Cucumber Castle (film)


Cucumber Castle is a British comedy film starring The Bee Gees that aired on BBC2 on 26 December 1970.

History

By the time filming began in 1969, the Bee Gees were down to a trio consisting of Barry and Maurice Gibb and the drummer Colin Petersen. Robin Gibb quit the group earlier in the year following the release of the group's fourth album Odessa. Songs for the film were recorded during the summer of 1969 with Petersen on drums, but when filming began, he was fired from the group. His scenes from the film were cut and he is not credited on the accompanying album, though he does play on some songs.

Plot

The plot revolves around two heirs, Prince Frederick and his brother Prince Marmaduke, and their dying father. On his death bed, The King orders his kingdom divided into two halves, the Kingdom of Jelly and the Kingdom of Cucumbers. Before the king even dies, Prince Frederick declares himself the "King of Cucumber" and Prince Marmaduke becomes the "King of Jelly". The film intersperses comedy sketches with Bee Gees songs plus performances by Lulu and Blind Faith with several cameo appearances. At the end, the king changes his mind and comes back, "I think these girls are working".

Cast

  1. "Don't Forget to Remember" by Bee Gees
  2. "Then You Left Me" by Bee Gees
  3. "I Was the Child" by Bee Gees
  4. "The Lord" by Bee Gees
  5. "My Thing" by Bee Gees
  6. "Morning of my Life" by Lulu
  7. "Mrs. Robinson" by Lulu
  8. "Well All Right" by Blind Faith

    Home media

The title was briefly released in the U.S. in the early days of home video by the tiny label Video Tape Network, but quickly disappeared from sale, likely due to a licensing dispute. The tape was once cited by Video Review magazine as the rarest commercial release ever, and copies have fetched three figures on the collector's market. It has never since been officially released on home video in any form, though bootlegs have circulated for years.