Tommy steele singer biography

The Tommy Steele Story and Rock You Sinners (both released in June ) were the first British films to be built around rock'n'roll. Steele was already a national celebrity, and had had a guest spot in a 'B' picture mystery, Kill Me Tomorrow (d.

Terence Fisher, ). Anglo Amalgamated (then primarily a 'B' movie distributor) pitched to the singer a low budget, black and white documentary with a maximum four-week shoot.

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An outline came from actor/songwriter Mike Pratt: "how about the story of a young sailor who takes up the guitar and makes it in rock-and-roll?"

The resulting film certainly has the look of a 'B' movie, but it was released as an 'A' film thanks to Steele's fame, whereas Rock You Sinners (cheaper, but with more raw energy) had a patchy release.

The Tommy Steele Story proved a money spinner for Anglo Amalgamated and producer Peter Rogers, who both hit box office gold the following year with Carry on Sergeant (d.

Gerald Thomas).

The Tommy Steele St