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Absolute Beginners
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Absolute Beginners (1986) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
5.4/10   1,254 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 14% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Julien Temple
Writers:
Richard Burridge (writer)
Michael Hamlyn (developer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Absolute Beginners on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 April 1986 (USA) more
Tagline:
The music, the movement, the romance, the passion . . . all explodes on the BIG SCREEN. more
Plot:
A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes' novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
A great journey through London more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Absolute Beginners - The Musical (International: English title) (poster title)
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Runtime:
108 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White | Color (Rankcolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The last feature film of Irene Handl more
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. more
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...
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Player (1992) more
Soundtrack:
Volare more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful:-
A great journey through London, 6 September 2003
7/10
Author: christophaskell from Premiere Video (Dallas, Tx)

A fun musical with a lot of energy and great acting, 'Absolute Beginners' will win a place in your heart. This is the sharpest I've seen Bowie in a film, and Patsy Kensit was beautiful as Suzette. A political piece as well as a time piece, Temple captured the feel of a Broadway or West End musical perfectly. A great turnaround for Temple, who really had me worried after directing 'Mantrap'. It is a musical, so liberties have to be allowed, but for fans of the musical this is a great one to check out. Rating: 27/40

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Absolute Beginners (1986)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Thank God Colin McInnes wasn't here to watch this imbicta
Ray Davies song cookie_boy2000
Ray Davies was great ! yeley
Suitable for kids? gumbyman91
Off-the-wall Question. ernestspratley_notes
Remake please but properly this time! KMitford
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