Farewell Performance


Farewell Performance is a 1963 British crime film directed by Robert Tronson and starring David Kernan, Frederick Jaeger and Delphi Lawrence. It was written by Aileen Burke and Leone Stuart, and features musical interludes from Joe Meek acts including The Tornados and Heinz.
It is considered a lost film and is on the BFI National Archive's 75 Most Wanted List of missing films.

Plot

After pop singer Ray Baron is found murdered by cyanide, Superintendent Raven tries to work out which of Baron's many enemies is responsible.

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Although the routine plot is supported by a number of pop music interludes, presumably inserted with the object of appealing to teenagers, the backstage murder theme, and even much of the dialogue, harks back to the early Thirties. The number of suspects is more limited than usual, and the identity of the murderer is not very skilfully concealed."
Kine Weekly wrote: "The dramatic development is here interspersed with variety turns and include numbers from the pop singer, an amusing chimp act, a clever juggling pair and The Tornados, an instrumental quartet. The many heartaches of show business troupers register effectively and the atmosphere of the variety theatre, both front and back-stage, well contrived. David Kernan convinces as the teenage idol and Delphi Lawrence is pathetic as the much older woman who is prepared to sacrifice everything for him. Sound support is headed by Frederick Jaeger, as the killer, and Alfred Burke, as the unfortunate husband."