Quadrophenia (2 Disc Special Edition) [1979]

See Larger Image	List Price: £17.99 Our Price: £7.97 Availability: Usually dispatched within 6 to 10 days Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK Starring: Phil Daniels, Mark Wingett, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Michael Elphick Directed By: Franc Roddam Average Customer Rating:


Audience Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over Binding: DVD EAN: 5050582434170 Format: Box set Label: Universal Pictures UK Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK Number Of Items: 2 Publisher: Universal Pictures UK Region Code: 2 Release Date: 2006-08-07 Running Time: 115 Studio: Universal Pictures UK Theatrical Release Date: 1979
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Editorial Reviews: Franc Roddam's terrifically energetic movie, set to music from the Who's Quadrophenia, is--at the very least, the best film ever based on a rock album (and, yes, that includes, Tommy, Pink Floyd: The Wall, and Jesus Christ Superstar). Actually, this tale of the battle between two early '60s youth subcultures--Mods and Rockers--in the seaside teenage wasteland of Brighton, England, isn't so much a cinematic "version" of the Who's 1979 double-record rock opera as it is a story based on the sequence of songs on the album. Quadrophenia is about that crucial time in teenhood when the lion's share of your sense of identity is tied up in the music you listen to, the clothes you wear, and the groups you hang out with. Jimmy (Phil Daniels) identifies himself with the sharp-dressing, scooter-riding Mods, who listen to American soul and British pop-rock (The Who themselves were once rather Mod). The Rockers, on the other hand, are leather-jacketed, black-booted, motorcycle-riding tough guys who listen primarily to classic American rock & roll. The film captures this minor pop-culture revolution perfectly. Look for Sting as a club-hopping slickster, who's shameful secret is that he's a hotel bellboy by day. --Jim Emerson
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Special Edition Comment: An old mod named Ben Dinsdale gave me this classic album in 1996 before we attended the Hyde Park concert in July of that year -- The Who play Quadrophenia for the Princes Trust Charity. This album has since become my favourite. It is the best Who album. It is perfect. Steph: "Going to be one of the faces?" Jimmy: "What do you mean going to be? I AM one of the faces!" After a shag in an alleyway during a riot: Steph : "It didnt mean anything Jimmy." Jimmy : "It fu%%ing did to me" he screams as the heart is ripped from his chest and stomped on by Lesley Ash-- Troutmouth. At the time of the release of their second double album rock opera Quadrophenia at the end of 1975, The `Beatles' had long since gone and never played any real live concerts as we know them today. 'The Rolling Stones' had just lost their second lead guitarist in Mick Taylor, and were being led down a very disco-orientated channel by the camp Mick Jagger. Only Keith Richards could really claim to be a true rocking Stone. 'Led Zeppelin' was still around of course, but they were almost on another plain. So we can safely say that in the early seventies `The Who' was one of the biggest rock 'n' roll bands around. Already with many landmark albums behind them, Tommy (1969), Live at Leeds (1970), and the sublime Who's Next (1972), not to mention a mass of hit singles and historic appearances at such events as Monterey Pop Festival 1967 (see Youtube), Woodstock, and the Isle of Wight in both 1969 and 1970, were backed up by saturation touring to bigger and bigger audiences all over the world. Of course, like all of the rock greats, 'The Who' was not only known for their recording and spectacular stage shows, but stories of their on the road excesses are now part of rock 'n' roll mythology -- a famous story of Moon the Loon dressed up as Rommel and biting Steve McQueen's dog when they were neighbours in L.A. is my favourite Loon story. Anyhoo, the release of Quadrophenia was the major rock release and it went straight into the charts at number two in the U K and the U S A remaining in the top thirty for over six months, a phenomenon almost unheard of for a double album in those far off days. Quadrophenia found 'The Who' at the peak of their collective powers. Peter Townshend wrote all the songs, and never before had he put together such a continuous package of solid arrangements with such strong emotions bursting through in every song. The story follows the early years of a young man, Jimmy, growing from adolescence to nearly killing himself due to his fall into the depths of depravity in the whirlwind world of the Mods and Rockers on the south coast of England in the early sixties; a gripping tale of youth culture from those heady days. Peter Townshend's guitar playing here also finally raised him onto the same level as his peers like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Roger Daltrey is the person who puts his throat on the line to give the feeling to Townshend's words. Roger Daltrey was at the peak of his powers when he sings the final stanza's of 'Love Reigns O'er me' and brings the album to its shattering climax. One wonders if he still had a larynx left. For the one time in the Who's career all the songs on one album were written by their principal songwriter, not leaving room for any of John Entwistle's often entertaining songs. John Entwistle shows more than ever here how essential he was to the Who with his fluid bass lines giving the songs real substance. John Entwistle's way of playing the bass was not only to nail down the theme of the songs, but also as a lead instrument. On Quadrophenia, more than