Take Me High

Take Me High (also known as Hot Property) is a 1973 British film directed by David Askey and starring Cliff Richard (in his final film role), Deborah Watling, Hugh Griffith, George Cole and Anthony Andrews. It was written by Christopher Penfold.

Cast

 * Cliff Richard as Tim Matthews
 * Deborah Watling (credited as Debbie Watling) as Sarah
 * Hugh Griffith as Sir Harry Cunningham
 * George Cole as Bert Jackson
 * Anthony Andrews as Hugo Flaxman
 * Richard Wattis as Sir Charles Furness
 * Madeline Smith as Vicki
 * Moyra Fraser as Molly
 * Ronald Hines as Sam
 * Jimmy Gardner as Hulbert
 * Noel Trevarthen as Paul
 * Graham Armitage as Boardman
 * John Franklyn-Robbins as Alderman
 * Peter Marshall as grandson
 * Elizabeth Scott as waitress
 * Polly Williams as receptionist

Production
Set and filmed mainly in Birmingham, it features many landmarks from the city, including Gas Street Basin, Alpha Tower, the Council House (as a hotel), Spaghetti Junction, New Street, Corporation Street, Central Library and the Hall of Memory.

Soundtrack
A soundtrack album was released in December 1973 (UK LP: EMI – EMC 3016, UK CD: EMI – 7243 4 77731 2 9 ). The title track was a UK top 30 single (No. 27), and the album peaked at No. 41.

Track listing
Side One
 * 1) "It's Only Money" (Tony Cole)
 * 2) "Midnight Blue" (Tony Cole)
 * 3) "Hover” (Instrumental, The David Mackay Orchestra) (Tony Cole)
 * 4) "Why?" (with Anthony Andrews) (Tony Cole)
 * 5) "Life" (Tony Cole)
 * 6) "Driving" (Tony Cole)
 * 7) "The Game" (Tony Cole)
 * 8) "Brumburger Duet" (with Debbie Watling) (Tony Cole)

Side Two
 * 1) "Take Me High" (Tony Cole)
 * 2) "The Anti-Brotherhood of Man" (Tony Cole)
 * 3) "Winning" (Tony Cole)
 * 4) "Driving" (Instrumental, The David Mackay Orchestra) (Tony Cole)
 * 5) "Join the Band" (Tony Cole)
 * 6) "The Word is Love" (Tony Cole)
 * 7) "Brumburger (Finale)" (Tony Cole)

Releases
It was released on VHS by Warner Home Video in 1988. It was not given a retail release on DVD until March 2019, although a free DVD of the film was issued with the Daily Mail on 25 September 2010.

Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "An inauspicious feature debut for director David Askey, also marking Cliff Richard's first screen appearance since his Billy Graham vehicle of six years ago. Despite the plot's pretensions to social panacea, this is just one more creaky vehicle to display his charm and well-preserved good looks. The curious attempt to provide some realistic ballast by casting the star in the unlikely role of a merchant banker, and by relegating the songs to soundtrack accompaniment, is offset by the fact that the director's one discernible ambition is to capture as many pretty shots of Richard as possible. Hugh Griffith is left to provide scant light relief as the inevitable rumbustious eccentric."

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "The 'comedy' plods along with all the zip of Spaghetti Junction at rush hour. Indigestible."

Leslie Halliwell said: "Jaded youth musical with no dancing but some zip and bounce to commend it to mums and dads if not to its intended young audience."