Lizard Iguana Helicopter Swimming Pool Benson & Hedges Gold Cinema
Not by our studio but back in 1979 this surreal ad left an indelible impression in my head. So here it is…
STOP PRESS**** Just seen an excerpt on BBC4 tonight which covers the end sequence missing in my version, “The Men From The Agency” 22:50 25th May 2008.
Gold Award for Film Advertising 1979
Director Hugh Hudson shot this advert, which was reportedly the UK’s most expensive commercial at that time. The advert continued the style adopted for the Benson & Hedge’s print press campaign of mock - Surrealism.
Director
Hugh Hudson
Copywriter
Mike Cozens
Art Director
Alan Waldie
Set Designer
Geoffrey Kirkland
Agency Producer
Judy Hurst
Editor
Stuart Taylor
Music Arrangement
Lol Creme
Kevin Godley Lighting Cameraman
Mike Molloy
Advertising Agency
Collett Dickenson Pearce & Partners
Production Company
The Alan Parker Film Company
Advertising Manager
Peter Wilson
Client
Gallaher
Duration : 0:1:12
[youtube Qv7dnrgH5m0]
Yeah, so did I …
Yeah, so did I after you mentioned it. It was great to watch again. I’m always on the lookout for some of the others. I would love to have a collection of all of them on DVD. I’d sit and watch them again and again. Sad I know, but it takes me back to more innocent times.
I actually found …
I actually found the power boat film on YouTube - it is called ‘Ride The White Horses’ and is in three parts.
I remember a boat …
I remember a boat one called the small propeller, maybe it was that.
Search YouTube for Evoluon. That was another one that I remember and really enjoyed watching again after about 35 years!
Does anyone …
Does anyone remember the TV trade test transmissions from about 1970? These featured heavily in my early memories.
There was one called ‘The White Horses’ (I think), which was about power boats and the music for that was fantastic.
Anyone else recall it?
I remember this …
I remember this well from the late 70’s. For years i wondered what the music was and eventually came across ‘Kashmir’ by Led Zeppelin and thought yeah that’s it. This proves i was wrong but it does have similarities. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for the …
Thanks for the literary soundbyte. I will attempt to source the album.
hey lizard is that …
hey lizard is that a hidden speed camera at 0;42 and is that you creepin about at 0;45 you slimey
“Slightly different …
“Slightly different mix” is what I meant to say. Sorry.
The album version …
The album version is a slightly mix but after about half a minute more of this spacey groove we somehow find ourselves inside a house where an old Jewish guy rasps, “WHAT??? There’s somebody at the front door? Well, I didn’t hear anything…” He opens the door to face a hurricane (one billion G & C voices breathing “Bloooooooow!”). He tries to close the door but the hurricane forces its way in and smashes the house to bits.
There’s a website dedicated to Consequences called Mr Blint’s Attic.
In some small way, …
In some small way, I feel quite cheated. Having immersed myself in the music of the 70’s & the B&H ad featuring so heavily in my memories of the following period, it is odd to finally realise that the music from Iguana was not ‘purpose written’.
Does the album track expand much from the cinema ad version?
Indeed, indeed: …
Indeed, indeed: Album 1, Track 2. (That’s so ’70s, isn’t it? “Album 1″…) It has the unfortunate title of “Wind”, since they were making musical pictures of the elements. No synthesizers, of course. Apart than the drums, all the sounds here were made on guitar with G & C’s invention, the Gizmotron. So good to hear this again. In fact, I’m going to play the entire triple album at full blast. Brilliant stuff!
Are you saying that …
Are you saying that the music that accompanies the above clip features on Consequences by G & C?
Yeah, I can …
Yeah, I can remember people bursting into applause in the cinema when this was on. I was an art student at the time and it was what made me want to get into advertising. Best move i ever made. Hugh Hudson of ‘Chariots of Fire’ shot it and yes, Godley and Creme did the music. Awesome.
It’s by Godley & …
It’s by Godley & Creme and from their post-10cc triple album ‘Consequences’. Amazing record.
Google Lol Creme
Google Lol Creme
Thanks
Thanks
No, but it did have …
No, but it did have the end sequence that my upload had missed, (I still dont have it as I forgot to record, anyone please upload that and I will join the two together)
The music was …
The music was apparently by 10CC
Was the ad shown in …
Was the ad shown in its entirety?
Just been aired on …
Just been aired on BBC4 “The Men from the Agency” 25th May 2008.
This video is …
This video is actually called ‘Iguana’ and was the most expensive ad ever made at the time (for Benson & Hedges).
I used to go the …
I used to go the cinema JUST to see this ad - the music left my head spinning. It was only out for a short time and of course there was no way to watch it unless you went and paid the entry fee. I remember once sitting through three showings of the same movie just to re-watcg the ad break.
To have access to something I could only dream of seeing again is fabulous!!
Just like it is Im …
Just like it is Im afraid.
Box watch video… …
Box watch video…lizzys swimming…copter in sky….drop…..BOX…ha ha!
Grabbed it the …
Grabbed it the instant it appeared.
Just a question though - the audio at the terminates abruptly. Does the original file you posted actually have a ‘proper’ ending for the sound, in other words, if you extended the length of the file slightly and reposted, would YouTube then allow the audio to reach its legitimate length as it has the tendency to chop off the last few seconds despite the whole thing being uploaded?