any other Who album, the bass is pushed right to the front of the mix, quite deservedly so. John's fine French horn playing also adds a haunting air to some of the songs. Then driving the band ever forward was everybody's favorite rascal Keith Moon, not only is his drumming superb and distinctive (only Keith Moon could drum like Keith Moon), but his vocal contribution to 'Bellboy' always brings a smile to your face. The fine piano playing of Chris Stainton should also be given a mention as it compliments the other players perfectly. Perhaps the Who should of added a keyboard playing then, instead of waiting till poor old Keith had shuffled off this mortal coil. It would have helped the band immensely trying to play these songs on stage instead of messing about with pre-recorded backing tapes. The album open ups with the sound of the sea washing up on the beaches and snatches of refrains from the main themes of what is to come. The band comes crashing in with the rocker 'The Real me' and from then on you are taken on the roller coaster ride of a young impressionable wannabe Mod with plenty of highs as well as deeply disturbing lows. One of the highs is of Jimmy actually going to see his favorite band 'The Who' in concert. As Jimmy tries to emulate his heroes, his life spirals more and more out of control. With this the band's playing becomes more and more frenzied, climaxing in the nine minutes of 'Doctor Jimmy', where, if you listen carefully, you can hear Roger Daltrey's microphone being spun round the heads of all in the studio on its lead wire, and Townshend windmills his arm around his axe, building to the next frantic chorus. You can imagine the whole studio being destroyed at the song's climax. `Doctor Jimmy', played in all it's glory on stage at Charlton Football ground in 1974 in front of 95-thousand people, was the highlight of the Who's set. The album closes out with the triumphant instrumental `The Rock', just before 'Love Reigns O'er me' brings the proceedings to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. Quadrophenia is a great rock band at the top of its game. Logically, later it turned into a movie with Phil Daniels playing Jimmy and Sting the Bellboy, which was excellent. Steph: "Going to be one of the faces?" Jimmy: "What do you mean going to be? I AM one of the faces!" After a shag in an alleyway during a riot: Steph : "It didnt mean anything Jimmy." Jimmy : "It fu%%ing did to me" he screams as the heart is ripped from his chest. Dr GOnzo Clarke. Quadrophenia the album : 10/10. Customer Rating: Summary: it's a mod mod world, but is it really? Comment: When i was younger i thought Quadrophenia was a good film, the acting is fine and the scooters are a joy to see. However, i have a problem with the whole 'this is what MOD is all about' idea that this film gives. In the 1960's it's true, 'Mods' were fighting Rockers on seaside beaches, but as any real Mod knows, these wern't 'Real' mods. Real mods wouldn't have wanted to get their clothes dirty!! Honestly. Real mods stopped calling themselves Mods, when it became more a fashion... A real mod cared about their appearence, music, scooters, and dancing... The idots who were beach fighting, were about as much Mod, as a dead hamster! But the trouble is, now this film makes people think that 'fighting with Rockers' was what being a Mod is all about and sadly it's WRONG WRONG WRONG! I wish the film made it clear that like all fashions, Mod started off as an underground movement, with only a handful of people involved (like Punk did in the 70's), and as it grew, it picked up fashion followers, who completely mis-understood the original idea (like Punk again). That is my problem with this film, that and the fact that the music by The Who is bloody awful! It would have been far better to have more real 1960's music, as songs like 'Bellboy' and 'The Real Me' are nothing short of bloody terrible! There's also that bit at the end when he's riding towards the edge of the cliff, where the flyscreen on the Vespa, is there one minute, and dissapears the next, then it's back agin...!!! Someone obviously made a mistake there! It's a poor film, but i just hate the idea of people thinking they know what a Mod is, because they've watched this film, when the truth is they haven't got a clue. Paul Weller (a Mod) also thinks this film sucks.And i'm not sure about his solo music, but i know he's right about that! Customer Rating: Summary: Quadrophenia......IS the way of life. Comment: This is a film that has stayed with me throughout my life. It was a film I grew up with and has always been a film close to my heart. Quadrophenia is the story of Jimmy, a mod who rides fast on his lambretta and lives faster fuelled by drugs, drink and a huge ego. Back in the 1970's Quadrophenia was a mere idea of musical rebeliance on vinyl. Later with Franc Roddam (who later directed "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet") they brought flesh and blood to a now legendary rock opera to the big screen. With key british talent playing the youth of tomorrow, Quadrophenia the movie was born. No-one at the time knew what cult classic it would become later in life but it has and will forever be. Quadrophenia is a movie where you can relate to the characters and you feel you are right with them through all the loud parties and the runs on the scooters right up to the fights and the arguements. Jimmy is after being the "face" the leader of the mods and as we journey through this film we can see that his wish may be the nightmare that he doesn't want. Filled with anger and hate, Jimmy's world slowly begins to crumble, he stands to lose everything that he holds dear to his heart. His world of delusions is dragging