Watch Gonks Go Beat

Gonks Go Beat is a 1964 musical-comedy film that is set in the fictional land of 'Beatland'. The film features a variety of popular British rock and pop acts from the 1960s, including Lulu, The Nashville Teens, and The Graham Bond Organisation. The plot centers on the rivalry between two neighboring countries, the 'Beatnicks' and the 'Balladshires', whose residents are divided by their taste in music: the Beatnicks are fans of rock and roll, while the Balladshires prefer ballads and more traditional music.

The film opens with the Beatnicks discovering that their leader, Blimey (played by Kenneth Connor), has been kidnapped by the Balladshires. They travel across the border to rescue him, but are captured by the Balladshires and brought before their queen (played by Anna Quayle). The queen agrees to release Blimey if the Beatnicks can win a 'Gonkathon' - a battle of the bands - against the Balladshires.

The Beatnicks meet a young girl named Penny (played by Carol Dilworth) who offers to help them win the Gonkathon by giving them a magical instrument called a 'Gonk'. The Gonk has the power to control people's minds and make them dance, and the Beatnicks use it to hypnotize their opponents and win the competition. Along the way, there are various subplots involving the love lives of the characters, a spy who is trying to steal the Gonk, and a group of aliens who land in Beatland and disrupt the Gonkathon.

One of the highlights of the film is its soundtrack, which features several catchy and upbeat songs. Lulu performs 'I'm a Tiger', a song which would become a hit single for her in real life, while The Nashville Teens perform the title track 'Gonks Go Beat'. The Graham Bond Organisation also appears as themselves, performing a number of psychedelic rock songs.

The film's humor is largely derived from its parody of the Beatlemania phenomenon and its send-up of the British class system. The Beatnicks are portrayed as working-class rebels who reject the stiff and formal traditions of the Balladshires, while the Balladshires are depicted as upper-class snobs who look down on the Beatnicks' music and culture. There are also several surreal and absurdist elements, such as the appearance of the aliens and the Gonk's mind control powers.

Overall, Gonks Go Beat is a fun and quirky film that captures the spirit of the 1960s British music scene. While it may not be a cinematic masterpiece, it does provide a glimpse into a unique and entertaining era of British pop culture. If you enjoy campy comedies, cheesy musicals, or just want to see Lulu singing while wearing a giant hat, then this film is definitely worth a watch.