Ladies and Gents, the Fabulous Stains

How bizarre, this film that shaped so much of my youth, (even though I never saw it at the time*) on the big screen at this big, posh Art cinema.

*yes, this is possible. It was shown on cable - I think USA Nite Flite or whatever it was called, that was always showing Suburbia and Rock N Roll High School and Repo Man and stuff - and both my first teenage best friend/bandmate, and my sister were obsessed with it. I laughed out loud when all the "skunks" came on, because that was *exactly* how my TBF/BM used to dress.

Anyway, I *know* other ILX0rs were there, because we saw you. What did you think?

I'm assuming it's a bit more than "PG" for Alice?

Actually, I don't think there's anything too bad in it, (in terms of sex or violence) but lots of it would probably fly over her head. I think the ideal age to see it would be about 14 or 15.

It's weird, though, reading the notes that we got, that even thought it was filmed in 1981 (pre Madonna) it wasn't released until 1984 - at which point it would have seemed that so much of it kind of echoed Madonna - the skunks as Madonna Wannabes, conflicting messagses about image and sexuality etc.

For (apparently) one show only they were really ace, though.

I think that was one of the things that I really *liked* about it was the ambivalence/dislikability of *all* the characters. Yeah, I know that's a cliche, and also it's a whole cliche that the music industry is thoroughly shite and dog eat dog.

But what I liked is that even after characters acted horribly and were bloody awful to one another, they still managed to realise their mistakes and redeem themselves - especially Corinne, after the whole "get a manager, become a Star" debacle where English Punk Dude (what was his name? Billy? Or am I confusing him with the Two Tone dude from the first film?) - that she did go back and do the decent thing WRT Lawn Boy, and she didn't just give up.

Perhaps a lot of it was nostalgia for me, too. That desire to GET THE F*CK OUT OF smalltown Northeast America. The whole scene in the disco was just high school, all over again. Her rant about how the girls in the club are just "waiting for some rock star dude to fall in love with them and take them away".

Did anyone else notice that even the newsreader had added subtle red lines to her eye make up? I saw her as more sympathetic than Kate did. I don't think she manipulated them especially and that Corrine's message was one she identified with. She became noticably more bolshy throughout the film.

It was just interesting, the similarities/differences in the small town angst in Coventry in the first film and the small town angst in Buttf*ck, PA in the Stains. For me, I suppose it was more about the physical resemblance of the buildings, the people, the high school dance, to those I suffered through. It just triggered memories of a time and place.

x-post

I would def. like a DVD of this if you are still offering, Sam.

http://fabulousstains.com/

looks like it's getting a real release

it's been out on dvd for about a week

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34420/ladies-and-gentlemen-the-fabulous-stains/?___rd=1

Oh fuck yes! I saw a showing on the big screen in Denver back in May. Love this movie.

I totally expected the theater to be packed with fans, but when they asked how many people had seen it previously during the pre-movie talk, I was the only one who raised my hand!

I *did* track one down off e-bay, a couple years ago (thought I'd said this on this thread back then.. maybe it was part of the 'lost posts' when ILX crashed..)

.. I never saw a movie which so started great then really went downhill in the middle, then got better again...

Still, the band of Sex Pistols/Clash/Ray Winstone adds flavour, for certain.

And, hell, it's a three out of five stars for me.

top of the netflix queue :D

finally got around to watching this. what a strange little film. it's more polemic than narrative, all the characters are stand-ins for easily identifiable points of view (the old sexist/racist/drug addict rocker, the snotty UK punk who acts smarter than he is, the rasta, etc.) with the exception of 3rd Degree Burns, who does have some depth. Ending is bizarre - she triumphs/becomes successful anyway/turns into an MTV act? ok

Fun City Editions teasing a domestic Blu release for this summer.

Blu & 4K they now say.