Quadrophenia (1979)

Director:

Franc Roddam

Writers:

Dave Humphries (screenplay) &
Martin Stellman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 November 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Hell On Wheels!

Plot:

London, 1965: Like many other youths, Jimmy hates the philistine life, especially his parents and his job in a company's mailing division...

Plot Keywords:

Mods | Rocker | The Who | Scooter | Pill

Cast

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
Jeremy Child	...	Agency Man
John Phillips	...	Magistrate
Timothy Spall	...	Projectionist
Olivier Pierre	...	Tailor
George Innes	...	Cafe Owner
John Bindon	...	Harry
P.H. Moriarty	...	Barman at Villain's Pub
Hugh Lloyd	...	Mr. Cale
Cross Section	...	The Band
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Altman	...	John (uncredited)
Jesse Birdsall	...	Aggressive Rocker (uncredited)
Loren Day	...	Girl with Steph (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Julian Firth	...	Mod (uncredited)
Simon Gipps-Kent	...	Boy at Party (uncredited)
Carol Harrison	...	Biker Girl (uncredited)
Gary Holton	...	Aggressive Rocker (uncredited)
Tom Ingram	...	Rocker in Police Van (uncredited)
Derek Lyons	...	Jimmy's Gang Member (uncredited)
Peter McNamara	...	Mod (uncredited)
Glen Murphy	...	Fighting Rocker (uncredited)
The Who	...	Themselves. (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Franc Roddam

Writing credits
Dave Humphries		(screenplay) &
Martin Stellman		(screenplay) &
Franc Roddam		(screenplay)
Pete Townshend		uncredited

Produced by
Roy Baird	....	producer
Bill Curbishley	....	producer
Roger Daltrey	....	executive producer
John Entwistle	....	executive producer
Keith Moon	....	executive producer
John Peverall	....	associate producer
David Gideon Thomson	....	executive producer
Pete Townshend	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Brian Tufano		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sean Barton
Mike Taylor

Casting by
Patsy Pollock

Production Design by
Simon Holland

Makeup Department
Simon Thompson	....	hair styles creator
Gilly Wakeford	....	makeup artist (as Gilli Wakeford)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ray Corbett	....	assistant director
Kieron Phipps	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack Carter	....	construction manager
Andrew Sanders	....	assistant art director
Terry Wells	....	property master
Ken Wheatley	....	set dresser
Adrian Start	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Albert Bailey	....	boom operator
John Ireland	....	sound editor
Bill Rowe	....	dubbing mixer
Christian Wangler	....	sound recordist (as Christian Wrangler)
Jon Astley	....	sound engineer (uncredited)
Malcolm Hirst	....	second boom operator (uncredited)
Malcolm Hirst	....	sound maintenance (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Steve Hamilton	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Evans	....	electrical supervisor: Lee Electrics Ltd.
Jeff Paynter	....	focus puller
Frank Connor	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Geoff Mulligan	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Ronnie Rampton	....	best boy (uncredited)
Derek Suter	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joyce Stoneman	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Roger Daltrey	....	musical director
John Entwistle	....	music producer
John Entwistle	....	musical director
Cy Langston	....	music re-mix engineer
Mike Shaw	....	music coordinator
Pete Townshend	....	musical director

Other crew
David Anderson	....	location manager
Peter Brayham	....	action arranger
Alen Fletcher	....	story consultant
Caroline Hagen	....	production assistant
Redmond Morris	....	location manager
Kevin O'Driscoll	....	production accountant
Melinda Rees	....	continuity
Christopher Stamp	....	story consultant (as Chris Stamp)
Pete Townshend	....	story consultant
Ken Tuohy	....	producer's assistant
Geoff Freeman	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Gillian Gregory	....	choreographer (uncredited)
Richard Morrison	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Freddie Haayen	....	special thanks
James Swann	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• The Who Films
• Polytel

Distributors

• Brent Walker Film Distributing (1979) (UK) (theatrical)
• World Northal (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Valio-Filmi (1979) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Parafrance Films (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• Channel 5 Video Distribution (1986) (UK) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1988) (Finland) (TV)
• Nordic Video (1993) (Finland) (VHS)
• Feature Film Company (1996) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Rhino Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (UK) (VHS)
• Rhino Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2012) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• DDA Public Relations (DDA)  public relations
• EMI Studios  re-recorded at (as EMI Studios, Elstree, England)
• European Captioning Institute  DVD subtitles (uncredited)
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Levi  jeans by
• Polydor Records  music from the soundtrack available on
• Who Group, The  "Quadrophenia" by (as The Who Group Limited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (Dolby Stereo)

Certification:

Finland:K-14 (1997) | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) (1998) (2006) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | France:-18 (original rating) | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | Australia:R | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1979) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/18 | UK:15 (re-rating) (1996) | South Korea:18 (2012) | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Alley off the west of East Street, Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

The Who Films

Trivia:

Amanda Barrie turned down the role of Jimmy's mother.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The scene shot at the railway station where Jimmy is waiting to board the train for Brighton was shot at Paddington. Trains for Brighton leave from Victoria.

Quotes:

Jimmy:[from the cliff top after deciding not to be a mod]
[shouts]
Jimmy:Me!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Eggs to the Mill: Music Video (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Rhythm of the Rain

Excellent

I hated this film when I saw it as a teenager back in 1979. The reason was the movie was realistic--too realistic! I identified (in some respects) with the main character Jimmy, and his life was bleak and depressing. Seeing it over 20 years later, I love it! It's a superb mix of the 1960s British "Angry Young Men" films, the Who's great album and 1979 sensibilities. It's about Jimmy (excellent performance by Phil Daniels) and his friends. It takes place in 1964 London and there are constant battles between the Mods (Jimmy and friends) and the Rockers. The film is full of violence, sex, VERY strong language (good luck with the accents), anger, alienation...the works. However, there is a strong sense of humor (a break in at a drug store is hilarious) and it does have a (sort of) happy ending. But it is very dark and depressing.

The music score is excellent. It's not just the Who, but other 1960s groups are used also. The direction by Franc Roddam is wonderful--it perfectly merges the music, imagery and story (especially with "Love, Reign Over Me"). My only real complaint--why not use the whole album "Quadrophenia"? Only about 1/8 of the two record set is used! Also interesting to see Sting in his first movie. Don't miss this one!