him kicking and screaming back to the real world. Phil Daniels gives a heartwarming performance as Jimmy that makes you believe exactly what the character is going through and makes you eventually sympathize with Jimmy. Ray Winstone is great and sometimes funny as his mate Kevin who has a new surprise for Jimmy. It's good to see Two of the cream of London Cockney's working together in a film that boasts the old trate of MADE IN BRITAIN. The first time that they worked together was as rivals in the brutally realistic movie SCUM. I'd love to see another movie with these two sparring off against each other. Toyah "it's a mystery" Wilcox does a star turn in this as the girl who wants to get off with Jimmy, Dave Wingett makes you laugh as Dave, Jimmy's best mate, Phillip Davis provides some laughs as Chalky (check out the scene in the chemist) Leslie Ash does well in the role as Steph, the girl who Jimmy wants, and Sting as the face of the mods who Jimmy tries to outstage in Brighton. Backed by The Who's rocktastic soundtrack, Quadrophenia is a movie about what it's like to think you're somebody when you aint and then get brought back to reality with a thud. The spectacular ending to this is the cream on top of this cult classic soffle with the song that perfectly compliments the final scene sung with gusto by Roger Daltrey "I'VE HAD ENOUGH" which clearly words exactly what is going through Jimmy's mind at that particular point of the film. My advice is see it now if you haven't seen it before someone spoils the ending for you. Can you see the real me.......can ya?.........CAN YA?!!! Customer Rating: Summary: Great Film Comment: Despite being digitally remastered, the picture isn't great and is in fact very grainy in places. You can't complain at this price but if you already have a copy of the film then there's nothing extra here to make it worthwhile buying another copy. Customer Rating: Summary: A WAY OF LIFE Comment: Franc Roddam, the director of Quadrophenia, did not disappoint me with his interpretation of The Who's rock opera (unlike Tommy, which had it's moments but didn't was all over the map so to speak). He lets a viewer, who may not be entirely familiar to what occurred between the mods and the rockers in the early to mid 1960's Britain, in on what the energy, the attitudes were like among the young and old. It's not even classifiable as a rock opera as a film, because it becomes a hybrid- it's part motorcycle flick, with some well staged, intense fight scenes, rumbles, riots, etc; it's part anti-establishmentarianist take on what it's like to be at an age when you don't know what to do you with your life, and outside of the pleasures of being with friends and kicking' ass you tend to be aimless or work for people you don't like. It's also, major in fact, a psychological character study of one of these anti-establishment kids, a mod named Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who may be a little off balance in the head due to a fueling desire to be both with the excitement of his gang and with his need to find himself by himself, as well as to the "blues" pills. There isn't as much of a story as there is character development, which sticks true to the source material, written by the clever and driving force of The Who, Pete Townsend. As Jimmy goes through parties, fights, a little love with a girl (Steph, played well by Leslie Ash), a riot, and problems with his parents and job, he enters a downward spiral. This is a tricky sort of story and character to pull off, because lay it on too thick and the audience could see the character as naive (and perhaps the character is, which makes sense in a sense), but add on the toughness and one-dimensional side of the biker attitude and it becomes a B-movie motorcycle flick. This doesn't happen. Somehow the elements come together in the film, with the performances (by the way, Sting's debut performance is both mysterious and, ultimately, kinda funny), the documentary-style direction and editing (by Brian "Trainspotting" Tefano), and the music. The Who themselves serve as musical directors, and it's highly interesting for both Who and non-Who fans in how they choose only parts of songs sometimes (Punk and the Godfather, Dr. Jimmy) and leave some out completely (Sea and Sand, Drowned, two songs I hoped would've made the final cut). By the time the third act reaches it's heated peak, the music starts to perfectly embody what the character's going through. It also doesn't come off as cheesy due to the power of the songs. Besides it contains some of the Who's most daring, somber, and fun work (5:15, Bell Boy, I'm One), its themes are very knowing of what it's like for any guy at that point of crossing the bend from childhood to adulthood. Not to mention it rivaled Tommy in its ambition via the compositions, the entertainment value, etc. So I was almost hesitant to watch the film, as I thought I might have my expectations raised too high and it would be too loosely translated and made as not my kind of rock musical (i.e. like Tommy). For me, the experience was contradictory to what I thought- I ended up learning more about this atmosphere, the essence of living in Brighton by the beach and feeling the need for competition, acceptance, and then anger and loneliness. By the end of Quadrophenia I looked at Jimmy as being a character in the tradition of Humphrey Bogart in Treasure of the Sierra Madre- an anti-hero that may be doomed, but a viewer can still care about him. Overall, an un-expected treat, and will surely please both Who and non-Who fans alike, though for Who fans the added treat is that the the emotion and strength of the group and songs translate excellently in the film. A+ More Reviews