Sir Tom In the News, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s our news page. This is the place for articles and, we pledge, we’ll try not to post the stupid stuff we all run across once in awhile.
With Any Apologies Necessary, Check Out “…A Bit of Tom Jones,” Then Read A Glasgow Review With Photos
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009First, be sure to catch up on the last two or three posts if you missed them. Then, be aware that the stuff right below this is posted with any apologies necessary to Sir Tom, his Management and anyone who may be offended. I read about this film about a year ago and have not said a word, but have been watching for news since. Now, it’s going to be shown in Wales, so I thought it was time — on this site dedicated to Tom Jones news — to share. If you are offended, I am sorry. I don’t make the news. I just report it. And, the opening of a film like this is news. If ignored, it becomes the elephant in the room. If you don’t want to read about it, just scroll down to the Glasgow photos and review.
(I’ve been wondering what The Man himself might think of this. If he doesn’t like the film, he can at least take comfort in the fact that it is enriching the Welsh economy. Also, not quite sure of the name. The word “little” keeps appearing and disappearing in various accounts.)
Speaking of the Glasgow review, I found it interesting. The reviewer is very objective but that’s not always bad. What do you think?
If you do a search, you can find lots of stuff about the movie …A Bit Of Tom Jones on the internet, including the official site. That site, by the way, is heaps of fun; hilarious! Just check it out — everything from the cast and crew to the art work — and, maybe, you’ll want to enter the competition.
If you do a search, you’ll also come across the website of one of the actors, Eve Myles. And, in looking at the cast list, mharding (with whom I consulted on this a few days ago) tells us, “Denise Welch is the lady who, in An Audience With Tom Jones who steps in to ask a question on behalf of her husband Tim Healy whose mouth had dried up when faced with his musical hero.”
Synopsis: A Film For Anyone Who’s Ever Made a Dick of Themselves.
In a late night bar, Henry is approached by a mysterious woman who offers to sell him the severed “manhood” of Wales’ greatest vocal entertainer… Believing he can make a fortune selling the infamous appendage on to obsessive fans, Henry stumps up the cash.
To help find the right buyer, Henry teams up with his slightly dodgy best friend Teddy and together the two head off on an insane journey that leads them deep into the secret world of celebrity body part trading. Along the way, they have a fight with a Gorilla, are bubbled bathed by a randy pensioner, kidnapped by adult babies, break into a police station, take a day trip to Belgium to meet the World’s biggest dealer of celebrity off-cuts and even get caught up in the slowest Police chase in movie history… …and all for a bit of Tom Jones?
The site says of the title: What’s in a name?
The original title of the film was Tom Jones’ Cock. Much of the original artwork was drawn up with this title (like the sample above) and the producers had hoped to release the film under this banner – until someone with half a brain told them that Multiplex’s wouldn’t show it, and ASDA couldn’t stock ‘cock’ DVD’s!!!! Realising that the title would indeed prevent the film being seen anywhere outside porno theatres and on the top shelves in sex shops, the producers went on desperate quest for a new title, even running a competition in their favourite pub – The Rhyd Hall, Tredegar.
Finally, after what seemed like several lifetimes, the rather more acceptable ..A Bit of Tom Jones was decided upon – after a brief flirtation with A little bit of Tom Jones? The question mark was added by our lawyers, to lessen the chances of being sued by Wales’ leading male vocal entertainer…
We are particularly looking forward to reading the translations for the international releases… “Crazy Welshman buys love organs of famous singing Welshman” is no doubt destined to be dragging in the big audiences in down town Delhi soon!
Tredegar film will bring a bit of Tom Jones to silver screen
For the article about the film’s release, the film’s trailer and a Glasgow review and photos, click
9:20am Wednesday 14th October 2009/by Ben Frampton/South Wales Argus
A FILM, shot entirely on location in Tredegar, is set to hit the big screens next month.
A Little Bit of Tom Jones Is going on general release throughout Wales in November and will go up against blockbuster films such as Michael Jackson’s This is It and 2012.
The film was shot on a shoestring budget in just four weeks in the Valleys town and the plot centres around a wild 24 hours in Tredegar, focusing on the misfortunes of the lead character.
It includes him buying the famous Welshman’s body part from a woman in a bar, fighting with a gorilla, breaking into a police station and being bubble-bathed by a pensioner.
The independent film features a host of stars, including Torchwood’s Eve Myles, Loose Women host Denise Welch and Matt Berry from The IT Crowd.
