VideoDetective.com
Hear My Song (1991)
Released By: Paramount Home Video   Rating: R   In Theaters: N/A
Your video will start shortly...



More Videos:
Preview Details
User Reviews
Studio: Paramount Home Video
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Peter Chelsom
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Adrian Dunbar, David McCallum, Ned Beatty, Tara Fitzgerald
Published ID: 1760
UPC: N/A
Plot: The owner of a British nightclub attempts to do the impossible by coaxing a legendary Irish tenor out of retirement for a once-in-a-lifetime show in this engagingly quirky comedy. The owner, Mickey O'Neill, is particularly desperate to land a performance by the great Josef Locke, as his already questionable reputation was ruined when he booked an impostor claiming to be Locke. Now only providing a show by the real thing can make up for it. Trouble is, Locke fled England several decades before to avoid charges of tax evasion, and would face immediate arrest upon his return. Naturally, the comedy emerges from O'Neill's desperate attempts to convince Locke to participate in the scheme. Much of the film's charm comes from the presentation of eccentric but believable characters, particularly Locke himself -- a real historical figure given warm life by Ned Beatty, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his performance. The film as a whole manages a similar balancing act between realism and comic fantasy, grounding even the less believable aspect of the narrative in strongly observed local color. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
AT LAST ON DVD.......HOPEFULLY!
Added 7/7/2009

I've loved this movie since I saw it in the theatre years ago. I have an old worn-out "homemade" copy from the days before "copy guard" was on rental tapes. I watch it at least 2-3 times a year.

I have been replacing my VHS collection over the past few years & this film is one of the last ones I need. (I FINALLY got ENCHANTED APRIL a couple months ago after waiting YEARS for it to come out on DVD)

I'm on the wait-list for HMS & will order as soon as it is available.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Hear My Song
Added 1/11/2009

For someone of Irish Ancestry (or anyone else for that matter who wants to see a great story) and interesed in the beauty of the culture, this is a really nice experience. Unfortunately, it is not yet available in DVD so you have to settle for video cassette if you want to see it. As an Irish American, I have been to Ireland three times now. I really enjoyed the scenes filmed there although much of the film is actually supposed to take place in an Irish community in England and large parts appear to be filmed there. I purchased a copy and sent it to my family in Phila. to share it with them.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Sinatra (Cinatra?) Knew A Good Thing When He Heard It
Added 12/16/2007

"Hear My Song" (1992), an Irish film, a romantic musical comedy/drama, was written by its star, Adrian Dunbar, with Peter Chelsom, its first-time director, and is filmed on location in gritty Liverpool, England, and the lovely Irish countryside. It's based on the life story of the Irish tenor Josef Locke, born Joseph McLaughlin, who knew great success in England, but was driven back to his home country by the tax man.

Adrian Dunbar, a frequently-seen actor, plays Micky O'Neill, who has leased a down-at-heels Liverpool nightclub from the large and boisterous Irish-English Ryan family (Liverpool has lots of Irish immigrants, and their descendents). He proceeds to run the club further into the ground through bad bookings; first there's Franc Cinatra, then Mr. X, allegedly Joe Locke. But Mr. X was worse than a bad business decision: the mother, Cathleen Doyle (played by the still-gorgeous Shirley Ann Field), of Micky's lovely girlfriend Nancy Doyle, (played by the luminous Tara Fitzgerald) once had a thing with the real Joe Locke, and Mr. X, at Micky's instigation, has taken advantage of her. The Ryans and the Doyles are furious with Micky: the situation's desperate. So he decides to hobo off to Ireland, to track down the real Joe Locke, (played by Ned Beatty, enjoying the role of his life). Once in Ireland, Micky meets up with his best friend, Fintan O'Donnell, a booking agent,played by the also frequently seen James Nesbitt. (Oddly enough, both Dunbar and Nesbitt are sons of Northern Ireland.) The friends find Locke and his senior-citizen posse, and lure them back to the U.K. to save Micky's hide. In the U.K., of course, the taxman, Jim Abbott, played to the hilt by David McCallum, "That Man from Uncle," remembers Locke only too well.

The movie was made for less than 2 million pounds, in less than six weeks, but it's consistently funny, although admittedly lightweight, sometimes sentimental. Micky has a great repeating line, "I haven't been where you've been, I haven't seen what you've seen," and commitment issues. A cow figures in two hilarious scenes. Beatty seamlessly lip-synchs to the glorious work of an actual well-known Irish tenor, with whom I'm not familiar. Between them they deliver a marvelous "Hear My Song," that leaves not a dry eye, nor seat, in the house. (I've got another rendition of that song in my house, by the young Frank Sinatra, who was, of course, a pretty good tenor himself. And he knew a good thing when he heard it.)


