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QUADROPHENIA (1979)

Dir: Franc Roddam

Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Wilcox, Mark Wingett, Phil Davis, Gary Shail, Trevor Laird, Sting, Michael Elphick, Gary Cooper.

On its eighteenth anniversary Quadrophenia is back in the cinemas. Being too young in 1979 to see the then X certificate I was quite excited about seeing it on the big screen for the first time. Although I have seen it a few times on TV it was quite a joy to see it without some of the essential parts missing as they were in the TV version.

The main thing you notice about Quadrophenia is the guts it has simply to be realistic and not compromise for the sake of political correctness. People certainly weren't prepared for this and a few even left the cinema! Maybe in 1979 you could simply get away with more, but if you want to be accurate it needs to be said how it is.

The film tells the story of a young Mod, Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who struggles to make sense of his life. He constantly analyses everything but it makes less and less sense to him, although he wants to be the confident rebel he thinks he is. After trying to find the difference between Mods and Rockers as he sees his best friend beaten up, getting to shag his ideal woman (Leslie Ash) in a Brighton alleyway, and seeing his idol (Sting) working as a bellboy, Jimmy becomes disillusioned with his lifestyle simply because to him life's far too important to take the carefree attitude that others do.

Most of the film depicts the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll life-style of the mod culture, but in the final stages as Jimmy faces his breakdown it successfully shows the isolation a man can face. The film has excitement, humour, an excellent story and, most importantly, a brilliant soundtrack by The Who without which nothing would make any sense.

JOHN MARSHALL - 16 April 1997