Writer and director, Brynmawr’s Peter Watkins-Hughes, 43, said the film also has “the slowest car chase in cinema history,” with a fleet of dump trucks travelling at 8mph, which brought Tredegar to a standstill during filming.
As well as screening in Vue cinemas across Wales, the film will also be showing for a fortnight in the Apollo in Monmouth from November 6 and Brynmawr’s Market Hall from November 13.
Mr Watkins-Hughes, a former BBC producer, said: “It’s been extraordinary, the multiplexes are booking us alongside blockbusters, we’re so excited.”
Mr Watkins-Hughes said his feature-film debut is “unashamedly” made to entertain and make people laugh, featuring the sense of humour he grew up with.
“It’s very Valleys humour, slightly dark, slightly sick, but very funny with plenty of one-liners and put-down gags.”
You can watch the trailer here.
As usual, if you cannot view it, please drop me note using the “Contact TJI” link at right and I’ll send it to you.
Now, the Glasgow review:
With a swagger and a shimmer of silver, Jones shows his mettle,
The Herald/15 Oct 2009/Jonathan Geddes
His hair has changed, and the band is different, yet thankfully the voice of Tom Jones remains unaltered.
The Welshman’s decision to reveal his now natural silver hair may serve as a recognition of his advancing years, but his prowess as a formidable if slightly smug entertainer lies intact.
It wasn’t the finest of beginnings, however. Opening with Sugar Daddy, Jones’s delivery seemed unsteady, even if the line regarding his “sexual ambition” inevitably provoked a cascade of screams from the predominately female audience.
He was far more comfortable when Thunderball rumbled in as the third number, and his pipes haven’t lost that heavy-set toughness, while a rousing Delilah deserved the hysterical screams it provoked from an enthusiastic crowd.
Aside from the hair, and the fact he frequently needed to refresh his voice with sips of water, Jones belied the fact he is now 69 years old.
He continued to break into his dancing with a confident, charismatic swagger, and several of his double entendre quips were followed with a lascivious chuckle.
His apparent self-satisfaction did hamper the evening, though, particularly on the love-letter to his voice, Never, a tune not helped by synths borrowed from a tacky 1980s police film. It was the worst offender of a mostly flabby middle portion, that brought an over-wrought disco beat on Burning Down The House, a perfunctory run-through of soul standard Jard to Handle and a cumbersome acoustic section.
Thankfully, the string of crowd-pleasers that followed picked matters up, with the exuberant dance of If I Only Knew stomping by, and You Can Leave Your Hat On typically raunchy, and inevitably provoking underwear being launched onstage.
But it was an earlier moment that carried the most impact, on the mournful, solemn air of the title track of last year’s 24 Hours album. A bleak meditation on approaching death, its cold vibe ironically proved that there is still some life yet in Jones as an artist yet.
October 15th, 2009 at 1:42 am
Without, being able to see the trailer I can’t go into detail.However, surely Tom,s managment would have approved before this was aired?!.Going on what I have read, this is full of Welsh humour,so it should go down well in Wales,and to be put along side block-busters can only be good for Tom.It,s also good that they choose Tom to promote this film.The full Monty,was also a shoe string budget and that done well,so I think this will too.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:32 am
This sounds like a really sick nightmare and I will be sure to miss it…but what happened to that other movie where the fans were trying to get into meet him…that looked good.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Sorry I looked at this trailer or even read about it – TRASH! I am offended by this so-called “Welsh Humor” – I am far from a “stuffy” person – but this is surely crap!!!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:14 am
I saw something about this on the Internet last year. I wasn’t amused. Not sure what kind of humor this is, but definitely not my kind. What anyone would find so funny about this is beyond me.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Wow…Really? I think I’ll pass on this one…
October 15th, 2009 at 9:26 am
No, I am sure no one in Sir Tom’s organization approved anything. There are pluses and minuses of being a public figure and, depending on how you feel about this, it’s either a plus or minus.
There must, however, be something wrong with me because I think it’s kind of funny. The premise is sick, but it’s humor. No one —filmmakers nor audience — is supposed to take this seriously. And, as noted at the very top of the post, if you were likely to be offended (and the graphic gives a very clear idea of what is involved) you should have skipped it. Again, no offense was intended.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I find this very funny and interesting, ive seen lots of movies like this, Dirty Shame (John Walters movie,
) and yes it was pretty full of dirty sex humour but it was so much fun 
Cant wait, HONESTLY!!
And about the review, i cant understand whats wrong with “Never” song… Plueeseeee!
October 15th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I think its all a bit of fun, good for a laugh, and will not offend Sir Tom. Tom has a great sense of humor and doesn’t take himself as seriously as some of his fans. His management may huff & puff but might be hard pressed to do anything since Tom is a public figure.
