ABBA: The Movie (1977)

An incompetent radio DJ tries to get an interview with the Swedish pop group during their famous week-long 1977 tour of Australia.

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers:

Robert Caswell (as Bob Caswell), Lasse Hallström

Stars:

Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anni-Frid Lyngstad	...	Herself
Benny Andersson	...	Himself
Björn Ulvaeus	...	Himself
Agnetha Fältskog	...	Herself
Robert Hughes	...	Ashley Wallace, the disc Jockey
Tom Oliver	...	Bodyguard / Bartender / Taxi Driver
Bruce Barry	...	Radio Station Manager
Stig Anderson	...	ABBA Manager
Calvin Cross	...	Featured Fan
Ivar Dahlbom	...	Featured Fan
Harry Lawrence	...	Featured Fan
Michael Mansson	...	Hotel receptionist (as Michael Manson)
Sandy Mansson	...	Girl in box office (as Sandy Manson)
Ray Marshall	...	Featured Fan
Frances Matthews	...	Featured Fan

Storyline

Movie detailing ABBA's mega-successful tour of Australia during mid-1977. While it mostly contains back-stage footage and as well as ABBA's famous songs such as "Dancing Queen", "Tiger", "Name Of The Game" and "Eagle" among others sung filmed during their concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, it has the sub-plot of young country and western radio disc-jockey, Ashley, whose boss orders him to have a deep interview with ABBA and the problems he has trying to reach them as he forgets his press pass and ABBA's main bodyguard, (Tom Oliver) is determined to stop him...

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Plot Keywords:

abba | interview | australia | radio | disc jockey | 

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Taglines:

The MUSIC! The SONGS! The MAGIC! The COLOUR! The MAGNIFICENCE!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

Sweden Australia

Language:

English Swedish

Release Date:

February 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Abba

Filming Locations:

Football Park - Turner Drive, West Lakes, South Australia, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Polar Music International, Reg Grundy Productions Pty. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo 3 Channel Stereo Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Prior to this feature film, this movie's director Lasse Hallström directed ABBA's music videos.

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Goofs

Throughout the film, Ashley pursues ABBA through the cities of Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne in that order. The actual tour went in the order of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

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Quotes

Middle Aged Female Fan #2: I think its a bit quieter than the more modern ones, at the moment, you know. Not quite as loud.

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Alternate Versions

Available in three different final soundmixes! One mono, and two different in stereo, one with only three frontchannels, and one with a fourth surround channel.

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Connections

Featured in Super Troupers: Thirty Years of ABBA (2004)

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Soundtracks

Hole In Your Soul
Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
Performed by ABBA
Published by Polar Music AB

User Reviews

The movie itself and its significance in Australian culture

ABBA - The Movie... a movie that gives a snapshot of ABBA (one of, if not THE most influential group of 1970s pop), and more importantly, a snapshot of Australia in March 1977.

The movie opens with dialogue setting up the premise that a country music DJ is given the next to impossible assignment of interviewing ABBA during their March 1977 tour of Australia. Next, a shot of a Qantas 747 flying above the Sydney Harbour Bridge and on to their arrival and tour.

Throughout the rest of the movie, the thin plotline shows the DJ Ashley's (Robert Hughes) attempts to get an interview with the group, generously interspersed with footage of the group on stage in the major Australian capitals, back stage, at their hotel and so on.

Fledgeling director (at the time) Lasse Hallstrom puts it all together and makes it all come across as charming.

The lesser known delights - interviews with members of the Australian public, an absolute charming segment with Australian children in a ballet school, and footage from their first Australian press conference. The movie is virtually a documentary of the tour, with the story line woven in for effect.

A lot of fun, well put together, and certainly worth a watch - definitely transports you right into Australia, March 1977, accompanied by some of the most timeless music ever made.