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Drewtg

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edited -

 

Stuart Cosgrove catches the soul train back to those legendary nights on the Wigan Casino dance floor

 

film connected  I guess

it has a odd setup for a mainstream newspaper site as you may have to click something to view the article

took me one click

 

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/stuart-cosgrove-catches-soul-train-4463942

Edited by mike
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I never knew a board duster could be thrown with such precision until one hit me at the back of the head. :facepalm:

It bloody hurts but you knew if you swore out loud on impact then you got thrashed with the cane adding wields across the rear to the lump on the head......

Perhaps the beatings where intended to be 'character building' and that's why the scene has so many characters.

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IF you want to see it again its on at the luxe cinema in wisbech this weekend  , not so far drive :)

 

Cheers Dave,l I like to think that I played some small part in that as I mailed the Luxe in September asking then ,no more like begging them to show it.

 

Unfiortunately this weekend is out but we're going to see it again on Wednesday night in Leicester.

 

Cheers

Shaun

 

 

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Guest lofthope

Quadrophenia is the best film about British youth culture ever made!  The only film I've seen more than Clockwork Orange and I've seen that 50 times..blimey how can anyone not like Quadrophenia, I thought it was a biopic about us at the time!

Quadrophenia paid very little attention to detail/authenticity. I watched Clockwork Orange and Quadrophenia on their first releases. I haven't seen Clockwork Orange since but thought it was OK at the time. I really struggled with Quadrophenia as so many of the outside locations were just shot with 1970s cars etc in the background. Many of the Mods used in the Brighton scenes were clearly 'revivalists' as they had 1970s versions of the clothing.....there were loads of niggley things like this that made it hard (for me) to enjoy at the time. I find it easier to watch now because of the passage of time and blurring of time references, but I've never really respected it.

The Greatest Film About British Youth Culture? Interesting question, I probably can't remember them all, but Northern Soul and Young Soul Rebels would be my choices. Young Soul Rebels is about the South's funk scene in 1976. It's good but has a fundamental timeline issue in that it focuses on Pirate Radio, which wasn't common in 1976, we really only had Invicta as I recall at that point. It squeezes a 1980s phenomenon in to a 1976 setting, but apart from that, it sort of gets things right in terms of what it was all about. It has a strong gay theme which possibly impeded its success, not necessarily through blatant homophobia, but just that it made it less nostalgically relevant to a lot of people.  Had a great theme tune by Mica Paris as I recall.

I never thought much of This is England, because it has such a modern take on the past, That'll be the Day, I can't remember too well TBH. There must be others, but....

....... my vote for best British Youth Culture movie goes to Northern soul.

 

PS there is a brilliant film called 'They Call It Acid but it is a documentary and I don't think it ever got released.

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PS there is a brilliant film called 'They Call It Acid but it is a documentary and I don't think it ever got released.

 

I've been trying to get "They Call It Acid" released for the last 3 years. It's excellent but it's the music clearances for the film which have caused the problem. Very frustrating for everyone but especially Gordon who made the film.

 

Ian D  :D

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I thought it were shite being in a cinema full of plastic soulies modettes and scooterists . film was good though lol

bro, you went there to watch the film, as you said, not the audience, people from all walks of life are going to view this, even more so with the dvd release tomorrow....

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I went today in a small cinema in ripon north Yorkshire with  my wife and I thought it was great it brought back great memories. we have been on the circuit for 35 years ,didn't see any one I new from allnighters etc. but they all had memories even if it was a few years 74 =75 or 80 = 81 not every one has spent there whole life on the scene..

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Guest lofthope

I find that strange that a film is ruined for you because people are wearing the wrong clothes and non-period car goes past in the background - never mind the fact that the film is just so brilliant at portraying a way of life for so many people - any wrong period clothes in Northern Soul?   I swear I never met anyone who complained about the cinema showing Heavan Can Wait until the internet came along..

Like you, I would also find it strange if it were ruined for someone by the odd thing like a out of period car, but it was much more than that. Let me try and put it in to context:

 

On Quadrophenia's first release I went/paid to see a nostalgic period film but, for example, seeing the cast riding a scooter down the Goldhawk Road in the (then) present day busy Shepherd's Bush meant it just didn't feel like a trip back to the 1960s to me. Imagine going to watch a film about the French Revolution and finding it set in modern day Paris with traffic roaring off the Peripherique and people on cell phones coming out of McDonalds, that's the sense of how it was disappointing for me (obviously I am exaggerating the analogy to stress the point).

