IMDb > Quadrophenia (1979)
Quadrophenia
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Quadrophenia (1979) More at IMDbPro »

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Quadrophenia (1979) -- Open-ended Trailer from Rhino

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   5,301 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Franc Roddam
Writers:
Dave Humphries (screenplay) and
Martin Stellman (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Quadrophenia on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 November 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Music more
Tagline:
Hell On Wheels! more
Plot:
London, 1965: Like many other youths, Jimmy hates the philistine life, especially his parents and his job in a company's mailing division... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(11 articles)
DVD Playhouse--October 2009
 (From The Hollywood Interview. 15 October 2009, 12:34 AM, PDT)

Lyndhurst To Play Rodney's Dad In Only Fools Spin-off
 (From WENN. 5 October 2009, 3:01 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Classic tale of teen rebellion more (72 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Phil Daniels ... Jimmy
Leslie Ash ... Steph
Philip Davis ... Chalky

Mark Wingett ... Dave

Sting ... Ace Face

Ray Winstone ... Kevin (as Raymond Winstone)

Garry Cooper ... Peter
Gary Shail ... Spider

Toyah Willcox ... Monkey
Trevor Laird ... Ferdy
Kate Williams ... Mother
Michael Elphick ... Father
Kim Neve ... Yvonne

Benjamin Whitrow ... Mr. Fulford
Daniel Peacock ... Danny
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Quadrophenia: A Way of Life (UK) (reissue title)
more
Runtime:
117 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | France:-18 (original rating) | Australia:R | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1979) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Finland:K-14 (1997) | UK:18 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R
Company:
The Who Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
John Lydon (the former Johnny Rotten) was originally approached for the role of Jimmy and even screen-tested for the role. However the distributors refused to insure him for the part and he was replaced. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: When Jimmy goes to the posh party, they play "My Generation". This film was supposed to be set in 1964, but "My Generation" was not released until 1965. more
Quotes:
Peter: If you don't work, you don't get paid no money. And I like money. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Drama Connections: Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (#1.1)" (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Wah-Watusi more

FAQ

Does Jimmy....
more
8 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
Classic tale of teen rebellion, 16 May 2004
Author: planet_mamoo from Canada

This is a fabulous movie that goes far beyond the usual one-dimensional teenager- struggles-with-society's-conformity tale. In it, the main character, Jimmy, has got a good job but which seems pointless to him. He's a member of a posse of "Mods," a mid-sixties image- group that included quasi-Beatles-style clothes and haircuts, the use of Vespa scooters, and of course sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

Jimmy hates the conformity as symbolized by his TV-watching, emotionally-detached parents and dreads the prospect of becoming an ice-cold working stiff. Bus as time passes he begins to squirm in the conformity imposed by being a Mod, a conformity so ruthless it costs him a friendship.

Everything that seems to be a key to happiness, whether it's romance with Steph, a beautiful member of his posse, or taking part in a kind of "Mod Woodstock," or adoring the "King of the Mods" (played perfectly by Sting), or even just trying to escape it all aboard his trusty Vespa, becomes a dead end of conformity.

Throughout the movie, his frustration is building, and he can't figure out why. In the end, he finally realizes the source of his anguish, and, without giving anything away, addresses the heart of the matter.

Excellent performances in this movie (though the accents will be downright impenetrable for some viewers), great directing, strong writing, and of course it marvelously portrays the Mod lifestyle. All the groups shown in the movie can be taken as symbols for just about any community you could think of.

Best of all, the soundtrack is superb. Unfortunately, you can't really get the sense of it just watching the movie, so pick up the CD if you like The Who; it's one of their very best.

Overall, a must-see.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Quadrophenia (1979)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
tommy VS quadrophenia ? dvdman1985
Why? xOx_Emily_xOx_125
Where to find Jimmy's Parka? The_Arctic_Monkey
Sting's character as a bell boy? mm54123
Musical tastes of Mods and Rockers fwg-1
Question about the baths scene... stopfief
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