenty of older lot fixing up on Jethros coach back in the day just seemed the norm, made new friends along the way and lost a few to to gear. That's the gamble I guess. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Back Street Blue Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Watched the DVD twice....on the money....didn't think "R'Lisa" deserved a kicking....real as real can be in Rochdalean. Steve Cougan's impression of a Cardinal Langley careers teacher struck a chord too. Authentic right down to the snake belt and as dark and wet as I remember it growing up in Lancashire. It will be interesting to hear what people with no particular interest in Soul or the period make of it. Loved the dismissal of the youth celebrating winning the dance competition and the Butlins reference....but the best dancers did enter the competitions at that time and were proper faces...not a niggle just an observation. Hope it gets the financial reward that such a Herculian effort deserves. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Johnmcc Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I like a good British film, and this is a great film! It's not a documentary but perhaps we were right to be paranoid, someone was watching us............... 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest welshruss Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Watched it last night.........first thing,it was my life story (at that time) literally living for the weekend..could relate to all the characters in the film,some are still out there every Fri/sat/Sun surprisingly.I,m very close to two ! The "Bride" saw it with me - she never went to Wigan,or any nighter till 2001..She enjoyed it.The school days and street scenes particularily striking a chord..i just don't do all the outplayed classic stuff these days,but at that time,it was wonderful, I don't think it can be knocked at all - it is was it is - a real true blast from the past,and I doff my cap to Elaine and all concerned,thank you. Now Mr Dewhirst stop blasting us with Amazon chart returns (only joking,the lad did good) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Pete S Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I've spoken to a few people last few days who absolutely hated it but won't come on and say so in case they get some stick. Which is a shame. Not that they hated it, but that they won't come on. I liked it. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest welshruss Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Maybe one or two of us watched it with "rose tinted" Pete,i don't know.I just thought it worked.Some may think it cheesy,,but we were then,wernt we.Maybe.Just a little bit. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
hullsoul Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) I've spoken to a few people last few days who absolutely hated it but won't come on and say so in case they get some stick. Which is a shame. Not that they hated it, but that they won't come on. I liked it. Pete I'd love them to come on & say what they didn't like about it? Can't you relay there thought's thereby protecting them from abuse? Cheers Martyn Edited October 25, 2014 by hullsoul Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Pete S Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 One just now said that it was too depressing, that people went to venues to enjoy themselves but nobody at the all nighters were doing so. Girls fashions were wrong. Stuff like that. Chap I spoke to yesterday said he thought Soulboy was better. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Johnmcc Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 It's certainly no "Glee". 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Factually I personally never cued up to get into the casino as was to young and 8stone gotI used to queue to get into the Casino but was careful not to get crushed up against the brick wall.It could be quite a squeeze as people tried to push in! Still it's all part of the nostalgia! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Scal Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 When exactly did Elaine go t'Casino? And for how long? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Popular Post Shaun W Posted October 25, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 25, 2014 When exactly did Elaine go t'Casino? And for how long? I'm not really sure, but I'm also not sure if Speilberg hunted sharks of if George lucas flew a Millenium Falcon. 7 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Hornet Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I'm not really sure, but I'm also not sure if Speilberg hunted sharks of if George lucas flew a Millenium Falcon. 4t exactly the same!! Well Jurassic park if truth B known Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Daz Watson Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 When exactly did Elaine go t'Casino? And for how long? She didn't. Apparently her older brother went though. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jaco Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 When exactly did Elaine go t'Casino? And for how long? Perhaps the question ought to be - What's the relevance of your question? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Drewtg Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 Sorry WTF did you say? She didn't go Scal, but she did a crackin job! Reminds me of the story when Spielberg signed to do Jaws. "I want the best shark trainer in the world" he says. "Er Steven; there's no such thing". Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Scal Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Well I think it is very, very pertinent...dear chap. Apart from the merits of the film....she was touted as being "one of us"....however it transpires that she didn't attend the time she portrays....a bit like being in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester when The Sex Pistols performed...but actually not being in there! Now do you get my drift???? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
jocko Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) I'm not really sure, but I'm also not sure if Speilberg hunted sharks of if George lucas flew a Millenium Falcon. So are you telling me Martin Scorsese wasn't a Boxer, comedian, taxi driver, gangster English gent and physcopath, I feel robbed! Almost as daft an idea as a real ale drinking grumpy English man writing about Delta Blues really..... Edited October 25, 2014 by jocko 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
jocko Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) Well I think it is very, very pertinent...dear chap. Apart from the merits of the film....she was touted as being "one of us"....however it transpires that she didn't attend the time she portrays....a bit like being in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester when The Sex Pistols performed...but actually not being in there! Now do you get my drift???? When did you last go to an all nighter? Put the beer down and step away from the keyboard, you will thank yourself in the morning old bean! And you have just made that whole one of us up. Stop making an even bigger cock of yourself than usual, Edited October 25, 2014 by jocko 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Drewtg Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 Well I think it is very, very pertinent...dear chap. Apart from the merits of the film....she was touted as being "one of us"....however it transpires that she didn't attend the time she portrays....a bit like being in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester when The Sex Pistols performed...but actually not being in there! Now do you get my drift???? Get your drift Scal but you're barking up the wrong tree mate. I spoke to her on the phone when I was doing the Wigan plaque thing. One of us mate, I'd buy her a pint any day. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Scal Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 She WASN'T there! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Amsterdam Russ Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 She WASN'T there! James Cameron wasn't on the Titanic and Jeremy Brett never lived at 221b Baker Street. What's your actual point? 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Popular Post Jaco Posted October 25, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 25, 2014 She WASN'T there! You're right mate. I knocked about in Burnsworth for years and never saw her once. 6 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Scal Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 She/it was portrayed as being about The Scene at THAT time....now she is THE GO TO GIRL...along with Stansfield et al....but they weren't there! How is the weather in Holland? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Drewtg Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 You're right mate. I knocked about in Burnsworth for years and never saw her once. What a shit hole that place was eh? 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ian Dewhirst Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 She/it was portrayed as being about The Scene at THAT time.... No she wasn't. She came on the scene in 1981 and has said so in numerous interviews. Ian D 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Amsterdam Russ Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 She/it was portrayed as being about The Scene at THAT time....now she is THE GO TO GIRL...along with Stansfield et al....but they weren't there! How is the weather in Holland? Very mild for this time of the year, and a lot better than Burnsworth, I'm sure. Don't think she's the 'go to girl', just the person the media naturally want to speak to while the film's on a high. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
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