IMDb > Absolute Beginners (1986)
Absolute Beginners
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Absolute Beginners (1986) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 15 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
5.4/10   1,706 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Julien Temple
Writers:
Richard Burridge
Michael Hamlyn (developer)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Absolute Beginners on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 April 1986 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Drama | Fantasy | Musical | Romance See more »
Tagline:
The music, the movement, the romance, the passion . . . all explodes on the BIG SCREEN. See more »
Plot:
A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes' novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer... See more » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
NewsDesk:
(29 articles)
Should One Direction be allowed to cover One Way or Another? | Adam Boult
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 22 February 2013, 1:30 AM, PST)
Gerry Hambling obituary
 (From The Guardian - TV News. 11 February 2013, 4:05 PM, PST)
Gerry Hambling obituary
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 11 February 2013, 4:05 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
A lack of beginner's luck See more (35 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
Joseph McKenna ... Fabulous Hoplite (as Joe McKenna)

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

Anita Morris ... Dido Lament, Gossip Columnist

Paul Rhys ... Dean Swift
Julian Firth ... The Misery Kid
Chris Pitt ... Baby Boom
Lionel Blair ... Harry Charms, Record Producer

Gary Beadle ... Johnny Wonder

Robbie Coltrane ... Mario
Jess Conrad ... Cappuccino Man
Smiley Culture ... D.J. Entertainer
Ronald Fraser ... Amberley Drove
Slim Gaillard ... Party Singer
Irene Handl ... Mrs. Larkin
Peter-Hugo Daly ... Vern, aka Jaws
Amanda Jane Powell ... Dorita
Johnny Shannon ... Saltzman

Sylvia Syms ... Cynthia Eve
Ekow Abban ... Santa Lucia Club Owner
Robert Austin ... Slim Brother
Gerry Alexander ... Ton-Up Vicar
Jim Dunk ... Slim Brother
Johnny Edge ... Trader Horn

Carmen Ejogo ... Carmen
Paul Fairminer ... Eddie Sex
Hugo First ... Maltese Lodger
Pat Hartley ... Ms. Cool Snr
Astley Harvey ... Mr. Cool Snr
Colin Jeavons ... Pamphleteer
Alfred Maron ... Bert the Tailor
Zoot Money ... Chez Nobody Barman (as G.B. Zoot Money)
Sandie Shaw ... Baby Boom's Mum

Bruno Tonioli ... Maltese Lodger
Roland Alexander ... Dancer
Shaun Alexander ... Dancer
Ayo Antaeus ... Dancer
John Aron ... Dancer
Hoyle Baker ... Dancer
Chris Baldock ... Dancer
Andrée Bernard ... Trad Gang Leader
Warren Bird ... Dancer
Richard Bodkin ... Dancer
Timothy Brennan ... Dancer
Mo Bright ... Dancer
Roland Brine ... Dancer
Kelvin Carter ... Dancer
Imogen Claire ... Dancer (as Imogen Clare)
Clive Clarke ... Dancer
Kirsty Davide ... Dancer
Vince Debono ... Dancer
Dennis Elcock ... Dancer
Sylvia Ellis ... Dancer
King Masher Fontaine ... Dancer
Wayne Fowkes ... Dancer
David Foreman ... Dancer
Lucille Gaye ... Dancer
Elliot Gilbert ... Dancer
John Gordon ... Dancer
Lorna Gray ... Dancer
John Greaves ... Dancer
Robert Grimsey ... Dancer
Robert Grose ... Dancer
Michael Ho ... Dancer
Isobel Hurll ... Dancer
Johnny Hutch ... Dancer
Kim St. James ... Dancer
Peter Jessup ... Dancer
Clive Johnson ... Dancer
Chua Kaa-Joo ... Dancer
Val Joeph ... Dancer
Trevor Kelly ... Dancer
Tony Kemp ... Dancer
Chrissie Kendall ... Dancer (as Chrissie Kendal)
Olivia Komlosy ... Dancer
Viv Law ... Dancer
Madeleine Lawrence ... Dancer
Paul Leonard ... Dancer
Kenny Linden ... Dancer

