Satire is a tricky genre in film. It can be done beautifully, or the tone can completely go over the audience’s head. Luckily, Expresso Bongo (1959) is an effective film parodying the ins and outs of the industry.
Based on a 1958 play of the same name, the film begins with sleazy hustler Johnny Jackson (Laurence Harvey) looking for the next up-and-coming artist he can exploit. He soon finds aspiring singer Bert Rudge (Cliff Richard) in a coffee shop and tries to launch his career. Rudge changes his name to Bongo Herbert. A record deal and a relationship await, but Rudge/Herbert soon realizes stardom isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
The film combines the elements of the musical and comedy genres very well. Director Val Guest takes us through 1950s Soho as Bongo takes the music scene by storm. Yes, he does this by playing the bongos, which (if you pay attention to any of the scenes) he doesn’t do particularly well. That isn’t the point: Johnny taking advantage of Bongo is. The film would be a great companion piece with Edgar Wright’s latest Last Night in Soho and is a hidden gem for musical fans. Expresso Bongo is recommended for musical film collections in public libraries.