 

No film set in the past is ever going to get it perfectly accurate of course, but in Quadrophenia it wasn't the odd thing, it was just too present day (at the time) too often. It wasn't the odd car, it was much more than that, I would have overlooked the odd faux pas here and there. If they had made it today and 1970s cars, trains, clothes etc appeared I probably wouldn't be too bothered, but watching a period film with a (then) modern day setting was unrealistic, unconvincing and, for me at the time, made it difficult to buy in to. 

 

I have watched Quadrophenia subsequently and enjoyed it more, as time blurs the lines of when these things were contemporary, it all looks old now, but I can't say it's a 'must see' for me I'm afraid. 

 

I hope that helps explain that the cumulative effect of the nature, level and quantity of the inaccuracies tipped the balance for me, not just the fact that there were inaccuracies.

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Well that was a surprise.........when did going to the cinemas become like that,small 50 seat screens,really comfortable chairs that just scream go to sleep & with loads of leg room.Even had a couple beers while watching the film.Shows you how long it's been since I went to the "pictures" :lol:

Enjoyed the film,thought the descent into the darker side & intensity of emotions are just as I remember it.Yes you could be a little picky but why as on the whole it got most things about right..........did I spy a hand full of rather strange shaped Filon or was that just wishful thinking :lol: 

Having read the book & thought it slightly over did the drugs I was expecting it to be over done in the film but thought it was about right?

The only slight problem I can see is for those who didn't go to Wigan,my wife didn't relate to some of the more subtle Wigan references that we all take for granted?Again I'm been picky.

So a big thumbs up this end :thumbsup:

Cheers

Martyn

   

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Not sure what I was expecting to see,I left the cinema on Friday night a little deflated,would've liked to have seen a little more focus on the music,dancing & the casino,as I never went(too young)but on reflection can see the film becoming a cult classic,great acting,extremely well shot,and as mentioned,great attention to detail,I'm sure I heard the word 'menk', how 70s is that!!

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bro, you went there to watch the film, as you said, not the audience, people from all walks of life are going to view this, even more so with the dvd release tomorrow....

just having a wind up to ruffle a few feathers, to be fair I enjoyed the film and could relate to it a lot think miss Constantine got it near enough spot on !
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Mark Kermode gave it the Film of the Week, high praise indeed from the best film critic out there IMO.

 

There is a podcast of the show Pete, Mayo and Kermode Film Review.

 

Kermode is someone I take seriously when it comes to film reviews. Knows 100 times more than most of the others.

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Quadrophenia was made only 15 years after the events portrayed in the film so for a 15-20 year old in 1979, some of us were barely out of nappies and short trousers. It'd be like going to see a film about Blair's "Cool Britannia" of Pulp, Oasis, Blur etc. People in their early 30's would be fine combing it and others, like the young 'mod' that came on here attacking  mid 70s retro dressers would have zero reference points, apart from the ecstasy addled recollections of their big brother/uncle about the seismic shifts in the fabric of British society that took place at the turn of the milennium, bla, bla, bla. 

Edited by macca
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Like you, I would also find it strange if it were ruined for someone by the odd thing like a out of period car, but it was much more than that. Let me try and put it in to context:

 

On Quadrophenia's first release I went/paid to see a nostalgic period film but, for example, seeing the cast riding a scooter down the Goldhawk Road in the (then) present day busy Shepherd's Bush meant it just didn't feel like a trip back to the 1960s to me. Imagine going to watch a film about the French Revolution and finding it set in modern day Paris with traffic roaring off the Peripherique and people on cell phones coming out of McDonalds, that's the sense of how it was disappointing for me (obviously I am exaggerating the analogy to stress the point).

 

No film set in the past is ever going to get it perfectly accurate of course, but in Quadrophenia it wasn't the odd thing, it was just too present day (at the time) too often. It wasn't the odd car, it was much more than that, I would have overlooked the odd faux pas here and there. If they had made it today and 1970s cars, trains, clothes etc appeared I probably wouldn't be too bothered, but watching a period film with a (then) modern day setting was unrealistic, unconvincing and, for me at the time, made it difficult to buy in to. 