Tom Lock ... Dancer
Tricia Lockhart ... Dancer
Jerry Manley ... Dancer
Peyton Martin ... Dancer
Robin Martyne ... Dancer
Jack Migdalek ... Dancer
Bob Newent ... Dancer
Albin Pahernik ... Dancer
Neil Patterson ... Dancer
William Perrie ... Dancer
Shanti Ruchpaul ... Dancer
Corinne Russell ... Dancer
Les Saxon ... Dancer
Gary Sellars ... Dancer
Alan Spencer ... Dancer
Chris Sullivan ... Dancer
Paul Telford ... Dancer
Michelle Thorne ... Dancer

Christina Thornton ... Dancer
Carl Trevors ... Dancer
Oke Wambu ... Dancer
Anthony Wellington ... Dancer
Elizabeth Wendon ... Dancer
John Willet ... Dancer

Sabra Williams ... Dancer
Barrie J. Wilkinson ... Dancer
Glen Wilkinson ... Dancer
Barrie Young ... Dancer
David Morgan Young ... Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Lynne Hazelden ... Teddy Girl (uncredited)

Derek Lyons ... Teddyboy (uncredited)

Eric Sykes ... Arcade intendant (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Julien Temple 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Richard Burridge 
Michael Hamlyn  developer
Terry Johnson  additional dialogue
Colin MacInnes  novel
Don MacPherson  (as Don Macpherson)
Christopher Wicking 

Produced by
Chris Brown .... producer
Al Clark .... executive producer
Robert Devereux .... executive producer
Nik Powell .... executive producer
David Wimbury .... associate producer
Stephen Woolley .... producer
 
Original Music by
Gil Evans 
 
Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Richard Bedford 
Michael Bradsell 
Gerry Hambling 
Russell Lloyd 
 
Casting by
Leonara Davis 
Susie Figgis 
Mary Selway 
 
Production Design by
John Beard 
 
Art Direction by
Stuart Rose 
Ken Wheatley 
 
Costume Design by
Sue Blane 
David Perry 
 
Makeup Department
Lynda Armstrong .... assistant makeup artist
Elaine Bowerbank .... chief hair stylist
Peter Frampton .... chief makeup artist
Sue Love .... assistant hair stylist
Daniel Parker .... assistant makeup artist
Chris Taylor .... assistant hair stylist
 
Production Management
Peter Kohn .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Aherne .... third assistant director
Ray Corbett .... assistant director
Kieron Phipps .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Peter Bryant .... supervising prop dresser
Bob Devine .... assistant construction manager
Richard Dicker .... supervising drape (as Dick Dicker)
Geoff Kingsley .... construction manager
Ken Powell .... supervising plasterer
Adrian Start .... supervising painter
Peter Walpole .... prop buyer
Derek Whorlow .... supervising stagehand
Arthur Wicks .... property master
Joanne Woollard .... set dresser
Andrew Ackland-Snow .... draughtsman (uncredited)
Emma Harrison .... scenic artist (uncredited)
Darryl Paterson .... dressing props (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Paul Cridlin .... sound maintenance
David Grimsdale .... sound editor
Derek Holding .... sound editor
Gerry Humphreys .... dubbing mixer
David John .... sound mixer
Eddy Joseph .... sound editor
Howard Lanning .... sound editor
Matthew Launay .... boom operator
Lionel Strutt .... adr mixer (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Andy Williams .... special effects technician
Neil Corbould .... special effects technician (uncredited)
Stephen Hutchinson .... special effects trainee (uncredited)
Mark Meddings .... special effects supervisor (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
David Smith .... optical cameraman (uncredited)
Nick Wass .... Rostrum camera: titles (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Graham Attwood .... still photographer
Stuart Game .... camera loader
Frank Heeney .... gaffer
Colin Manning .... grip
Roger Mayne .... original period photography
David Morgan .... focus puller
Mike Proudfoot .... camera operator (as Michael Proudfoot)
Carlos Melville .... electrician (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Roger Burton .... costume consultant
Barbara Rutter .... assistant costume designer
Joyce Stoneman .... wardrobe supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Clive Barrett .... assistant editor
Paul Conway .... assistant editor
Stuart De Jong .... assistant editor
Mary Dockwrey .... second assistant editor
Helen Eley .... assistant editor
Leonard Green .... assistant editor
Mark Latimer .... assistant editor
Ian Moore .... second assistant editor
Andy Stears .... assistant editor
Kevin Phelan .... unit projectionist: Mercury Theatres, London (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Michael Clifford .... music editor
Gil Evans .... conductor
Gil Evans .... music arranger
Clive Langer .... music mixer
Clive Langer .... music producer
Cynthia Lole .... music coordinator
Don Mcpherson .... music coordinator
Colin Purbrook .... musical associate
Daniel Secunda .... music coordinator
Ray Williams .... executive music supervisor
Alan Wistanley .... music mixer
Alan Wistanley .... music producer
David Bedford .... orchestrator (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Mark White .... transportation
 
