Additional information
Photographer: Walter Lassally. It may seem silly and quaint today, but the early-'60s British film Beat Girl was one of the first movies to address subjects -- granted, in a sidelong and not terribly realistic manner -- like bohemian culture and teenage rebellion. Barry's score, performed by the John Barry Orchestra, is schizophrenic in its attempt to cover all aspects of beatnik life, resulting in an artifact that is as charmingly dated as the film itself. Smoky cellar jazz, honky-tonkin' sax instrumentals, light swing, dippy teen idol pop, snaky film noir, and menacing spy guitar -- they're all here, and all well done. Occasionally British pop singer Adam Faith (who also starred in the film) takes a lead vocal. The variations of the main theme (including a vocal rendition by Faith) are the most interesting of the lot, clearly foreshadowing both Barry's James Bond scores and the B-52s' "Rock Lobster" riff. ~ Richie Unterberger
