Hold On!  Here Come The Hermits

Groups First Feature Film A Fun Filled Musical Frolic

    Herman's Hermits are back in Denver, at least on the screen, as the stars of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's newest fun-filled film, "Hold On!". Late last year the Hermits made a guest appearance in MGM's "When The Boys Meet The Girls", with Connie Francis and Harve Presnell. "Hold On!" is their first starring film, and everyone associated with them in Hollywood was very impressed by the Hermits and their abilitites.
    MGM employees didn't know what to expect when they heard that Herman's Hermits were arriving from England to star in the motion picture. They had heard of the Hermits, of course, but had not had an opportunity to get to know them during the three days on the set for "When The Boys Meet The Girls". They only knew that the Hermits were British, wore their hair a bit longer than most youths and were one of the most popular singing groups in the world. The consensus was that the young men would be somewhat cocky, but before work was completed on "Hold On!", the Hermits had added many more, many important fans.
    Arthur Lubin, the director of "Hold On!", commented, "I thought they were going to be difficult. They were nothing of the sort. The fact is that they are three ways better than most of the other singing groups popular today. They have shorter hair, are cleaner looking and their music has melody rather than being raucous".
    Lubin cannot praise the five boys from
 






Can't be sure, but maybe this is where the title "Hold On" comes about. Herman and co-star Shelley Fabares are caught on a runaway roller coaster. So, it's only natural that our hero Herman, should try to come to the rescue. From the looks of things, though, he's more in the progress of preserving Herman's hide than executing a successful rescue attempt. Things must improve somehow!
Manchester enough. "They proved eager to learn about movie techniques and they learned quickly," he declares. He added, "Peter Noone, head of the group, is the sharpest 17-year-old I have ever met."
    Fred Karger, musical director of "Hold On!", also has become a Hermits fan. Before meeting them, he hadn't realized that each has a good musical background, and that Peter Noone (Herman) studied music theory before joining the group. "They're professional musicians," Karger admitted after working with them for an hour.
    In "Hold On!" the Hermits sing 11 songs - "A Must To Avoid," "Leaning on the Lamppost," "All The Things I Do For You Baby," "Where Were You When I Needed You," "Make Me Happy," "The George and The Dragon," "Got A Feeling," "We Want You, Herman," "Wild Love," "Gotta Get Away," and the title song, "Hold On". These are all songs that are easy to remember and which are easy to hum long after the show is over.
    The fast-paced action of the movie begins when the children of America's astronauts vote to name the next space ship going aloft after Herman's Hermits. Add to this the romantic escapades between pert Shelley Fabares and Herman, who proves a delightful Romeo, and there is a picture which offers a laugh, a song and a kiss per minute!
    Shelley Fabares, Herman's girlfriend in "Hold On!", is not new to moviegoers, who saw her in action as Elvis Presley's leading lady in MGM's "Girl Happy". Sue Ane Langdon, the ambitious young actress in "Hold On!", appeared with the Hermits in "When The Boys Meet The Girls".

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