Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Confessions of a Pop Performer Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 28, 2024

Norman Cohen's "Confessions of a Pop Performer" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary with star Robin Askwith; new program with composer Ed Welch; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

"When the cat's away, the mice do play, eh?"

The main players are the same, or at least the male ones, but the playground is different. Well, sort of. Timmy Lea (Robin Askwith) and his brother-in-law Sid Noggett (Anthony Booth) are still moving targets for various married older women and unmarried younger women, but now they are trying to get rich in the music business. Because they do not know anything about the music business, other than that it is run by powerful men who usually do not know much about it either, the two begin improvising.

Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, Timmy and Sid discover the band that will make them rich quickly -- several hippies spending all of their time smoking pot and sexing girls in a van rather than jamming hard in a studio. They manage to get them out, sign them, and convince them to do a gig meant to impress an aging producer (Bob Todd) with a young heart, but the drummer accidentally injures his hand. Much to everyone’s surprise, Timmy replaces him, and when the ‘new’ band brings the house down, it suddenly begins to look like he and Sid are not only on the right track but about to hit the jackpot. However, speeding on the right track quickly proves even bumpier than expected, especially for Timmy, who is frequently forced to perform like a star -- an experienced adult star.

Even though Val Guest was replaced by Norman Cohen, it is impossible to tell because Confessions of a Pop Performer replicates perfectly the sense of humor, tone, and energy of its predecessor, Confessions of a Window Cleaner. The only notable discrepancy between the two is Cohen’s willingness to shoot slightly more revealing content. (For what it's worth, American Pie has far more revealing content).

Is this good or bad?

Viewers who enjoyed the silliness and relaxed attitude of the first film and especially the cheeky humor that gives it its identity will undoubtedly be pleased because despite the different content Confessions of a Pop Performer is modeled after it and delivers the same type of entertainment. Naturally, viewers who saw the first film and were left underwhelmed will again see planty that could and should have been done better.

I like Confessions of a Pop Performer but think that one area of it could have been developed better. The screenplay should have targeted a lot of different big pop and rock singers and bands, not just Mick Jagger, and with zesty content that would repeatedly create surprising ripple effects. The 1970s produced so much interesting pop and rock content that could have been satirized, it feels like a terrific opportunity was missed to diversify the humor and make the laughs more unpredictable.

But if Confessions of a Pop Performer was scripted to seek and take down bigger targets, it is logical to speculate that Askwith and Booth’s shtick would have changed, too. I do not think that it would have been a good trade-off. Confessions of a Pop Performer, like Confessions of a Window Cleaner, works because Askwith and Booth’s shtick is incompatible with highbrow content, so assuming that the diversified humor would have been notably wittier as well, the end product would have turned out a pretty different film.

In Confessions of a Pop Performer there is slightly more content with interesting period qualities, but it is still not enough to declare it a proper time capsule.

Cohen’s director of photography was Alan Hume, who soon after will go on to lense such visual stunners as Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Octopussy, and Runaway Train.

Confessions of a Pop Performer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Confessions of a Pop Performer arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The technical presentation of Confessions of a Pop Performer is very similar to that of Confessions of a Window Cleaner. I think that the former has some marginally fresher visuals, and perhaps slightly more attractive colors too, but the difference is difficult to describe as significant. Delineation, clarity, and depth range from good to very good. Small density fluctuations can be observed, but even when they are easy to see, the overall quality of the visuals remains stellar. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Grain could look a bit more refined, healthier too, but there are no troubling anomalies to report. Image stability is good. While viewing the film, I did not encounter any large cuts, damage marks, debris, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Confessions of a Pop Performer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The soundtrack boasts qualities that easily reveal its age. For example, even during the big stage performance that brings the house down, dynamic intensity remains modest, but this is how the audio was finalized. The dialog is clear, clean, and stable, but in a few areas the accents become a bit thick, so perhaps some viewers will need to turn on the optional subtitles. I thought that all exchanges were perfectly fine and easy to follow, so I did not use the subtitles.

Confessions of a Pop Performer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - another exclusive new audio commentary with Robin Askwith, who explains in great detail how Confessions of a Pop Performer was made, where various sequences were shot, and what it was like to work with various beautiful ladies who took their clothes off before the camera. It is a predictably hilarious commentary.

• Ed Welch: Confessions of a Film Composer - in this program, composer Ed Welch recalls his first encounter with Greg Smith and discusses his contribution to Confessions of a Pop Performer. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• David Hamilton: Team Mates - in this new program, David Hamilton recalls how he was offered to do a cameo in Confessions of a Pop Performer and explained that he is "the only one in the film that keeps his clothes on". In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a fully remastered trailer for Confessions of a Pop Performer. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Image Gallery - presented here is a collection of original promotional materials for Confessions of a Pop Performer.

• Book - a limited edition exclusive 120-page book with a new essay by Simon Sheridan, archival articles on producer Greg Smith, executive producer Michael Klinger, screenwriter and novelist Christopher Wood, director Norman Cohen, and actors Robin Askwith, Sheila White and Linda Hayden, archival production reports on Confessions of a Driving Instructor and Rosie Dixon – Night Nurse, and film credits.

Confessions of a Pop Performer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A lot of people have claimed that Confessions of a Window Cleaner turned out the best of the four Confessions films. I have to disagree. Confessions From a Holiday Camp has some rough spots where the innuendo isn't quite right, but all four films offer the same type of light and unpretentious entertainment. I enjoy them, always have. Confessions of a Pop Performer is included with the remaining three films in this four-disc box set from Indicator/Powerhouse Films. If you decide to pick it up for your library, please keep in mind that it is Region-B "locked". HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.