Take Me High
Take Me High is a 1973 British musical comedy-drama directed by David Askey and starring Cliff Richard in his last film role, with Deborah Watling, Hugh Griffith, George Cole and Anthony Andrews. Written by Christopher Penfold and produced by Kenneth Harper, the story follows Tim, a merchant banker who is sent to Birmingham instead of New York. In the city, he gets involved with a local restaurant, falls for Sarah, and helps broker peace between a wealthy businessman and a left-wing politician. Tim and Sarah then open a burger bar selling “Brumburgers.”
The film, initially announced as Hot Property in May 1973, was shot in Birmingham in June 1973 and features several city landmarks. Cliff Richard described it as a happy film with a light message. The soundtrack was released in December 1973; the title track “Take Me High” reached No. 27 on the UK charts, and the soundtrack album peaked at No. 41. The movie runs 90 minutes and had a budget of about £400,000. It was released on VHS in 1988 and on DVD in 2019 (with a free Daily Mail DVD in 2010).
Critical response was mixed. Some praised Richard’s warmth and noted the film’s historical value for 1970s Birmingham, while others found it slow, odd, or not very funny. Modern observers describe it as a quirky, unusual project—a love letter to Birmingham and to hamburgers—that didn’t quite fit Cliff Richard’s usual screen image.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:41 (CET).