1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Hear My Song
Added 4/13/2007

This is the best movie of all time!!!!!! Forget about Casablanca, Citizen Kane and even Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Watch if again and again and again and again and again!!!

Must be put on dvd!!! I am afraid our vhs tape will disintegrate!!!

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
One of the best comedies of the past two decades
Added 4/7/2007

Three of the best comedies of the past two decades are all British films that are shamefully not out on DVD: ENCHANTED APRIL, QUEEN OF HEARTS (look it up -- only used VHS copies are around), and HEAR MY SONG. All are flawlessly written, acted, and directed. And all are intelligent, mature (in the purest sense) comedies for adults -- a rare breed. Please look up each one, review it (even if just to say you want it available), and vote for it to be released on DVD by clicking the NOTIFY ME button.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
AT LAST ON DVD.......HOPEFULLY!
Added 7/7/2009

I've loved this movie since I saw it in the theatre years ago. I have an old worn-out "homemade" copy from the days before "copy guard" was on rental tapes. I watch it at least 2-3 times a year.

I have been replacing my VHS collection over the past few years & this film is one of the last ones I need. (I FINALLY got ENCHANTED APRIL a couple months ago after waiting YEARS for it to come out on DVD)

I'm on the wait-list for HMS & will order as soon as it is available.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Hear My Song
Added 1/11/2009

For someone of Irish Ancestry (or anyone else for that matter who wants to see a great story) and interesed in the beauty of the culture, this is a really nice experience. Unfortunately, it is not yet available in DVD so you have to settle for video cassette if you want to see it. As an Irish American, I have been to Ireland three times now. I really enjoyed the scenes filmed there although much of the film is actually supposed to take place in an Irish community in England and large parts appear to be filmed there. I purchased a copy and sent it to my family in Phila. to share it with them.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Sinatra (Cinatra?) Knew A Good Thing When He Heard It
Added 12/16/2007

"Hear My Song" (1992), an Irish film, a romantic musical comedy/drama, was written by its star, Adrian Dunbar, with Peter Chelsom, its first-time director, and is filmed on location in gritty Liverpool, England, and the lovely Irish countryside. It's based on the life story of the Irish tenor Josef Locke, born Joseph McLaughlin, who knew great success in England, but was driven back to his home country by the tax man.

Adrian Dunbar, a frequently-seen actor, plays Micky O'Neill, who has leased a down-at-heels Liverpool nightclub from the large and boisterous Irish-English Ryan family (Liverpool has lots of Irish immigrants, and their descendents). He proceeds to run the club further into the ground through bad bookings; first there's Franc Cinatra, then Mr. X, allegedly Joe Locke. But Mr. X was worse than a bad business decision: the mother, Cathleen Doyle (played by the still-gorgeous Shirley Ann Field), of Micky's lovely girlfriend Nancy Doyle, (played by the luminous Tara Fitzgerald) once had a thing with the real Joe Locke, and Mr. X, at Micky's instigation, has taken advantage of her. The Ryans and the Doyles are furious with Micky: the situation's desperate. So he decides to hobo off to Ireland, to track down the real Joe Locke, (played by Ned Beatty, enjoying the role of his life). Once in Ireland, Micky meets up with his best friend, Fintan O'Donnell, a booking agent,played by the also frequently seen James Nesbitt. (Oddly enough, both Dunbar and Nesbitt are sons of Northern Ireland.) The friends find Locke and his senior-citizen posse, and lure them back to the U.K. to save Micky's hide. In the U.K., of course, the taxman, Jim Abbott, played to the hilt by David McCallum, "That Man from Uncle," remembers Locke only too well.

The movie was made for less than 2 million pounds, in less than six weeks, but it's consistently funny, although admittedly lightweight, sometimes sentimental. Micky has a great repeating line, "I haven't been where you've been, I haven't seen what you've seen," and commitment issues. A cow figures in two hilarious scenes. Beatty seamlessly lip-synchs to the glorious work of an actual well-known Irish tenor, with whom I'm not familiar. Between them they deliver a marvelous "Hear My Song," that leaves not a dry eye, nor seat, in the house. (I've got another rendition of that song in my house, by the young Frank Sinatra, who was, of course, a pretty good tenor himself. And he knew a good thing when he heard it.)


1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Photos


There are currently no photos.
Shopping
IDPriceImageUrlPurchaseUrlIdTypeBindingStore
VHS
$99.99 @ Amazon
DVD
@ Amazon