Catch Us If You Can

There are two reasons that Catch Us If You Can is likely to arouse interest. Firstly it was the debut film for John Boorman, secondly it was a vehicle for The Dave Clark Five, who were a leading part of the Merseyside pop hothouse of the mid-60s.

The story, such as it is, involves film extras led by Steve (Dave Clark) appearing in an ad campaign. The poster girl is Dinah (Barbara Ferris replacing Marianne Faithful) and when she and Steve run off, the ad-makers and the boys in the band pursue them. This sounds like a set-up for a lively romp in the style of A Hard Day's Night, released the previous year, with the lads performing their songs between all manner of absurdist antics.

Far from it. The songs are heard on the soundtrack, but Boorman and writer Peter Nichols seem to have aspired to something more Nouvelle Vague-ish but the result doesn’t get close. Catch Us If You Can is a lacklustre film hamstrung by the absence of acting skills, charismatic stars and in general, inspiration. Less aspiration to be innovative and more pop would have been a much better way to go.

FYI: The American release was titled Having A Wild Weekend.

Available from: Madman

 

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