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 Chargeseries.
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
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.
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.
Tim Matthews
Sir Charles Furness