 

I have watched Quadrophenia subsequently and enjoyed it more, as time blurs the lines of when these things were contemporary, it all looks old now, but I can't say it's a 'must see' for me I'm afraid. 

 

I hope that helps explain that the cumulative effect of the nature, level and quantity of the inaccuracies tipped the balance for me, not just the fact that there were inaccuracies.

 

I do understand.

But there were always going to be difficulties with the Who's music as well - recorded way after the period that the film was set in.

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way too young so wasn't at wigan and wasn't a mod in the 60s so cant compare with memories but I think weve all became cynical as we ve got older...to quote weller 'now life is too critical,life is too cynical..we lose our innocence we lose our very soul' ;-) as a 16 year old in 83 watching quad for the first time on video I/we noticed the many mistakes,mainly the late 60s and even 70s scooters in it and if memory serves me right the double lp reissue of a quick one at the party?..but we laughed about it..we didn't moan and it didn't ruin the film for us

 

the internet as pete has said makes it worse..there are now pages and ofcourse tv programmes dedicated to picking out some of the samllest of mistakes and im guessing in quad days they didn't have the money to shut down shepherds bush to film or even considered people picking through what was going on in the background?

 

i was involved in a big dance music scene in Bristol in the mid 90s for a couple of years and have to say human traffic set in Cardiff is bang on..and a brilliant film once again more of a feelgood thing

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Guest lofthope

Quadrophenia was made only 15 years after the events portrayed in the film so for a 15-20 year old in 1979, some of us were barely out of nappies and short trousers. It'd be like going to see a film about Blair's "Cool Britannia" of Pulp, Oasis, Blur etc. People in their early 30's would be fine combing it and others, like the young 'mod' that came on here attacking  mid 70s retro dressers would have zero reference points, apart from the ecstasy addled recollections of their big brother/uncle about the seismic shifts in the fabric of British society that took place at the turn of the milennium, bla, bla, bla. 

 

I agree. Sadly, I clearly had far too many reference points!

 

In contrast, the fact that the Who's music wasn't period didn't bother me. I was prepared for that because the album had been around a few years and I knew that the film/story was built around the album. It's all about one's expectations I suspect.

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saw the film last night ....enjoyed it overall

 

sorry but didn't feel the need to see people jacking up not just one occasion...

 

brilliant to see current niter goers (jordan , liam ,, Ben ,, Ethan etc ) on the film and especially Brent as the Wigan Casino bouncer!! (where was the no pushing at the back- lol)

 

someone mentioned where was the fun factor we had so much fun when we were there in 75...

 

im sure there was a tainted love scene but wasn't in the film..maybe just me

 

well done to all in the film ...will it bring loads of new blood on the scene im not sure but was a good film and im glad I seen it

 

atb

 

mark

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Absolutley loved the film. Got it about as right as is possible I.M.O. Was it me or did they have some kind of machine generating smells? Could swear I got whiffs of old chewing gum, stale tobacco + Brut.

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incoming......... best start me own learn to northern soul dance school then, it'll be fookin' packed.

Just a thought, and very much a personal opinion, but this one comment could take the whole thread away from film reviews, which I think would be unfair. Just thought I'd highlight it before it becomes ''clown and costume hunting season'' yet again?

 
Win :)
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incoming......... best start me own learn to northern soul dance school then, it'll be fookin' packed.

Given this is a thread on reviewing the film, I take this to read that you enjoyed it so much that you are seeking to establish and self fund a speculative business venture based on anticipated demand. Good review ;)

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Not sure what I was expecting to see,I left the cinema on Friday night a little deflated,would've liked to have seen a little more focus on the music,dancing & the casino,as I never went(too young)but on reflection can see the film becoming a cult classic,great acting,extremely well shot,and as mentioned,great attention to detail,I'm sure I heard the word 'menk', how 70s is that!!

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Went to see the film Showcase Leeds and thoroughly enjoyed it.

As 'yoof'  of the 60/70's can relate to some of the scenarios in the film. Parents despairing of you ever making something of your life, school problems, having a shitty, boring, mundane apprenticeship, queuing at the bus stop, in a boiler suit and donkey jacket getting soaking wet just longing for the weekend and music, dancing and other things :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup: . 

