Take Me High (1974)

High-flying young banker Tim Matthews (Cliff Richard) works for a London merchant bank and is constantly striving to outdo rival colleague Hugo Flaxman (Anthony Andrews).

Tim is excited to learn he is going to New York – but then he is sent to Birmingham instead to pressure a small struggling restaurant.

He promptly defies convention by choosing to live in a narrowboat in the Canal Basin instead of an expensive penthouse, travelling along the ancient canals in a hovercraft, and cruising around the traffic-laden streets in a custom-built Mini.

Along the way, he pulls off an unlikely financial “marriage” coup between rival factions – bringing peace between capitalist Sir Harry Cunningham (Hugh Griffith) and left-wing politician Bert Jackson (George Cole).

He also falls in love with a Birmingham girl – a delightful restaurant owner called Sarah (former Doctor Who assistant Deborah Watling).

Tim and Sarah then co-found a glamorous new burger bar selling “Brumburgers”.

The sharply humorous screenplay was written by Christopher Penfold, and the picture was directed by David Askey, a well-known television director who started in BBC drama and later moved to independent television, making his mark with the popular Doctor In Charge series.

This was his first feature film.

Based around the Gas Street basin and local canals, Take Me High offers a fascinating historical insight into this very special area of Birmingham in the early 70s.

Cliff has some terrific songs in his final starring film role. There are twelve of them in the film, all written by Tony Cole.

Tim Matthews
Cliff Richard
Sarah Jones
Deborah Watling
Sir Harry Cunningham
Hugh Griffith
Bert Jackson
George Cole
Hugo Flaxman
Anthony Andrews
Sir Charles Furness
Richard Wattis
Vicki
Madeline Smith
Molly Jones
Moyra Fraser
Sam Jones
Ronald Hines

Hulbert
Jimmy Gardner
Paul 
Noel Trevarthen
Boardman
Graham Armitage
Alderman
John Franklyn-Robbins
Grandson
Peter Marshall

Director
David Askey

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