13 December 1961 (London, premiere)
12 January 1962 (United Kingdom)
13 March 1963 (Bismarck, North Dakota)
The Young Ones (US title: Wonderful to Be Young!) is a 1961 British comedy musical film directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Cliff Richard, Robert Morley as his character's father, Carole Gray as his love interest, and the Shadows as his band. The screenplay was written by Peter Myers and Ronald Cass, who also wrote most of the songs. Herbert Ross choreographed the dance scenes.
Although Richard had appeared in two pictures prior, The Young Ones was his first major film in a string of musical films including Summer Holiday and Wonderful Life. Its soundtrack spawning numerous hits including the title track.
The film was produced by the Associated British Picture Corporation and shot at their Elstree Studios. It had its World Premiere on 13 December 1961 at the Warner Theatre in London's West End.
Storyline
Nicky and his friends find that their youth club is in danger of being flattened to make way for a new office block unless they can come up with £1500 to pay the new owner, the ruthless property tycoon Hamilton Black. To help raise the cash, Nicky records a song and his friends broadcast it via a pirate radio station, touting him as "The Mystery Singer" - the plan works and interest in their up and coming show is heightened by this new but unknown heart-throb. But Nicky has an even bigger secret and one that he cannot share, even with his girlfriend Toni.