Hippie Hippie Shake

Hippie Hippie Shake is an unreleased British drama film produced by Working Title Films. It is based on a memoir by Richard Neville, editor of the Australian satirical magazine Oz, and chronicles his relationship with girlfriend Louise Ferrier, the launch of the London edition of Oz amidst the 1960s counterculture, and the staff's trial for distributing an obscene issue. Hippie Hippie Shake stars Cillian Murphy as Richard Neville, with Sienna Miller as Louise.

For the similarly named song, see Hippy Hippy Shake.

Hippie Hippie Shake
Directed byBeeban Kidron
Produced byTim Bevan
Eric Fellner
Nicky Kentish Barnes
Screenplay byLee Hall
Based onHippie Hippie Shake
by Richard Neville
StarringCillian Murphy
Sienna Miller
Sean Biggerstaff
Max Minghella
Emma Booth
Peter Brooke
Music byDario Marianelli
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
CountryUnited States
France
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

British film production company Working Title began development of Hippie Hippie Shake in 1998, but the film was repeatedly delayed, changing directors and screenwriters. In September 2007, the film finally began principal photography. In 2011, Working Title said that the film would not be released in cinemas.[1]

Premise

Hippie Hippie Shake follows the love story of Oz editor Richard Neville and Louise Ferrier, as Neville and his cohorts launch the London edition of the radical magazine, and are put on trial for publishing an obscene issue. The film serves as a metaphorical journey through the 1960s in London.[2][3]

Cast

Pre-production delays

In October 1998, British film production company Working Title Films announced the development of the film Hippie Hippie Shake, based on Hippie Hippie Shake: The Dreams, the Trips, the Trials, the Love-ins, the Screw Ups: The Sixties, a memoir by Oz magazine editor Richard Neville. Screenwriter Don Macpherson was hired to write the adapted screenplay for the film, which was slated to begin production in 1999, depending on Working Title's status following the breakup of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.[6]

Production did not begin as anticipated. Working Title restarted development in February 2002 with director Shekhar Kapur attached to direct based on a script by Tom Butterworth.[7] Again, the project was delayed.

In May 2007, Working Title announced its third attempt to produce Hippie Hippie Shake, this time with director Beeban Kidron and screenwriter Lee Hall. The film, which would be distributed by Universal Pictures, was slated to begin production in the autumn of 2007.[2]

Production
On the set of Hippie Hippie Shake Dec 2009, Colville Terrace, Notting Hill

Following William Nicholson's involvement with the script, principal photography began on 17 September 2007.[3] Writer Richard Neville acknowledged the long development history of the film, but considered the film appropriate for the contemporary state of affairs: "Given that the world is at war, it couldn't be better timing to highlight the crazy, fun and political times of the 1960s... I think the timing is pretty terrific. Enough time has gone by to perhaps look at that era in a new perspective and help us reflect on what's going on today," Neville said.[4]

Parts of the film were shot in the Hampstead district of London, and a house in South Hill Park was used as the exterior of Greer's home.[8] Until his death, South Hill Park was the home of Anthony Minghella, the film director and father of Max Minghella. All Saint's Road was also used as a substitute for King's Road.

Release delays

In July 2009, "creative differences" led Beeban Kidron to quit during post-production; her husband, screenwriter Lee Hall, had left the production earlier.[9] According to The Times, Kidron said "I worked on the film for as long as I could and as hard as I could and then I had to walk away. It was very wounding."[9] A 100-print release was scheduled for February 2010, but never happened.[9]

Reactions

The people depicted in the film have had a range of reactions to the film.

In July 2007, in a piece for The Guardian, feminist author Germaine Greer vehemently expressed her displeasure at being depicted, writing, "You used to have to die before assorted hacks started munching your remains and modelling a new version of you out of their own excreta." Greer refused to be involved with the film, just as she declined to read Neville's memoir before it was published (he had offered to change anything she found offensive). She did not want to meet with Emma Booth, who portrays her in the film, and concluded her article with her only advice for the actress: "Get an honest job."[10] Booth had just told The Brisbane Times, "It's going to be a bit scary playing her. Germaine is this ballsy lady. I am sure she is going to hate me."[11]

In contrast to Greer, Louise Ferrier met with director Kidron to discuss the film at length, and expressed the opinion that Kidron was "certainly working to make it authentic." Ferrier said she was unfamiliar with the work of Sienna Miller, the actress portraying her.[12]

Publisher Felix Dennis was more cooperative, however, and agreed to meet up with Chris O'Dowd, the actor who portrays him in the film. "He was an incredibly charismatic man", O'Dowd stated.[13]

Test screening reviews

Several advance reviews of Hippie Hippie Shake have surfaced across the Internet. Harry Palmer from Ain't It Cool News said, "There are some predictable scenes, some hammy acting, some bad jokes, but they couldn't spoil my enjoyment. I'm sorry, but I really liked it." He was especially impressed by Sienna Miller, saying, "And yes, there is full-frontal nudity from Sienna. She has a natural, un-made-up look for most of the film, one might even say uglified in places. But when kneeling in a garden drenched in daisies and with a beatific expression on her face, she poses for an 'alternative' Oz centrefold – she is stunningly, stunningly beautiful."[14] Jandy Stone from The Frame opined, "all the actors carry their parts well." Of the film, she concluded that "since there’s no release date in sight yet, they may well improve it into quite a decent ’60s biopic."[15] Matt Robinson said, "Starring Cillian Murphy and Sienna Miller the film captures the time period effectively presenting both drama, sex and drugs against a setting of media scrutiny and restrictions." He wrote, "Colourful, funny and dramatic this is not only a good film it is educational too. A good document of history that many journalists and nonjournalists will enjoy."[16]

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References
  1. Garry Maddox and Steve Meacham, "Hippies tossed aside in corporate decision", The Sydney Morning Herald, February 14, 2011, retrieved 21 October 2012
  2. Michael Fleming; Adam Dawtrey (2 May 2007). "'Hippie' grooves for Universal". Variety. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  3. "HIPPIE HIPPIE SHAKE STARTS PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY". Working Title Films. 17 September 2007. Archived from the original on 31 December 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  4. Erin McWhirter (18 September 2007). "Sienna makes 60s sizzle". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  5. "Home - Past- Film - Hippie Hippie Shake". Official website. HughBonneville.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2013. Hugh plays John Mortimer QC, who defended two of the accused in court.
  6. Adam Dawtrey (29 October 1998). "Working Title goes 'Hippie'". Variety. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  7. Adam Dawtrey (5 February 2002). "Working with tried and true". Variety. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  8. "Sienna Miller Online - Welcome". Sienna-miller.org. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  9. Sherwin, Adam (21 July 2009). "Hippie Hippie break-up as director walks". London: The Times. Retrieved 8 October 2009. Working Title insists that the film won’t go straight to DVD, with a smallish 100-print release scheduled for next February.
  10. Germaine Greer (16 July 2007). "Hippie Hippie Shake is back, and the flesh-eating bacteria turn to me". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  11. Emily Dunn (23 June 2007). "'They were telling me how to have sex'". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  12. Barbara McMahon (1 July 2007). "Film to lay bare Greer's hippy days". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  13. "Chris O'Dowd: The IT Man From The IT Crowd". SuicideGirls.com. 9 May 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  14. "We've Got A Test Screening Review Of HIPPIE HIPPIE SHAKE!! - Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news". Aintitcool.com. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Hippie Hippie Shake – Review | Matt-Robinson.co.uk". Mattrobinsonjournalism.wordpress.com. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
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