A review by Brooks Rich
Let's talk about the rock and roll film, particularly the rock and roll films of the '80s. Most people probably think of the films starring the Beatles and Elvis when I mention rock and roll films, but I want to look at the films inspired by the punk movement of the late '70s and early '80s. Films like Streets of Fire and Repo Man. These films were all about teenagers and young adults using music to escape the real world and rebel against the establishment. Usually it was dudes in bands when it came to these films. but not so with today's film, the sadly, very, forgotten 1982 film…Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains.
I won't get too much into detail because I know 99% of you have never seen this film and I don't want to spoil too much. But let’s discuss some of the film’s themes going on and what it says about the music industry, and fame in general. Influenced not only by the American and British punk scenes, this soundtrack also features plenty of reggae and surf rock.
A youthful Diane Lane plays Corinne Burns, a young woman who dreams of being a musician. She and her sister Tracy, and their cousins Jessica, have a band called the Stains. They team up with two other bands, the burned-out metal band The Metal Corpses, and the up and coming British punk band The Looters who are on their first North American tour. They all board a tour bus, their final destination being California, and along the way the Stains grow their own following. But they also come to face to face with the ugliness of the music industry.
This film is listed as a comedy sometimes. That is an inherently false label on every level. It’s not funny. This is a sad look at the way people can get stuck in a rut while chasing their dreams. Even as Corinne and the Stains find success, we see the implosion of the other bands around them…how quickly fame comes and goes. The simple message being that the pursuit of fame can nearly destroy us before we achieve what we're after.
There's a lot going on in this film. It is so bleak at times. Know that going in. This isn't a fun rocking good time. Taking place in seedy nightclubs, there’s an overdose scene where a bass player dies in a ladies bathroom in a shithole bar. Director Lou Adler chooses to shoot the majority of the scene from inside the bathroom looking out, holding on the reaction of the characters.
There's so much I want to discuss but I don't want to spoil the amazing character moments. It's available to rent on Prime and iTunes. If this sounds like something you'd be into, please check it out. This is why we have Forgotten Film Friday, to bring attention to movies like this.
And chat me up if you want to talk about this little marvel. There’s a lot going on here.
Let's talk about the rock and roll film, particularly the rock and roll films of the '80s. Most people probably think of the films starring the Beatles and Elvis when I mention rock and roll films, but I want to look at the films inspired by the punk movement of the late '70s and early '80s. Films like Streets of Fire and Repo Man. These films were all about teenagers and young adults using music to escape the real world and rebel against the establishment. Usually it was dudes in bands when it came to these films. but not so with today's film, the sadly, very, forgotten 1982 film…Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains.
I won't get too much into detail because I know 99% of you have never seen this film and I don't want to spoil too much. But let’s discuss some of the film’s themes going on and what it says about the music industry, and fame in general. Influenced not only by the American and British punk scenes, this soundtrack also features plenty of reggae and surf rock.
A youthful Diane Lane plays Corinne Burns, a young woman who dreams of being a musician. She and her sister Tracy, and their cousins Jessica, have a band called the Stains. They team up with two other bands, the burned-out metal band The Metal Corpses, and the up and coming British punk band The Looters who are on their first North American tour. They all board a tour bus, their final destination being California, and along the way the Stains grow their own following. But they also come to face to face with the ugliness of the music industry.
This film is listed as a comedy sometimes. That is an inherently false label on every level. It’s not funny. This is a sad look at the way people can get stuck in a rut while chasing their dreams. Even as Corinne and the Stains find success, we see the implosion of the other bands around them…how quickly fame comes and goes. The simple message being that the pursuit of fame can nearly destroy us before we achieve what we're after.
There's a lot going on in this film. It is so bleak at times. Know that going in. This isn't a fun rocking good time. Taking place in seedy nightclubs, there’s an overdose scene where a bass player dies in a ladies bathroom in a shithole bar. Director Lou Adler chooses to shoot the majority of the scene from inside the bathroom looking out, holding on the reaction of the characters.
There's so much I want to discuss but I don't want to spoil the amazing character moments. It's available to rent on Prime and iTunes. If this sounds like something you'd be into, please check it out. This is why we have Forgotten Film Friday, to bring attention to movies like this.
And chat me up if you want to talk about this little marvel. There’s a lot going on here.
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