Tom Jones International

Filmmakers await Tom Jones’ verdict

Dec 13 2009 by Claire Rees, Wales On Sunday

THE MAKERS of surprise Welsh hit film A Bit of Tom Jones say they are anxiously waiting for The Voice’s seal of approval after a copy was flown specially to the star’s US home.

Tom Jones himself is now thought to have seen the low-budget comedy – centred around two friends’ bizarre attempt to sell the legendary singer’s severed manhood – and those behind the bawdy farce are just hoping he likes it.

The film, which was set in Tredegar and cost just £100,000, stars Merthyr actor Jonathan Owen, Gavin and Stacey’s Margaret John, who plays Doris in the sitcom, and Torchwood actress Eve Myles, and while it bemused many critics it’s still proving a huge draw at Wales’ multiplexes.

This week the all-Welsh production previewed on Jonathan Ross’ Film 2009, as Vue opened it in two more cinemas as part of an extended cinema release in Wales, and it’s even been mentioned in the House of Commons.

And it’s now secured a huge premiere in London’s Leicester Square at the end of January.

On the official website of 69-year-old Tom, who it was this week confirmed would join in the New Year’s Eve celebrations on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny on BBC Two, there is a message sending congratulations to the filmmakers and applauding their “creativity, pluck and determination”.

Adding that the crooner was at the time yet to see the film, it said it was “providing hope for independent film-makers with no money.”

Mars Attacks! opened 13 years ago today, Friday, December 13, 1996. I saw it because I was a Tim Burton fan. I had not seen Tom in more than a decade, as real life and pressing issues didn’t allow for the luxury of being a fan. So, I was very pleasantly surprised to see him in the film which, I must confess, I really enjoyed. Because I enjoyed it so much — even bought the DVD — I will commemorate this event each year. And that was one instance when Friday the 13th turned out to be lucky for all involved. So, here are some items to mark that important day in Tom’s career:

The New York Times review mentioned Tom: “Tom Jones as a guy who can sing It’s Not Unusual with backup singers from any planet. (When these actors and several others flee the Martians together, Mr. Jones has a chivalrous hand on a good-looking actress in just about every shot.”

And, here’s one of many articles from the time:

THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT OL’ TOM JONES 60’s SINGER IS SURPRISE STAR OF MARS ATTACKS!

By KEVIN O’SULLIVAN/New York Daily News/Sunday, December 8th 1996, 2:01AM

After three decades as a global superstar, it’s hard to believe that Tom Jones is chalking up a first his big-screen debut!

The Welsh wizard with the whopping voice took a break from his singing duties to try his hand at acting. in the new comedy Mars Attacks!

For the rest of this article (which contains mostly stuff any fan does know) and to see the trailer for Mars Attacks!, click here to

The sci-fi spoof boasts a stellar cast, including Jack Nicholson (as the President), Pierce Brosnan, Annette Bening, Michael J. Fox, Glenn Close and Danny DeVito.

But all Tom had to do was … act naturally.

As the Martians launch their strike on Earth in Las Vegas, Tom, playing himself, is less than amused when they start zapping his band during a sellout show. On behalf of the threatened human race, the courageous crooner grabs a gun and fights back.

So on the eve of the movie’s release next Friday, here are things you never knew about Tinseltown’s best-known rookie:

• Tom’s introduction to movie making was not all smooth sailing, especially when the invading aliens in Mars Attacks! set off explosions all around him.

“They used real explosives for filming,” he says “One bang was more powerful than expected and my hair caught fire. But no one seemed to worry. That’s the movies you just get on with it.”

• It was at a 1968 show at New York’s Copacabana that the tradition of female fans throwing their panties at him began. Jones recalls: “I was perspiring a lot, and the ladies were handing me table napkins.

“Then one woman took her underwear off and handed it to me. I just sort of wiped my brow and handed them back. But a columnist was there, he put it in the paper, and that was that it’s been happening ever since!”

• Tom is a classic rags-to-riches story. Now a multimillionaire, he was born the son of a dirt-poor Welsh coal miner.

• His real name is Thomas John Woodward. He chose the snappier surname Jones, because it’s the most common one in Wales and he is proud of his roots.

• Young Tom was unable to follow his dad into the mines because of a two-year bout of tuberculosis in his early teens. He became a construction worker, supplementing his meager income by singing in local pubs, clubs and dance halls.

• Songwriter Gordon Mills originally wrote Tom’s biggest hit, It’s Not Unusual, for the barefoot ’60s singer Sandie Shaw. But Jones took it for his debut single.

• Jones propelled It’s Not Unusualto the top of the British record charts despite an attempt by the strait laced British Broadcasting Co. to get it banned because it was considered too steamy.

• More than 30 years later, Tom has sold a staggering 100 million copies of the record.

• His years as a male sex symbol have made Tom wary about crazed fans. He admits: “I carry a .38 pistol wherever I can.

• Tom was horrified to learn that cult killer Charles Manson had put him on his hit list. Mad Manson plotted to lure Jones into a honey trap. Tom reveals: “A girl from his gang was supposed to somehow get close to me and then kill me.”

• Through their years as stalwarts of the Vegas show scene, Tom and Elvis Presley became the best of friends. Jones says: ” We would sing and jam together … we had a lot in common.”

• But Presley’s increasing addiction to drugs put a strain on the duo’s friendship.”Elvis got mixed up with the drug situation, which I never did. But he never said anything about it, and we never talked about it,” recalls Jones.

• Even a heartthrob has to take precautions in this day and age. Eight years ago, as the AIDS scare swept the world, Tom announced he was giving up his lifelong practice of kissing female admirers during his steamy stage shows.

And, finally, here’s the trailer for Mars Attacks featuring — YES! — Tom Jones.

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.