"HEAR MY SONG" (1991) (Witty British Comedic Video Risk) From Peter Chelsom (the guy who later brought us the unusual "Funny Bones"), this is a pretty quirky little film with a lot to like. Other than eloquently spoken curse words and one scene involving nudity, the film could be appropriate for older children (if they could tolerate the talkie feel to most of the movie). The ending is a bit stagy and cheapens the entire film, but it contains enough good points to counterbalance.

The Story - Micky O'Neill (Adrian Dunbar) is an Irish concert promoter in England who cons his way into a management position in a run-down nightclub owned by the Heartly family (a group of shrewd tough hip women). He packs the wonderful looking old joint with wild performers including himself and someone called "Franc Cinatra." His assortment of lounge players quickly proves insufficient to maintain operations--the money runs out. He decides to book a controversial Irish Tenor who goes by the name "Mr. X" and is billed with the slogan "Is he or isn't he." Mr. X just might be the famous Irish Tenor and tax evader named Josef Locke. Eventually, Micky travels to Ireland to track down the real Josef Locke in an attempt to prove his love to Nancy Doyle.

The Review - "I'm thirty, I was born in peace time," Micky explains, "I have not seen what you have seen and I do not know what you know."

Micky is a con artist masquerading as a nightclub manager and concert promoter. He really loves Nancy Doyle, but cannot bring himself to say the words. He is sliver-tongued and able to handle himself with confidence even under the worst conditions. He's thirty, his tricks losing their illusion and the lies are beginning to cost him his happiness.

"Hear My Song" is terrific for more than half the film. Its director has shown us since making "Hear My Song" that he is for real, see "Funny Bones," which contains enough images and ideas for two movies. "Funny Bones" showed growth and maturity, but ultimately, suffered from a soft second half. "Hear My Song" is incomplete and fails to peak in the end when it should have found an edge. Still, for the first half and a fun if not believable or mature ending, it is worth a look. Ned Beatty would seem to be the last actor one would think of being cast as an Irish Tenor, but the performance is sound and his best work since he squealed like, well, you know ("Network" excluded).

I found the dubbing of the singing to be distracting, but the choice of music was unique and made me want to pick up the soundtrack in a bargain bin (Hell, I bought this video at Hastings on a clearance rack for $1.49).

The British/Irish humor is mainstream, apart from a scene involving the extraction of a tooth, and generates more than a few giggles especially during the excellent first half.

I guess I was born in peace time, except for Vietnam, and yearn for the nostalgic past. A film like this introduces us to a past from another Country and makes it personal and interesting. Take a risk on "Hear My Song."

Jonathan Hickman