It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Hold On! (1966) – Musical #241

Studio:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Director:
Arthur Lubin

Starring:
The Herman’s Hermits: Peter Noone, Keith Hopwood, Karl Green, Derek Leckenby, Barry Whitwam
Shelley Fabares, Sue Anne Langdon, Hebert Anderson, Harry Hickox, Bernard Fox, Hortense Petra

Plot:
When astronauts decide they want to name their next ship after The Herman’s Hermits, NASA employee Edward Lindquist (Anderson) is asked to follow the band to learn more about them. However, the band is kept under close watch of their manager (Fox) and the young band members are bored and Herman (Noone) is lonely. When Herman meets and falls for Louisa (Fabares). The band sneaks out to go to an amusement park and spend time with Louisa, and Edward is accused of kidnapping them.

Trivia:
• Working title was “There’s No Place in Space.”
• The Herman’s Hermits had seven songs on the Top 100 hits list in 1965.

Highlights:
• The dream sequence with Peter Noone/Herman as the Knight in Shining Armor.

Notable Songs:
• “Hold On!” performed by the Herman’s Hermits
• “She’s a Must to Avoid” performed by the Herman’s Hermits
• “Make Me Happy” performed by Shelley Fabares
• “I’m Leaning on a Lamp” performed by the Herman’s Hermits

My review:
In the 1960s, the music fame of The Beatles catapulted them to the silver screen in 1964 with A HARD DAY’S NIGHT. And in the years that followed, other British Invasion bands were similarly spotlighted.

The Dave Clark Five were featured in HAVING A CHILD WEEKEND (1965), Gerry and the Peacemakers were in FERRY CROSS THE MERSEY (1965), and Freddie and the Dreamers were in a few films like CUCKOO PATROL (1967).

And then there were the Herman’s Hermits and its lead singer Peter Noone.

From 1965 to 1968, the Hermits were in three feature films, and HOLD ON (1966) was their second feature. While not as famous or influential, The Herman’s Hermits were extremely popular during this time — with seven hit songs in the top 100 in 1965.

HOLD ON (1966) has more plot than some of the British Invasion films: A NASA scientist has to secretly investigate the Herman’s Hermits when astronauts vote to name a space shuttle after the band. The Herman’s Hermits live a boring, lonely life as their manager doesn’t allow the band to venture outside their hotels when they travel to performances.

It’s a silly plots, but if you love the band the Herman’s Hermits, you will probably like this film. I love the band and had a wonderful time watching this colorful film filled with their hit songs.

It was also quite funny in parts. For example, while the band escapes to an amusement park, one of the band members wins one of their own records in an amusement park games. Of Peter/Herman has different daydreams throughout that are fun.

I’ve seen Peter Noone in concert and he was hilarious, so seeing him do comedy in a film isn’t farfetched.

I also love seeing Shelley Fabares in this film (and any film). I would say for me, the only sour spot was Sue Anne Langdon’s character. I think that could have been omitted.

Don’t take this one too seriously. Sit back for great music and some laughs.

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