Hung Up on a Dream, directed by Robert Schwartzman, offers a heartwarming and insightful look into the enduring career and remarkable friendship of the iconic British rock band, The Zombies.
Rather than the usual tale of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, this is a story of friendship and resilience. At the film’s core is the genuine bond between the band members — Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent, Hugh Grundy, and Chris White — who have remained friends for over 60 years despite the trials and tribulations of the music industry. This focus on their camaraderie sets the film apart from many other rock documentaries that often highlight conflict and drama.
Through Schwartzman’s use of never-before-seen photographs, film clips, and candid interviews with the surviving band members, a chronological narrative unfolds, telling how the band was formed and what it took for them to have their first major hit with ‘She's Not There.’ Despite being at the vanguard of the British Invasion in America, the band didn't achieve the same level of success as some of their peers. The film addresses this, touching on issues such as poor management and financial exploitation that hindered their progress.
In 1967, frustrated by their lack of success, The Zombies signed a recording contract with CBS Records and began working on Odessey and Oracle at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios. The film, rightly, spends significant time exploring its writing and recording. Two singles were released from the album, but both initially failed to gain traction, leading to the band’s breakup in December of that year.
Unbeknownst to them, a prominent American record producer had taken a copy of Odessey and Oracle back to the U.S. after a trip to London. His company eventually released ‘Time of the Season’ as a single, and after a slow start, it climbed to No. 3 on the American charts. At the time, Blunstone was working in an insurance office.
The film also explores the band members’ post-Zombies solo careers, both within and outside the music industry, their reunion for the 40th anniversary of Odessey and Oracle, and the culmination of their journey with their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Hung Up on a Dream is a tender, evocative tribute to a band whose legacy was built not on fleeting fame, but on lasting artistry. It offers a heartfelt portrait of survival, artistic integrity, and the quiet power of music to outlive its creators.
This was a one night only showing across selected UK cinemas.
Reviewer – Adrian Cork
On – 24.06.2025
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