 

The locations shot well represented the mundane industrial north of the era, thought the drug part was a little to long, but during this time at most events you knew who and where to obtain some 'gear', and I had a quite chuckle to myself when the lads in the film identified an undercover DS cop trying to look 'cool', trying 'suss' out who was 'dealing'. This was a refection of what happened in the pub we used to attend before an event, an undercover DS guy, looking 'trendy' and dressing 'cool' ( or so he thought) would wonder around the place but EVERYONE would know who he was. 

 

The main lead characters were well portrayed and well acted and Elaine deserves plaudits for sticking to her guns and insisting on using unknown actors, as it was suggested that  Daniel Radcliffe be used as the main lead part of John :facepalm:

 

All in all  the film set to achieve what it was meant to viz. to tell the STORY of two lads in a mundane  industrial town in 70's who little hope of achieving anything in life, who find an escape in Northern Soul music but still cling on to a goal (unachievable?)

Edited by the Happy Hooker
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Hi All

        Finally got to see it last night at The Lighthouse in Wolves. As a low budget film 8 /10 . Lent a bit too much towards the drug side for me although it was obviously there, the music content was fine but Marvin Gaye's Love Starved Heart in1974?

                                                                     Cheers Alan C.

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What did i expect? More than what the film portraid. Yes drugs were part of the scene but more as a buzz to keep you going all weekend. Not as a druggy. There was nothing about the distances people travelled and the freindships that were created as in my case some have lasted for 40 years. Thevdsnce scenes I know some of the kids who trained for months and only got a few moments in the film surely more time and more tracks could have included. The storyline for me was limp did they get to America? Would have been better that the surprise in the post was recieving there wigan membership and feeling the buzz of actually going there now members. I remember getting mine and the buzz I had nowing cant wait for 2 o clock sunday 23rd september. But hey ho at least i was there and still enjoy the scene 40 years later.

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Guest Matt Male

Brilliant film.

 

My favourite moment being the bit where he was reborn as a northern soul god after collapsing in the bogs. :)

 

Seriously though, I loved it. :thumbsup:

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Just a thought, and very much a personal opinion, but this one comment could take the whole thread away from film reviews, which I think would be unfair. Just thought I'd highlight it before it becomes ''clown and costume hunting season'' yet again?

Win :)

I'd rather just hunt the clowns without the added distraction of costumes, arf, arf.

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Saw it in Bridgenorth last night.

A good session of oldies being played in a nearby pub which was packed to the rafters, before we all walked over the road to queue outside a lovely small old-fashioned cinema that reminded me of being a kid. Beer, Nachos, Popcorn all available.

Local Bobby (looked about 16) pulled up in his car totally bemused at the queue wanted to know what it was all about.

The film itself - well all I can say is that I really enjoyed it.

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 Thevdsnce scenes I know some of the kids who trained for months and only got a few moments in the film surely more time and more tracks could have included.

 

After the film I commented about the amount of time and work that had been spent on this alone, and the fact that most had not been included. But I saw it as a positive - as in wow, all those hours 'condensed' down to this. They obviously put loads of thought into the editing, and I'm sure some decisions to cut certain parts must have been heart breaking.

 

A few more great points -

 

When he noticed his mate wasn't around (When he had collapsed) - Looking out for each other is always there.

 

Not hearing a damn word!......"He's collapsed!".........."Yeh, it's great ain't it?!"

 

The awkwardness with girls at that age!

 

Not 'fitting in', but feeling so at home once 'released' on that dance floor!

 

The bit when the bloke tapped on the car window to show them the Dance Comp trophy.

 

Plenty of comedy moments in there for me.

 

Well done again :wink: 

 

Len :thumbsup: 

Edited by LEN
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Well, I was hugely disappointed with it as I couldn't totally relate to what the storyline was achieving, having attended the Casino '77/78

 

Musically it was sound but that was never doing to be a bone of contention with the ppl they had to advise, the site design was first class and I was pleased that JA and Soul Bowl were mentioned as without ppl like him we wouldnt of had a scene or some of the top sounds we know take for granted.

 

Was it the right title to use ? Not in my opinion as NS seemed to be the backdrop and the the upward struggle for the main characters

 

Reading some of the comments here I can agree with most of them, I can even accept Ian Dewhirst's statement even though he does have a commercial interest.

 

My main concern is when we ( the ppl who were actually there ) are all long gone and ppl watch this to try and get some kind of prospective of how it truly was, I just hope they just don't accept this as the absolute representation of how it was and at least watch Paul Masons brilliant documentary via the BBC Culture Show and the original Granada documentary as a balance.

