Edgar Wright’s New Film, “Last Night In Soho,” Was Inspired By Quentin Tarantino (And A 1960s Band)

Edgar Wright enjoys creating playlists, some for the general audience and others for his own enjoyment. He “started amassing this playlist called ‘Soho’ that included 300 songs from the ’60s” during the early phases of his then-untitled new film, which became Last Night in Soho. “I hadn’t given much thought to the title of the film,” the director told Total Film. He had intended for the title to be Red Light Area, but there is already a film with that name. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (with Edward G. Robinson as the “Mental Wizard”) is similar. Then he remembered something he’d said to Quentin Tarantino.

“In Death Proof, Quentin employs the song ‘Hold Tight,’ by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, and Tich. ‘Have you ever heard ‘Last Night in Soho?’ he said while I was telling him about that song and that band. He played it for me and said, “This is the best title music for a movie that has never been made”… It was staring me down because I’d heard this song and thought it was fantastic: Last Night in Soho,” Wright explained. He went on to say:

“I said, ‘Hey, did you hear what my movie’s called?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I read it.’ I said, ‘Are you annoyed with me?’ He goes, ‘You know what? Only you could make that movie.’ I said, ‘Well, I’m going to thank you on the end credits for giving me the song.’ He goes, ‘OK, but I’ve got to fess up now. What I said about it being the best end-credits song for a movie that doesn’t exist, is something that Allison Anders used to say. So if you credit me, you’ve also got to credit her.’ So on the thanks list, A to T, Allison Anders and Quentin Tarantino are the first and last people thanked.”

Wright tweeted that when he went out to Anders (Gas Food Lodging) to thank her for the inspiration, she was “thrilled” and “gave me a 7 inch of the song in question.” “Which is quite sweet of her. It’s displayed on my mantelpiece.” Allison and Quentin, thank you; Edgar, thank you; but most of all, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, and Tich, thank you.