Flipping the Whale-Sammy's Bar

[tradfolky1]

Great treatment of a great song. Golden Ring was mostly based out on the east coast, rather than Chicago. Their first album was recorded in Chicago by the Midnight Special's host (one of them), Norm Pellegrini for WFMT, thus the Chicago connection.

[ColonelErnie]

12 years later, still gorgeous.

[cusco50]

I loved this and I think Cyril would have too.Then again he could be a little bit grumpya and would have let you know if he didn't.

He was the first (or at least one of the earliest) professional folk singer on the british scene.

He also mad one of the earliest music videos when his "Life of a man" was played over a dreamlike view of a churchyard. To much acclaim at the time.

[McGrenzer]

Never cared much for mimes until now. This is a wonderful use of Tawney's song, turning it into a one-act play. The song stands on its own, but I think the actors add a new dimension to its sadness. Thanks to everyone for the mighty effort!

[possiblyblank]

Isn't THIS odd: despite the whiteface and the pantomime, I've never really thought of this as mime...for the same reason you probably never cared for it, which is that mimes tend to be unbearably precious. But I'm so glad you enjoyed this!

[McGrenzer]

@possiblyblank I have seen some excellent pantomimes over the years--Marcel Marceau "Running against the wind" and "Smelling a flower", Jackie Gleason as the "Poor Soul" and Tommy Makem singing "The Cobbler"--but I still think yours is the best, perhaps because I like the song so much. Thanks again for the great effort; I promise not to call the actors "mimes"!

[possiblyblank]

Haha...thank you so much!

[jgrannell1]

@possiblyblank Quite lovely this was to find. Cyril wrote some beautiful songs. Excellent job with the film. Cheers.

[crc778Hypnodoc]

I think this is a beautiful treatment of Cyril's song, I perform this version regularly

[jesseianhopkins]

My dad turned me on to this. He described it as "so gentle and so devastating". I loved it instantly. Thank you for this.

[brucewhirsch]

Astonishing work! I can't imagine how much time this must have taken but the editing is powerful and exact! I LOVE it when the actors not only narrate but also illustrate (and compliment) the score. I confess I stumbled upon this gold mine while seeking the words to the Tawney song, but what you did with it is a beautiful work if genius. Thanks for posting it, I can't wait to see what you will come up with next!

[possiblyblank]

Thanks, Bruce! I'm so glad you like it. This is from a feature-length indie movie I made called "Flipping the Whale", which you can find other clips of on my channel. I'm afraid this is the only time I've ever dramatized Cyril Tawney, though.

[sp617]

Wow. I just heard this song for the first time at a funeral today. It is the sweetest song ever for a funeral. The deceased woman and her late husband always insisted their friend play this when they were together in life, and he played it one more time for them at her funeral.

[mrengulfeddirector]

Fantastic!! This film is an inspiration. Beautiful art.

[Freshette]

Wow. The lover's loss is so painful. thank you

[possiblyblank]

Thank YOU!

[Ambidexter143]

I love this cover of a great Cyril Tawney ballad and the video shows the story superbly. Favorited and five stars.

[possiblyblank]

Thank you thank you, friend.

[jatoodee]

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. Such good work. Thank you AGAIN.

[Megalodon72]

The marriage of video and audio has such weight, it almost breaks my neck to carry it in my head! Beautifully done!

[possiblyblank]

Oh what a nice thing to hear! Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it.

[langton51]

bradshaws bar ..come on phil

[knockoutsullivan]

Sublime.

[possiblyblank]

Oh that's nice to hear...thank you!

[noelbrady]

Beautiful production. I love this song, and you capture its surreal, sad, and almost farsical, atmosphere perfectly.

Great pantomime, great music. I'll recommend it.

[possiblyblank]

Thank you so much! And isn't it a lovely recording? For me, the Golden Ring recorded the definitive versions of every folk song they ever recorded.

[breezygirl123]

Mesmerizing...sea chanty fare

[possiblyblank]

I'm so glad you like it!

[lemonostiftis]

really nice tune & a great vid,

cheers mate

*****

[blinddrunkal]

Fantastic!!!!!!! Such a beautiful song and video. Cyril Tawney wrote such great songs, and you've done this one proud

[possiblyblank]

Thank you very much!

[thebadguitarist]

I tried to post this before but something went wrong and it didn't save.

This is a very good video and deserving of a far wider audience. The late Cyril Tawney wrote this song and his website includes a description of how he came up with the story. The real Sammy's Bar was a haunt for sailors in Malta, although no longer there. This version tells the story quite beautifully, with lovely harmonies and superb acting. Five stars and it would be great to see this on T.V. as a piece on it's own.

[possiblyblank]

Yes, obscurity is a crazed pit-bull, frantically humping my leg, and I just can't seem to get it off me. Ever trying, though. Thank you thank you. I did look at Tawney's website after learning here that Sammy's Bar really existed. I seem to have problems myself, posting comments and making them stick the first time around...

[skipy936]

Super, Sammy would have loved it!

I went to Sammys Bar, in the early 70s!

[possiblyblank]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! I always thought Sammy's Bar was a fictitious place, so that's interesting to hear...

[zappafanman]

Quite, quite beautiful. The late Cyril Tawney is much missed as a writer and singer. This is one of his best and the video interprets it wonderfully. Well done!

[pukuveikals]

what a strange, sad, patient eeling of a Sunday long ago