Absolute Beginners (1986)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Julien Temple

Writers:

Richard Burridge (writer)
Michael Hamlyn (developer)

Release Date:

18 April 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The music, the movement, the romance, the passion . . . all explodes on the BIG SCREEN.

Plot:

A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes' novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer...

Plot Keywords:

Model | Fashion | Photographer | 1950s | Pay Phone

Cast

Patsy Kensit	...	Suzette
Eddie O'Connell	...	Colin, Photographer / Narrator
David Bowie	...	Vendice Partners
James Fox	...	Henley of Mayfair, Dressmaker to the Queen
Ray Davies	...	Arthur, Colin's Dad
Mandy Rice-Davies	...	Flora
Eve Ferret	...	Big Jill
Tony Hippolyte	...	Mr. Cool
Graham Fletcher-Cook	...	Wizard
Joe McKenna	...	Fabulous Hoplite
Steven Berkoff	...	The Fanatic
Sade	...	Athene Duncannon (as Sade Adu)
Edward Tudor-Pole	...	Ed the Ted (as Tenpole Tudor)
Bruce Payne	...	Flikker
Alan Freeman	...	Call-Me-Cobber

Also Known As:

Absolute Beginners - The Musical (International: English title) (poster title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #27931) | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | Finland:K-14 | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Albert Bridge, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company:

Goldcrest Films International

Trivia:

The production, in common with the rest of the British film industry at the time, had severe financial problems. Shooting stopped for several weeks due to lack of funds.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When Harry Charms is auditioning young singers with Colin, there is a boom mic visible when Harry and Colin first enter the studio.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Colin: [narrating] I remember that hot, wonderful summer. When the teenage miracle reached full bloom and everyone in England stopped what they were doing to stare at what had happened. The Soho nights were cool in the heat, with light and music in the streets. And we couldn't believe that this was really coming to us at last...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Player (1992)

Soundtrack:

Volare

Exactly as you'd want 50's London to be...

Hip photographer, Colin, searches 50's London for latest teen sensations, and finds exploitation, sex, music, disillusionment, loose-morals, fashion and Teds. Great performances from David Bowie as a mid-Atlantic entrepreneur Vendice Partners, Patsy Kensit as the irrepressible Suzette, Lionel Blair, James Fox, an evil Steven Berkoff, soulful Sade, and koolest of Kool Tony Hippolyte. A fantastic Anita Morris, and a near-Oscar-winning Eddie O'Connell leads as Colin. Cameos by Tenpole Tudor, Alan Freeman, Eric Sykes, Robbie Coltrane, Ray Davies and Mandy Rice Davies keep your eyes guessing. The film descends into early racist confrontations with scary results. A must-see-film for contemporary musical lovers! Music from David Bowie (of course), Sade, Style Council, Ray Davies and Eighth Wonder, with Slim Gaillard's brilliant "Selling Out". Watch the movie... See what I mean!