In a way its kind of a backhanded compliment.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:54 am
This is cheap. On one side is negative advertising for Tom Jones’s music career, but for his macho image is very positive
I’m wondering if Tom didn’t register his name…apparently not because he wouldn’t have allowed to have his name with such a draw beside!
October 15th, 2009 at 11:50 am
I do not understand why people are reacting this way. SusannePDX, Oqu and the moderator are right. This is funny and if you are offended, don’t go any further than the warning in the first paragraph that you may be offended. I think everyone should lighten up. I hope comments from now on come only from people who get it. Those who are offended don’t have to say anything because they don’t have to read it.
I personally appreciate this site because we can learn all things Tom Jones’ public life and this is certainly one thing I am interested in knowing. You won’t see this on an official site. Finally moderator is right. The official site for the movie is hysterical!
October 15th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Tom’s always wanted a big part in a film though…
October 15th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
mharding it think you are right. It also sheds new light on tom being a “stand up comedian, that never stood up”. Think we must see the movie and then decide. Anyway the fragments are funny..
October 15th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I’m not offended. It’s almost impossible to offend me and I love dirty raunchy sexy humor, but I really can’t have people laughing at the object of 95% of my sexual fantasies when it’s disconnected from Tom’s body! There is just nothing funny about that …ever.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
ok…i watched the trailer…it was a hooker’s schlong, now that is very funny!
October 16th, 2009 at 4:23 am
It reminds me of how people were offended by ‘Life of Brian’ which wasn’t really about Christ but more a comedy about the attitudes of people around him. I suppose this story is about greed and gullibility and the film makers just needed a famous er… name to hang the narrative on. Maybe could have been ‘A Bit of Justin Timberlake’ but Tom Jones is so much easier for the public to get.
I hadn’t heard of this until Ellen flagged it up. My initial reaction was to cringe but it looks well made with a good cast. Love the gorilla and “I hurt my elbow a bit” in the trailer.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:59 am
I had not anything about this movie before reading about it here. Being a nurse, I’m having difficulty getting over/past what is being sold. I watched the trailer, looks funny; I do like British humor. I’d be willing to watch it, but I can’t imagine wanting to buy the appendage without it being attached to the owner, MUCH more fun that way.
October 16th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Dumb!!
October 16th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Although I first thought OMG this is really bad, I thought I love British humor and I’m a big fan of “Hot Fuzz” and the “Full Monty”, so I’ll have to see this one for myself before making any decision. If anyone would be offended, it would be Sir Tom, let’s hope he’s not.
October 16th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Ooooopppps I laughed at the trailer. It’s enough to bring the tears to Tom’s eyes!!!!! I guess it’s what we call black humour. Tom does have a sense of humour and a wonderful dirty laugh .
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:05 am
[...] for his most witty comment that was reprinted by them. It’s about the post that deals with …A Bit of Tom Jones?. I did write to the journalist at the Western Mail and asked him to please, in the future, name [...]
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:10 am
[...] for his most witty comment that was reprinted by them. It’s about the post that deals with …A Bit of Tom Jones?. I did write to the journalist at the Western Mail and asked him to please, in the future, name [...]
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:55 am
Utter crap….saw a sneak preview last night and to be honest it is just a bunch of sick Welsh idiots trying to get publicity for a crap film. Sad that people will go to watch this thinking its about Tom , when in all truth it should be banned. Sadly my voice alone can’t be heard. However if you think that enough is enough and and they shouldn’t be allowed to use Sir Tom’s name then tell people.Even found the film using the name Tom Jones c**k….how low will people go for publicity……stay away from this disgusting rubbish. You have been warned
November 7th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Not sure what film steve saw . watched the film last night in Cardiff `premier’ and laughed my arse off. It was rated as suitable for 15 year olds so nothing to offensive,just a really funny film. Anyone who judges this as disgusting [is wrong]…Steve….I can picture Tom grinning from ear to ear after this…quite flattering as well. Watch, then judge…great funny film ,well-done to those involved
November 13th, 2009 at 7:36 am
The producer of this garbage got one thing spot on – he called himself “loser”
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 am
Out of curiosity angharad have you actually seen the film.Im guessing your from wales judging by your name
November 24th, 2009 at 8:07 am
[...] Bit of Tom Jones! cleaning up at the box office in Wales. TJI took criticism for an October 14 post about the film and, then, 10 days letter in the Welsh press. But, now, even The Voice’s voice — TJ.com — [...]