IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)

The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 2 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   743 votes
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 16% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Contact:
View company contact information for The Decline of Western Civilization on IMDbPro.
Plot:
The Los Angeles punk music scene circa 1980 is the focus of this film. With Alice Bag Band, Black Flag... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
Punk Rock Life from the inside more (27 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Alice Bag Band ... Themselves
Alice Bag ... Lead Singer, The Alice Bag Band
Claude Bessey ... Catholic Discipline / Vocalist
Black Flag ... Themselves
Don Bolles ... Drummer, The Germs

Exene Cervenka ... 'X' - vocals
Circle Jerks ... Themselves
Philo Cramer ... Fear Guitar
Darby Crash ... Lead Singer, The Germs
John Doe ... 'X' - vocals, bassist
Lorna Doom ... Bassist, The Germs
Fear ... Themselves
Frank Gargani ... Appears as Himself
Bill Gazzarri ... Himself
The Germs ... Themselves
Michelle Baer Ghaffari ... Herself
Greg Ginn ... Black Flag / Guitarist
Greg Hetson ... Himself / Circle Jerks Guitarist
Craig Lee ... Guitarist, The Alice Bag Band
Lucky Lehrer ... Himself
Jenny Lens
Keith Morris ... The Circle Jerks member
Nicole Panter ... Nicole - Germs Manager
Phranc ... Catholic Discipline / Guitarist
Ron Reyes ... Black Flag / Vocalist
Roger Rogerson ... Himself
Rick Schmidlin ... Appears as himself
Derf Scratch ... Bass player for Fear
Pat Smear ... Guitarist, The Germs
Lee Ving ... 'Fear' vocals / guitar
X. ... Themselves
Billy Zoom ... Himself
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
100 min
Country:
Language:
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
According to director Penelope Spheeris this film was financed by two businessmen who originally wanted to finance a porn film. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Beef Balogna more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful.
Punk Rock Life from the inside, 9 November 1999
Author: batzi8m1 from Watsonville, California

Before she made Wayne's World, Ms Spheeris documented the LA Punk scene with the kind of dead pan perspective that makes this the all time classic commercial punk rock documentary. Of course Target Video's concert footage of the Dead Kennedys or the Mutants live at a home for the insane are much better, but unless you live near Leather Tongue Video in San Francisco, you probably won't find those, so this one will have to do.

Best Irony: Members of a famous X-Punk band tattooing each other on a dirty couch while apparently under the influence of some processed opiate are talking about how pot makes hippies so pathetically passive that someone would come in and kick the shit out of them and all they'd say is "Bummer maaan." And then going on to a completely deadpan unemotional account of finding a dead guy in the back yard.

Definitely the best insight into the whole era. Sure The Great Rock and Roll Swindle is fun, but this one shows the whole scene unflinchingly from a neutral angle. The camera is on and everyone becomes an actor on their own stage.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (27 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Bouncer: Dutch Michaels marc-457
Poor representation of the LA punk scene? zazzy-zulu
anyone here from or around houston tx? bunny_hutch
Oswald Spengler? patrick5246
Ideal Punk Band? Farts182
VHS / DVD re-release ? usatan
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
D.O.A. Hated Neverland: The Rise and Fall of the Symbionese Liberation Army American Hardcore X: The Unheard Music
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Documentary section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.