Documentary on musician and Elvis impersonator Michael Braithwaite aka Ritchie Venus, using early Super 8 movies of Ritchie Venus. Michael Braithwaite talks his life as accountant, musician and actor. Interviewee Michael Vaile talks about Richie Venus’ persona made up of film stars and film characters. Braithwaite tallks about his family connection to George III on his father’s side and to Rob Roy on his mother’s side, and ancestral connections.
Arnie van Bussel of Offset Records talks about Braithwaite’s character. Michael Vaile talks about his stage name Adam Bead in the 1960s. Braithwaite talks about the origins of his name Ritchie Venus. Michael Vaile talks about meeting Braithwaite as a musician. Braithwaite talks about trying to get a recording contract. Musician John Markie talks about filming Heartbreak Hotel off the TV onto Super 8. Braithwaite talks about being used and then dropped by television. Ronnie van Hout talks about the film he made about Braithwaite at Ilam in 1981 called ‘The Elvis Presley Movie’. Braithwaite talks about his experience during the filming. Van Hout talks about the influence of Andy Warhol.
Braithwaite shows his photograph of The Beatles at Christchurch airport. Photos of Ritchie with famous musicians, and van Hout talks about how he faked the signatures of some musicians if he didn’t meet them. Calorie count chart on wall, with Braithwaite explaining that he has to watch his weigh to be able to continue to fit his Elvis suit.
Michael Vaile talks about Ritchie Venus and The Blue Beetles. David Theobald aka Mick el Borrado talks about bands he played in with Braitwaite. Michael Vaile talks about the Ritchie Venus persona. Roy Montgomery talks about watching Ritchie Venus play at a venue The Solo Parent’s Club. Roy Montgomery talks about Braithwaite being befriended by Desmond Bryce. Patrick Faigan and Violet Faigan talk about the line up including drummer Norman Dufty.
Recording session of ‘You Can’t Fight It’ Album 1989. Braithwaite talks about being hit on stage by a bottle. Troggs tour is talked about by David Theobald, when an audience member yelled ‘Boring’. Liz Wylie talks about the fact that the Blue Beetles were better than the Troggs. Footage of recording session of Forbidden Planet, 1984. Braithwaite talks about the recording. Musicians talk about the recording. Footage of recording session of ‘You Can’t Fight It’. album 1989.
Subtitle ‘Films’. Footage of film ‘Candy’ 1987. John Chrisstoffels talks about making video of Candy and how Braithwaite is taken out by Police marksmen, and the fact that it features often in Braithwaite’s films. Braithwaite talks about the filming of the video. Footage of ‘You Don’t Own Me’, 1989. Chrisstofels talks about the 1960s studio look of the video. Braithwaite filming with his Super 8 camera. Footage from Braithwaite’s home movies. Braithwaite talks about making his home movies. Vaile talks about the pro-tour nature of the film. Braithwaite explains the politics of the film. Braitwaite talks about political studies at University, and being right-wing, and now seeing things in not so black and white terms nowadays. He describes himself now as an anarchist and believing people should sort out their own problems without government interference. Footage from film ‘Vigilante Fury’.
Lee Bradbury appears in film, a woman who keeps 20 cats. Braithwaite talks about his filmmaking. He sent some photos to Stanley Kubrick when Kubrick was looking for new faces for Full Metal Jacket. Photographs are shown. Braithwaite talks about film ‘Off on a Comet’, based on Jules Verne’s story. Braithwaite sings along with fellow musicians in Comet film. Chrisstoffels talks about Braithwaite casing his house for use in a film and Braithwaite as auteur. Braithwaite talks about his mid-life crisis reflected in the film.
Subtitles ‘Telethons’. Roy Montgomery talks about remembering Braithwaite who did the Elvis singing on Telethons. Braithwaite talks about participating in telethons. Footage from Telethon 1983. Musician talks about the fact that they were being conceived of taking the mickey out of the cause, and being thrown out of the bar. Footage of later Telethon. Next time he was on better behaviour. Footage of Telethon 1990.
Subtitle ‘Records’. Musician talks about getting support of Flying Nun in the early days. Roy Montgomery talks about his relationship with Braithwaite, and the different Ritchie Venus albums. Braithwaite shows his archives.
Subtitle ‘American’. Braithwaite talks about touring American in 1988 with Little Stevie McCabe. Stevie McCabe talks about tour. Braithwaite talks about using switchblades on guitar. Braithwaite talks about his relationship with Lisa he met on the tour. Their son Anthony appears in Braithwaite’s films which he sends to Lisa. Footage from ‘Return to Zybotrox’ 1998. Film uses Science Alive exhibition technology. Vaile talks about the fact that Braithwaite is not going to be a pop star, but will be a mature cult figure, and the fact that he has thought about faking his death. McCabe talks about Ritchie’s songs being like a kid trapped in a man’s body, and the rebel blood running in his veins. Footage from ‘Rocking to the Grave’, 1998.