The Punk Rock Movie from England (1978)
"The Punk Rock Movie" (original title)

Documentary on the London punk-rock scene, circa '78.

Director:

Don Letts

Stars:

Soo Catwoman, Steve Strange, Robin Crocker

Cast

Credited cast:
Soo Catwoman	...	Herself (as Cat Woman)
Steve Strange	...	Himself
Robin Crocker	...	Himself (as Robin Banks)
Mark Perry	...	Himself (as Mark P.)
Roger Bullen	...	Himself (as Dee Generate)
Helen Bullen	...	Herself (as Dee's Mum)
Jeannette Lee	...	Herself (as Jeannette)
Don Letts	...	Himself (as Don)
Steven Severin	...	Himself (as Steve Havoc)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jayne County	...	Himself (as Wayne County)
Terence Dackombe	...	Himself
Billy Idol	...	Himself
Debbie Juvenile	...	Herself
John Lydon	...	Himself (as The Sex Pistols)
Shane MacGowan	...	Himself (as Shane McEwen)

Storyline

A revealing look into the bands comprising the 1978 London punk-rock scene, and a peek back-stage at the lives behind the facade. Includes performances by Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Eater, and other concurrent bands.

---

Plot Keywords:

punk rock | sex pistols | punk | punk music | reggae | 

---

Genres:

Documentary | Music

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

EMI Music Japan [jp] Transformer [jp]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 June 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Punk Rock Movie from England

Filming Locations:

The Roxy, Neal Street, Covent Garden, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Notting Hill, Punk Rock Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the bands were filmed at the Roxy club in London, where Don Letts worked as a DJ. Letts filmed the bands very simply with a Super-8 camera, and also filmed on the tour bus and at shows with The Clash and The Slits. The Sex Pistols were filmed at Screen on the Green in London on 3 April 1977, Sid Vicious's first show with the band.

---

Quotes

Debbie Juvenile: Oh, some decent fucking music at last!

---

Connections

References The Harder They Come (1972)

User Reviews

70's Time capsule material about the British Punk scene.

Don Lett's Punk Rock Movie is just like the music it captures, crude but effective. Lett's (who would later become a member of Big Audio Dynamite) shot this movie on Super8mm. He was friends with many of the punk bands because he was their reggae connection (there was an interesting punk/reggae connection in London during that time). The footage of the Sex Pistols is priceless and worth the price of the tape itself. The Clash and the other major players are featured in this documentary. An interesting watch. I also recommend U.K. Decay as a follow up.

Be on the look out for a young Shane Mac Gowan (The Pogues). He was a huge punk back in the late seventies before he re-invented himself as a hard edged Irish folk musician. He went on to combine the two elements and create a new sound.

Highly recommended!