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Absolute Beginners (1986)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
18 April 1986 (USA)
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Tagline:
The music, the movement, the romance, the passion . . . all explodes on the BIG SCREEN. more
Plot:
A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes' novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer...
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Plot Keywords:
Model
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Photographer
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Fashion
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1950s
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Teenage Girl
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NewsDesk:
Sex Pistols and Joe Strummer Documentarian Julien Temple to Dramatize History of The Kinks
(From Slash Film. 2 December 2009, 11:02 AM, PST)
(From Slash Film. 2 December 2009, 11:02 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A great journey through London
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Patsy Kensit | ... | Suzette |
| Eddie O'Connell | ... | Colin, Photographer / Narrator |
 | David Bowie | ... | Vendice Partners |
| James Fox | ... | Henley of Mayfair, Dressmaker to the Queen |
| Ray Davies | ... | Arthur, Colin's Dad |
| Mandy Rice-Davies | ... | Flora |
| Eve Ferret | ... | Big Jill |
| Tony Hippolyte | ... | Mr. Cool |
| Graham Fletcher-Cook | ... | Wizard |
| Joe McKenna | ... | Fabulous Hoplite |
| Steven Berkoff | ... | The Fanatic |
| Sade | ... | Athene Duncannon (as Sade Adu) |
| Edward Tudor-Pole | ... | Ed the Ted (as Tenpole Tudor) |
 | Bruce Payne | ... | Flikker |
| Alan Freeman | ... | Call-Me-Cobber |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Absolute Beginners - The Musical (International: English title) (poster title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
108 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Black and White |
Color (Rankcolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) |
Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
USA:PG-13 (certificate #27931) |
Australia:PG |
Canada:14A |
Finland:K-14 |
Iceland:L |
Singapore:PG |
Sweden:15 |
UK:15 |
West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
After submitting the film for a 15 certificate producer Stephen Woolley was contacted by the BBFC and told that Patsy Kensit had revealed a nipple in one of the film's scenes. Despite Woolley's assurance that this was not the case because Kensit had been insistent during filming about not revealing her body, UK censor James Ferman painstakingly trawled through the movie using a BBFC "freeze frame" machine until he was finally convinced that the original information was incorrect. Only then did he grant the film an uncut certificate.
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Goofs:
Boom mic visible: When Harry Charms is auditioning young singers with Colin, there is a boom mic visible when Harry and Colin first enter the studio.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Colin: [narrating] I remember that hot, wonderful summer. When the teenage miracle reached full bloom and everyone in England stopped what they were doing to stare at what had happened. The Soho nights were cool in the heat, with light and music in the streets. And we couldn't believe that this was really coming to us at last...
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Colin: [narrating] I remember that hot, wonderful summer. When the teenage miracle reached full bloom and everyone in England stopped what they were doing to stare at what had happened. The Soho nights were cool in the heat, with light and music in the streets. And we couldn't believe that this was really coming to us at last...
more
Movie Connections:
References The Wizard of Oz (1939)
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Soundtrack:
Napoli
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (30 total)
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A fun musical with a lot of energy and great acting, 'Absolute Beginners' will win a place in your heart. This is the sharpest I've seen Bowie in a film, and Patsy Kensit was beautiful as Suzette. A political piece as well as a time piece, Temple captured the feel of a Broadway or West End musical perfectly. A great turnaround for Temple, who really had me worried after directing 'Mantrap'. It is a musical, so liberties have to be allowed, but for fans of the musical this is a great one to check out. Rating: 27/40