Rude Boy (1980)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Directors:

Jack Hazan
David Mingay

Writers:

Ray Gange (writer)
David Mingay (writer)

Release Date:

19 June 1996 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Featuring The Clash.

Plot:

Rude Boy is a semi-documentary, part character study, part 'rockumentary', featuring a British punk band...

Plot Keywords:

Musical Performance | Punk Rock | England | Riot | Racism

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Dave Armstrong	...	Police officer
Barry Baker	...	Drum roadie
Terry Barry	...	Police officer
Reg Bazell	...	Police officer
Stephen Behan	...	Fan
Graham Brown	...	Fan
Lizard Brown	...	Suspect
Caroline Coon	...	Band representative
John Daly	...	Bouncer
Hickey Etienne	...	Suspect
Plaxy Exton	...	Fan
Tig Exton	...	Fan
Ian Galland	...	Police officer
Ray Gange	...	Rude Boy
Ben Gaze	...	Police officer
Boss Goodman	...	Bouncer
Willy Graham	...	Fan
Johnny Green	...	Road manager
Vic Hardwick	...	Bouncer
Topper Headon	...	Drummer
Jerry Healey	...	Fan
Dave Johnson	...	Police officer
Mick Jones	...	Lead guitarist
David McDonald	...	Fan
Terry McQuade	...	Ray's mate
Roy Menuir	...	Bouncer
Tommy O'Reilley	...	Fan
Jimmy Pursey	...	Himself
Howard Rainey	...	Bouncer
Paul Simonon	...	Bassist
Tony Smith	...	Fan
Alan Stanleye	...	Fan
Joe Strummer	...	Rhythym guitarist
Ken Tillock	...	Fan
Dave Wakefield	...	Police officer
John Woods	...	Police officer
John Yates	...	Police officer

Also Known As:

The Clash: Rude Boy (UK) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:18 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:12 | Australia:R | New Zealand:R13

Filming Locations:

Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK

Company:

Buzzy Enterprises

Quotes:

Lead guitarist: You know what I think, don't you? I've been watching you.
Rude Boy: Yeah, I noticed. Quite a lot.
Lead guitarist: I been watching you.
Rude Boy: I'll keep it in mind.
Lead guitarist: Do.

Movie Connections:

References Come Play with Me (1977)

Intriguing but muddled

This intriguing film blurs the line between documentary and reality much in the way 60's classics such as "Medium Cool" do. The story (when it's allowed to tell itself) of the drunken directionless punk is sad, charming and wild. I can see why the Clash disowned the film. It shows how they merely reflect the showbiz side of the struggles of the working class in England. When Ray attempts to tell Mick Jones how much "Stay free" means to him, he is shrugged off with a " I'm watching you." We see Ray being consumed by his own nihilstic rage while the clash use it up to the point of making good pop music with it.