Bye Bye Birdie

This Broadway hit makes a successful transition to the big screen, with Van Dyke as the smalltown songwriter whose latest get-rich-quick scheme involves persuading a rock n'roll legend to perform one of his tunes on the Ed Sullivan Show - the catch being that the star has just been drafted and would be making his last public appearance prior to the army. Matters get very complicated as a whole load of peripheral characters become mixed up in his plotting, but it makes little difference to this feelgood romp whose numbers (including the most famous, Put On A Happy Face) are performed with gusto.