Other crew
Matthew Binns .... location unit manager
Tim Coghlan .... assistant to producer
Jennifer Collen-Smith .... unit publicist
Jane Cotton .... dance stage manager
Valerie Craig .... production coordinator
Tracy Drew .... title designer
Stewart Hadley .... crew
Mary Holdsworth .... script supervisor
Ray Jones .... supervising rigger
Amanda Pirie .... assistant to director
Jenny Pollitt .... assistant to producer
David Saggs .... production accountant
Kathy Sykes .... production coordinator
Jonathan Thornton .... assistant choreographer
Sue Thornton .... assistant dance stage manager
David Toguri .... choreographer
Jordan Stone .... set production assistant (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Absolute Beginners - The Musical" - International (English title) (poster title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
108 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White | Color (Rankcolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Canada:14A | Finland:K-14 | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:16 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #27931) | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12
Filming Locations:
Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UKSee more »
Company:
Goldcrest Films InternationalSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The film is based on a novel first published in 1959. One of the incidents portrayed in the story was based on the Notting Hill race riots of August, 1958.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: During the riot scenes, in one shot a double decker bus is on fire. In the next shot, it isn't burning. In the next shot, it is. (During the T.V. announcers speak to the viewing public about the 'race riots').See more »
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...
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1997) (TV)See more »
Soundtrack:
SANTA LUCIASee more »

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
A lack of beginner's luck, 10 January 2010
Author: Grann-Bach (Grann-Bach@jubii.dk) from Denmark

I suppose I didn't know what to expect, when I sat down to watch this. However, I can't possibly imagine that I would have enjoyed it regardless of the quantity of warnings that I had been showered in beforehand. I haven't read the novel(though I understand that it is far superior to this). The movie is an eccentric little number that at times gets to be downright bizarre. I'm all for surrealism, but here, it just felt like they weren't taking the issues that they were dealing with seriously(which makes it difficult for the audience to), in spite of them being as important as identity, the effect fame has on you, and racism. There are even parts where it appears to be poorly "dubbed", meaning the words spoken and the lips moving do not match. How? Why? What? Did I seriously just write that? Did some of the actors not speak English? On that, the performances range somewhat, and Bowie is *terrible*. Why is this a musical, anyway? Not all of the songs chosen make sense. The pace is fast, at least at points. Plot-wise, this takes a nose-dive about halfway through. This is cheesy, and the score is way over the top. There is sensuality in this, and possibly language. I recommend this to fans of the type of tunes of the period this takes place during(the 1950's), and/or theatre. Anyone else, stay away for your own good. 5/10

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (35 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Absolute Beginners (1986)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Suitable for kids? gumbyman91
What was the budget? ibex_t
That trivia information doesn't sound right nxylas
Off-the-wall Question. ernestspratley_notes
Thank God Colin McInnes wasn't here to watch this imbicta
Ray Davies song cookie_boy2000
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
I'm Not There. The Best Years of Our Lives My Own Private Idaho Head-On Bulgarian Lovers
IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Edit page' button will take you through a step-by-step process.