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Guest Matt Male

I agree Len, so many memories provoke by this film. Falling out with your mates, getting back with your mates, getting in too deep into the darker side of the scene and dragging yourself back out, knowing people who have died, the excitement of going somewhere (anywhere) in a car full.

 

One stand out moment (and there were many) was when he was practising dancing in his bedroom to Lou Pride, and under going that transformation from one of the crowd to northern soul boy. Didn't we all feel like that, we were a breed a part, something special and northern soul changed us into something incredible?

 

I didn't get into northern until '79, so this was a little bit before my time, but I could still relate to pretty much everything that happened in the film.

 

All I could think was, it's there when times are good, it's there when times are bad, It's there even when you stop going, but it's always there and hopefully it always will be.

Edited by Matt Male
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Ok ... 

Well waited until now to post as i wanted to get the weekend out of my system before making any kind of judgement.

Saw it at Prince Charles Leicester Sq ... great venue if it wasn't for the guy behind me who kept pushing the back of the chair with his feet ... and these chairs felt every movement .

So film ..

A great snapshot of time and it did bring so many happy / funny / sad and touching memories back ... although i thought the story line was a little weak and more could have been made of the characters .

Like someone said .... would have loved more focus on Wigan .... The Beachcomer... Mr M's ... the baths or cafe afterwards or the trip back home on a comedown :)..More dance scenes inside ... swapping and selling records ....      

Did not really like the fact that it kind of portrayed all the older / wiser / main boys on the scene all to be drug addicts that injected .

We boys all popped pills but never injected ... Chalkies when you where hard up .... Black Bombers when mates older brother would get us some from the Wheel ... Billy Wizz ..all the time ... Bronci pack when we where really really hard up ... but none of our crowd injected ... and never would ..

Loved the car sequence of trying to escape the boys in blue ... and i dont mean Evertonians  ... that really hit home as it happened twice to us..and escaped both times by the driver ( who shall remain nameless .....Mr Christie ...oooops ) turning the headlights off and flooring it ... but never ...ever return onto the roads after a 10 second wait in an alley ... got to give it 30 mins at least :)

The feel and the sounds where great ... it did push me back in time .... ..i'm not sure if i was hoping for something truly magnificent to blow me away and leave me wanting more ..the fact is i wanted more of the music ..which i got at the 100 Club after  .... talc next time , cause boy is that floor sticky ... 

Music ..

Fantastic ...bought the CD and the Vinyl and some great tunes and mix .... and the quality of the cinema sound was not bad ... even if someone shouted "turn it up "before it started :)

 

All in all ... left me a little disappointed .. sorry to say .... only because of the hype ... and what maybe i had already thought it was going to be like after the trailers and publicity :(

I have to say that i'm kind of glad in a way ... cause this scene has always been an underground scene ... a scene that has really gone out of its way NOT to court publicity ... a scene that has its roots in obscurity and I kind of wish it stays a bit like that ...   7/10

 

A great start of a massive weekend ..that 100 Club finishing at 4am .. then Heatwave at the Jazz Cafe next night 3am finish  ..and then up at 6.30 am Sunday and off to final round of BSB at Brands Hatch courtesy of the LLoyds GB Boys  .. so thanks to them and well done Shakey Byrne !!  

Ahhh may be 58 ... but can still show you young boys how to Partay :)

Edited by stevegods
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Just wondering.

From what I can gather from what's been said on here a lot of the dance scenes shot have been cut?

So with the film been a success (I assuming with it showing in 100+ cinemas that would class as a success) would it be possible to write a story line that is less dark & more dance/records/travelling/friendship based story & utilize all that footage & explore parts of the scene not focussed on in the film...........Northern Soul II....the happy days :D

I have no knowledge of if this would be possible or even if all concerned would want to??

Just a thought?

Cheers

Martyn

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Guest Andy Kempster

noticed a distinct absence of baggy trousers and circle skirts in the fillum  , but they never wore them back then . :yes:

 

 

i also noticed this and have to wonder if the so - called nostalgia scene have also noticed that their fancy dress didn't actually feature at all and that it was merely and extension of 70's fashion of the day

 

(really enjoyed the film by the way, although had to make a move a few minutes before the end so will be watching again on DVD this week to see what I missed, I'm guessing not much as the love interests had got together and thats normally a movie ending scenario)

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