Wonderful Life

Wonderful Life

Year: 1964

Runtime: 113 mins

Language: English

Director: Sidney J. Furie

ComedyRomanceMusic

Cliff Richard returns, swinging, singing, living and dancing to a dozen lively tunes. He and The Shadows are hired to star in a film set amid the lush tropical scenery of the Canary Islands. The production is a sunny seaside spectacular brimming with romance, excitement, high spirits and a dozen musical numbers.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Wonderful Life (1964)

Trace every key event in Wonderful Life (1964) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Ferry job ends in disaster

They work as waiters on a traveling ferry, but a pyrotechnics accident cuts power and leaves them fired on the spot. Stranded on a tiny boat, they have only their instruments and hope to survive. Their perilous voyage ends when they finally reach the Canary Islands.

Atlantic Ocean
2

Drift ashore at the Canary Islands

The passengers drift at sea until they reach the Canary Islands and step ashore with no clear plan. They must figure out their next move in a strange new landscape.

Canary Islands
3

Desert landing and a misled mirage

They land in a sand dune, miserable and confused. A mirage of a ferry distracts them briefly, but they decide to continue toward their original destination.

Sand dunes
4

Camel rescue disrupts a film shoot

Jonnie spots a figure on an out-of-control camel and rushes to help. He discovers he has disrupted an on-location film shoot, revealing the real-world movie crew on the sands.

Desert film set
5

Lloyd offers a stunt job and runners

Director Lloyd Davis offers him a job as a stunt double and gives the rest of the group work as runners. This marks their first entry into the filmmaking world.

Film set (desert location)
6

Jenny's self-doubt and Jonnie's advice

That evening, Jonnie notices Jenny, a blonde actress, reading from a script and doubting her chances as a lead. He tells her to ignore the cameras and pretend she isn't acting, but the advice doesn't help. Lloyd regrets hiring her.

evening Film set dining area
7

Band turns the production into a musical

The band decides to cheer up the production by turning the movie into a musical, disguising their spare camera behind objects. They stage a musical number with Jenny singing along to music secretly played by Jonnie's band hiding behind a wall. They are caught by Lloyd, who threatens to fire them, but Jonnie persuades him to let it continue.

Film set
8

Secret filming plan takes shape

Lloyd flatly tells them they can continue only without his equipment. The group plans to film when the actual crew isn't around and borrows a camera to sneak the finale. They discuss the plan in a restaurant, unaware that Lloyd and Jenny are at an adjacent table.

Restaurant
9

Lloyd's warning to Jenny

Lloyd vows to stop their plan and orders Jenny not to go on set the next day. He is determined to protect his project and his daughter from disruption.

next day Restaurant
10

Jenny agrees to help at the pool

Jonnie finds Jenny at the nearest swimming pool and begs her to help them. She agrees, but snaps that she never wants to see him again.

Swimming pool
11

A new united creation takes shape

When filming is over, Lloyd is disappointed that his final cut isn't up to standard and Jonnie isn't happy about the musical approach either. They decide to join forces and rewrite the tale as a story about two brothers and a princess.

On set / production location
12

Premiere and marriage proposal

The new version premieres to a positive reaction from the audience. Lloyd expresses his gratitude to Jonnie during the applause and reveals that Jenny wants to marry him.

Movie premiere

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:37

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Wonderful Life Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Wonderful Life, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Wonderful Life Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Wonderful Life

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Wonderful Life

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